40. Ensured that your citations and references follow a consistent format, e.g. ‘Smith, Jones
& Pike, 1998’ and follow the journal’s guidance to authors?
41. Ensured that your references are complete and match the citations in the paper?
42. Ensured that all non-English titles are accompanied by an English translation?
43. Avoided citing unpublished work, especially work reporting substantive findings?
44. Ensured that the references are in the required order?
General
45. Included an acknowledgements section stating the source of funding and thanking relevant
people for their assistance?
46. Indicated any conflicts of interest?
47. Ensured that your formatting is consistent and appropriate (e.g. single blank lines between
paragraphs, no indentations at the start of paragraphs, no multiple blank lines)?
48. Ensured that tables and figures are always cited in the text and all have numbers and titles?
49. Always used the past tense when describing other people’s findings, and your own
methods and results?
50. Avoided colloquial expressions that would be confusing to an international readership?
51. Used Arabic numerals (e.g. ‘12’, ‘34’) except for numbers below 10 and those beginning
a sentence, in which cases you spell out the numbers (e.g. ‘three’)?
52. Ensured that all abbreviations are spelled out in full the first time they are used?
53. Avoided using shortenings such as ‘don’t’ and ‘it’s’?
54. Ensured that all the authors have read through the manuscript carefully to check it over?