- Published
- Updated
Delaying authorship discussions until a manuscript is complete can amplify disagreements about contribution, expectations and responsibility. Early discussion keeps opportunities visible without pretending that a promised contribution has already been made or that a preliminary list is final.
The publication decision
Assess expected contributions alongside the target journal’s authorship approach. Seniority, funding or management should not be treated as an automatic entitlement to a name. Equally, avoid excluding a substantive contributor without an opportunity to participate in review and associated responsibilities. Revisit the provisional list as the work develops and actual contributions become clearer.
Worked example
For example, an investigator makes an important interpretive contribution but never receives the final draft and is omitted. The coordination team checks the contribution record and provides an appropriate opportunity for review. It holds a reasoned eligibility and responsibility discussion rather than simply adding a name. Before submission, it reassesses whether planned contributions actually occurred.
Coordination checks
- Record expected contributions separately from titles and affiliations.
- Check contributors’ opportunities to access and comment on drafts.
- Review the final list against actual contributions and journal criteria.
Acceptance and boundaries
Acceptance means the rationale for names and responsibilities is explainable. ICMJE recommendations are an important publication-ethics reference, not legislation automatically applicable in every context. Author order and team disputes may need separate consideration. A list agreed at project start does not remove the need to reassess the contributions that were ultimately made.
Frequently asked questions
- Must the initial author list be final?
- No. It clarifies expectations, while final assessment uses actual contributions and the journal’s approach.
- Is every funder an author?
- Funding alone does not establish eligibility automatically; consider the person’s contributions together with the relevant criteria.