Editorial

In general, an editorial is a short, opinionated essay that expresses the views of the author(s) on a topic that is relevant to the journal’s scope. Editorials were traditionally written by a member of the Editorial Board of the journal, hence the name ‘editorial’. Nowadays, the authors are most often invited experts in the field or other people with a relevant background on a specific research topic within the scope of the journal. The purpose of an editorial is to provide a perspective on a published article or on the connection of several published articles within a journal issue relevant to the authoring expert, or to draw the reader’s attention to recent advancements in the field. The perspective provided may also offer a view on the link with key scientific, policy, or political events. 

Usually, there are strict limitations regarding the length of editorials as they should be brief and to-the-point. Maximum word counts often vary between 1000 and 2000 words and the inclusion of figures, tables, and a long list of references is usually discouraged. Ideally, an engaging writing style should be used, drawing the reader’s attention to get involved in this critical way of thinking. 

Emtex Life Science medical writers can support the author(s) in writing high-quality editorials that meet the requirements of the target journal and provide guidance in the process of writing and submitting a high-quality editorial. 

FAQ: Editorial