A well-structured article helps readers and editors understand your research.

Your manuscript should follow a simple structure under the following headings:

The South Asian Journal of Geriatric Medicine, Surgery, Palliative Care & Hospice accepts the following types of papers. SAJoGM (South Asian Journal Of Geriatric Medicine) generally discourages gifting authorship and those simply contributing a patient do not become author

1.     Original Article: Randomised trials, case control studies, cohort studies, case series, clinical or laboratory / experimental surgical investigations etc. IMRAD format should generally be followed. Words 3000, References 30, Tables & Illustrations 5, Original Work Attestation Required – Yes

2.     Surgical Techniques and Innovations : Abstract, Description and illustration of surgical or investigative technique, modification or innovation of existing technique. Innovation in surgical instrumentation and diagnostics with illustration. Up to 6 Authors, Words 2000, References 20, Tables & Illustrations 5, Original Work Attestation Required – Yes

3.     Review articles and Meta-analysis : Surgical diseases, techniques, diagnostics, instrumentation etc. Generally follow PRISMA guidelines. Up to 6 Authors, Words 4000, References 60, Tables & Illustrations 5, Original Work Attestation Required – Yes

4.     Case Reports : Single or multiple cases. Rare in occurrence or presentation, unique management, unusual outcome, an alarming or warning sign to surgeons. Having academic, teaching, archiving, novelty or extreme rarity and generating a discussion value. Only Abstract, Case Report and short Discussion. Up to 4 Authors, Words 800, References 8, Tables & Illustrations 4, Original Work Attestation Required – Yes, Identity masked

5.     Images in Surgery:  Surgical Anatomy, Pathology, Radiology etc. Unstructured  Abstract, Image Description should include introduction and discussion in a single paragraph. It has to have fewer pictures / figures with arrow markings in contrast colours and inscriptions (readable) explanatory legends to the pictures. Up to 4 authors, Words 400, References 8, Tables & Illustrations 4, Original Work Attestation Required – Yes, Identity masked

6.     Consensus statements / Guidelines / Population Surveys : Important consensus statements, guidelines vetted by group / association of experts in the field. Words and references as required. Words, Authors, Tables & Illustrations – as required

7.     Letter to Editor : Addressed to Dear Editor in Chief, SAJoGM (South Asian Journal Of Geriatric Medicine). Caption required. Abstract not required. Words 500, References 8, Tables & Illustrations 2

8.     Surgical Teachers and Personalities / Works of commendations may include obituaries. Words 500, Reverences 8, Figures / Photographs up to 2

 9.     Views / Hypotheses / Critical Appraisal : SAJoGM (South Asian Journal Of Geriatric Medicine) may publish independent opinions, point of views and hypothesis of interesting to its readership within the editorial and ethical realms. Critical appraisal of published articles in SAJoGM (South Asian Journal Of Geriatric Medicine).  Words 500, References 8, Tables & Illustrations 2

10.  News / Announcements / Book Reviews : Information useful for surgical fraternity, conferences, meetings, courses, workshops, webinars, awards, employment opportunities, invitations for surgeons to work in difficult areas. Words 200, Tables & Illustrations, Figure / Logo 2

11.  Editorials / Lead Articles : The editorials are invited, comments or commentary ensuing from wide experiences and knowledge. Some of the editorials may have more educational content. Some editorials can be pure views, parleys and aggrandized reviews

1.     Manuscript should be written in past indefinite tense. Thorough check for English, grammar and syntax. Preferably submit left justified manuscript. Do not make too many small paragraphs – it wastes journal’s space

2.     Do not start a sentence with a number / numeral

3.     Use only one method of highlighting for example either italics or bold letters or rarely capitals. Do not combine bold and underline. Do not underline

4.     All abbreviations including abbreviations in the abstract section should first be written in extended format and abbreviation explained in brackets

5.     Avoid using abbreviation and use full form in Abstract and Conclusion. It looks good to read fully

6.     Do not use the word Material and Methods – Instead use Patients and Methods in clinical studies.

7.     Case Series Analysis is a preferred term. Avoid Retrospective or Prospective Study. State that patients were included on accrual / historical patient records were analysed.

8.     A systematic review or meta-analysis should follow PRISMA guidelines.  Case reports should follow CARE guidelines

9.     SAJoGM (South Asian Journal Of Geriatric Medicine) respects how we address subjects in the manuscripts. Change the words male and female as far as possible do not use male and female connotations – use lady, women, man, gentleman etc

10.  You may use an established names or proper nouns whenever necessary

11.  Do not use comma (,) like 37,04. Use decimal (.) like 37.04

12.  Do not use + / – prior to SD. For example, for mean 28 +/- 4.2 – you should write 28 SD4.2

13.  Do not use the names of the authors in the manuscript and use Reference Number only especially in the discussion section. The conclusions should strictly be not your impressions but the conclusion from the study or data that has been reported. Careful check of the style of References for SAJoGM (South Asian Journal Of Geriatric Medicine) before submission

14.  Tables and Figures: Each table and figure should be understood as stand-alone without referring to text. Avoid abbreviations or illustrate the abbreviations in tables and figures. Avoid shading in tables. Legends to the table and figure should be clear and in bold letters. Number and percentage in tables can be in a single column. Make smart tables using different font sizes italics, and highlights. Tables and charts stand alone should be understandable on cursory reading. Figures should be clear, cropped, without borders, mask clinical pictures, usually arrow marked, inscripted contrast colour labeling. All abbreviations should be illustrated as full forms as a footnote in the tab. Avoid bulleted writing to save journal space

15.  If the manuscript is sent for revision, then, suggestions by reviewers should be replied point wise and corrections in the manuscript should be done using red ink or another colour. Do not send us track changes

16.  IMRAD format should be followed. In Abstract either make it a short unstructured abstract or use headings Introduction, Patients & Methods, Results and Conclusion. Do not use Aim, Objective, Background etc as these are the parts of introduction in short

17.  ORCID – Open Researcher and Contributor ID is a non-profit organization supported by a global community of members, including research organizations, publishers, funders and other stakeholders in the research ecosystem. Authors and peer Reviewers are advised to register with ORCID so that their work is uniquely linked to their name and they can take credit. Obtain an ORCID ID. It is free and simple to get by registering at orcid.com/register. Researchers can then build their profile pages including their publication and peer reviewer activity on this.

18.  Stand-alone tables and figures  should be self-explanatory without referring to text , combine the rows and columns to have lesser cells. Keep one type of data in one cell. Use highlight and italics fonts in tables. Make smart table – Use highlights, italics, superscripts, footnotes, font size to decorate the table

19.  Conclusion should be the conclusion of your study and not a general philosophy

20.  Read above carefully and check thoroughly each item and reply point wise

The manuscript can be considerably shortened – remove repetitions, make a short, crisp abstract, combine the paragraphs to save journal space, avoid bulleted writing and put in a para

Tables : Many columns in table can be combined into a single column, portrait tables are preferred

Use only IMRaD headings – Background should be written in the introduction section much more briefly

Use only IMRaD headings only in running highlighted letters – do not use capitals – avoid other headings if other headings are used these should not be highlighted and used as sub-headings

Same heading should be used in the abstract – only word method is in abstract

Do not use capital letters in tables also

The above is a default note. Ignore if you have attended to these commonly seen problems in the submissions

I suggest that authors refer to some publications on scientific writing, one such good reference could be- Mark A. Kliewer. Writing It Up: A Step-by-Step Guide to Publication for Beginning Investigators. AJR 2005; 185:591–596

Please refer the latest expanded PRISMA checklist at http://prisma-statement.org/documents/PRISMA_2020_expanded_checklist.pdf

Manuscript should be written in past indefinite tense & left justified type setting.

Thorough check for English language, grammar and syntax.

Do not start a sentence with a number / numeral.

Use only one method of highlighting for example either italics or bold letters or capitals.

Do not combine bold and underline. Do not underline.

All abbreviations including abbreviations in the abstract section should first be written in extended format and abbreviation explained in brackets.

As far as possible do not use male and female connotations – use lady, women, man, gentleman etc.

Do not use the word Material and Methods –  Instead use Patients and Methods in clinical studies.

Case Series Analysis is a preferred term. Avoid the terms Retrospective or Prospective Study.

State that patients were included on accrual or historical patient records were analysed.

Do not use the names of the authors in citation in the manuscript and use Reference Number only especially in the discussion section.

Careful check of the style of References for SAJoGM (South Asian Journal Of Geriatric Medicine) before submission.

You may use an established names or proper nouns whenever necessary.

Avoid using abbreviation and use full forms only in Abstract and Conclusion sections. It makes a good reading

Do not use comma (,) like 37,04. Use decimal (.) like 37.04. Do not use + / – prior to SD. For example for mean 28 +/- 4.2 – you should write 28 SD4.2

Tables & Figures: Each table and figure should be understood as stand alone without referring to text. Avoid or illustrate the abbreviations in tables and figures. Avoid shading in tables. Legends to the table and figure should be clear and in bold letters. Figures should be clear, cropped, without borders, mask clinical pictures, usually arrow marked, inscripted contrast colour labeling

If the manuscript is sent for revision then, suggestions by reviewers should be replied point wise and corrections in the manuscript should be done using red ink or another colour. Do not send back track changes