The word count excludes the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements and contributions and the references.

Also see detailed instructions for online submission and formatting your manuscript.

Full papers should follow the basic structure of abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references, and tables and figures as appropriate. They should not normally exceed 250 words for the abstract, 3000 words for the content and include no more than 35 references. There is an online data repository for extra information.

Case reports should not exceed 850 words with one table or illustration, a short unstructured abstract, and 10 references. We recommend an author limit of 5, but we can consider more if authors can show significant contributions and/or give compelling or specific reasons. We do ask that authors indicate that they have obtained patient consent.

This category is for unusual cases that make an educational point. Since the aim of these articles is to stimulate the reader to think about the case, the title should be ambiguous and not give away the final diagnosis immediately.

Although usually commissioned, we do occasionally accept unsolicited review articles. These should not normally exceed 4000 words.

Research letters in Thorax are welcome and should be submitted via Bench>Press. These should not normally exceed 500 words, with one table or figure and should include no more than 5 references. Any additional submission information including methodology, data and tables can be placed in the on-line repository facility on the Thorax website.

Letters in response to articles published in Thorax are welcome and should be submitted via Bench>Press. Correspondence must reach us by the end of the following calendar month (by the end of July, for letters referring to articles in the June print issue for example) and be a maximum of 400 words, with one figure or table and no more than 5 references. As for research letters, authors may also make use of the on-line repository facility for supplemental data.

Editorials are normally commissioned but the Editors may accept uncommissioned articles of this type.

Our Images in thorax section consists of a case report of 100 words, a few learning points, a maximun of two figures, and two references. The images can be radiological, pathological or both. Thorax will cover the cost of printing pathological images in colour. We recommend an author limit of 5, but we can consider more if authors can show significant contributions and/or give compelling or specific reasons. We do ask that authors indicate that they have obtained patient consent.

For information on being an author for a Lung Alert please contact one of the two Lung Alert editors directly, Dr Angshu Bhowmik (angshub{at}cheerful.com) and Dr John Hurst (jrhurst{at}lineone.net)

The BMJ Publishing Group journals are willing to consider publishing supplements to regular issues. Supplement proposals may be made at the request of:

1. The journal editor, an editorial board member or a learned society may wish to organise a meeting, sponsorship may be sought and the proceedings published as a supplement.
2. The journal editor, editorial board member or learned society may wish to commission a supplement on a particular theme or topic. Again, sponsorship may be sought.
3. The BMJPG itself may have proposals for supplements where sponsorship may be necessary.
4. A sponsoring organisation, often a pharmaceutical company or a charitable foundation, that wishes to arrange a meeting, the proceedings of which will be published as a supplement.

For further information on criteria that must be fulfilled, download the supplements guidelines (PDF).