Cell Formatting Requirements: Complete Author Guide

Cell calls it the "Summary" rather than "Abstract," though they serve the same function.

• Word limit: 150 words maximum
• Structure: Unstructured single paragraph
• Content requirements: Must include the context, results, and significance
• Citations: Not permitted
• Keywords: Not required at submission. Cell assigns its own.
• Highlights: In addition to the Summary, Cell requires 3-4 bullet points called "Highlights." Each highlight is limited to 85 characters and summarizes a key finding.

The Highlights are a Cell-specific requirement that trips up first-time submitters. They're not optional, they're a mandatory part of the article metadata, and they appear prominently on the article page and in table of contents listings. Each highlight should state a single, specific finding. "We identify a novel mechanism" is too vague. "CRISPR-Cas9 editing of BRCA1 restores homologous recombination in patient-derived organoids" is the right level of specificity.

In addition to the Summary and Highlights, Cell requires an "eTOC Blurb" of approximately 50-80 words. This is a brief plain-language description that appears in the electronic table of contents email sent to subscribers.

The eTOC Blurb should be written for a broad biology audience, not specialists. Think of it as the elevator pitch version of your paper. It's written in the third person: "Smith et al. show that..." not "We show that..."

Cell is generous with figure allowances compared to most top-tier journals.

Graphical abstract (mandatory): Cell was one of the first top journals to require a graphical abstract, and it remains a strict requirement. The graphical abstract must be:

• Exactly 1,200 x 1,200 pixels (square format)
• Submitted as a separate TIFF or EPS file
• Minimal text, mostly visual
• Self-explanatory without the figure legend
• Not a miniaturized version of one of your main figures

The graphical abstract appears at the top of the online article, in search results, and in social media previews. It's worth investing real time in making it visually clear and appealing. Cell's editors will reject graphical abstracts that are too text-heavy, too complex, or that simply reuse a figure panel.

Multi-panel figures: Cell papers typically use dense multi-panel figures. There's no explicit panel limit, but practical readability matters. Most Cell figures contain 4-8 panels. Some go higher for flow cytometry or imaging datasets.

Supplementary figure quality: Supplementary figures must meet the same resolution and formatting standards as main figures. Cell publishes supplementary figures as a PDF linked to the article, and reviewers evaluate them during peer review. They aren't second-class content.

Cell uses numbered superscript citations.

In-text citations: Superscript numbers (e.g., "as previously reported^1,2,3"). Multiple references are separated by commas without spaces. Ranges can be condensed (e.g., ^1-5).

Reference list format:

1. Author, A.B., Author, C.D., and Author, E.F. (Year). Title of article. Journal Abbreviation Volume, Pages.

Key formatting details:

• Full author list up to 10 authors; use "et al." after the 10th
• Year in parentheses immediately after the author list
• Article title included (some older numbered styles omit titles; Cell doesn't)
• Journal name abbreviated per ISO 4
• Volume number in italic (not bold, unlike Nature and Science)
• No DOI in the reference list
• "and" before the last author, not "&"

The reference cap for Articles is approximately 80. This is a soft limit, but exceeding 100 will likely prompt an editorial request to trim. Short Articles should stay around 40 references.

Cell-specific reference detail: references to preprints are allowed but must be clearly identified as such. Use "(preprint)" after the title and include the DOI to the preprint server. Editors may ask you to update preprint references to published versions during revision.

Cell's supplementary content is structured differently from Nature or Science.

Supplementary Figures: Up to 7 supplementary figures (labeled S1-S7). These are compiled into a single supplementary PDF. Each supplementary figure has its own legend, and the legends are included in the PDF. Supplementary figures go through full peer review.

Supplementary Tables: Can be submitted as Excel files (preferred) or as part of the supplementary PDF. Large tables with many rows or columns should be Excel to allow sorting and searching.

Supplementary Videos: Accepted as MP4 or AVI files. Each video should include a legend in the supplementary PDF. Size limit is typically 50 MB per video, but larger files can be handled through discussion with the editorial office.

STAR Methods (structured supplement to main methods): See the dedicated section below. STAR Methods are part of the published article, not supplementary material, but they function similarly to an extended methods section.

Data and Code: Cell requires that all data underlying the paper be deposited in appropriate public repositories. Accession numbers must appear in the Key Resources Table within STAR Methods. Code must be deposited in a public repository (GitHub, Zenodo) with a persistent identifier.

Mendeley Data: Cell Press partners with Mendeley Data for supplementary dataset hosting. Authors can deposit datasets of any size through Mendeley Data, which generates a DOI linked to the article. This is optional but encouraged for datasets that don't fit standard domain repositories.

STAR Methods (Structured, Transparent, Accessible Reporting) is Cell's proprietary methods format that replaced traditional Materials and Methods in 2016. It's mandatory for all Cell research articles and is one of the journal's most distinctive features.

STAR Methods are divided into fixed sections, and you can't rearrange or rename them:

1. Resource Availability

• Lead contact (name and email)
• Materials availability (statement on reagent sharing)
• Data and code availability (repository accession numbers)

1. Experimental Model and Study Participant Details

• Cell lines (source, authentication, mycoplasma testing)
• Animal models (species, strain, age, sex, housing)
• Human subjects (consent, IRB approval, demographics)

1. Method Details

• Full experimental procedures
• No subheading requirements; organize logically

1. Quantification and Statistical Analysis

• All statistical tests, software, sample sizes, significance thresholds
• Must be detailed enough for replication

Key Resources Table (KRT): This is the centerpiece of STAR Methods and is entirely unique to Cell Press journals. The KRT is a structured table listing every reagent, antibody, cell line, organism, software tool, algorithm, chemical, peptide, recombinant DNA, deposited data, and other resource used in the study. Each entry includes the resource name, source, and identifier (catalog number, RRID, accession number, URL).

The KRT is not optional, and it's not a suggestion. Cell editors will return manuscripts that don't include a properly formatted KRT. The table template is available from the Cell Press author guidelines.

Cell doesn't require a standalone cover page. Submission metadata is entered through the Cell Press online system.

Required components at submission:

• Title: Informative, specific, no abbreviations. Cell titles tend to be descriptive and moderately long (15-20 words is common).
• Author list and affiliations: Entered through the system.
• Corresponding author(s): Up to 2 corresponding authors with email addresses.
• Lead contact: One designated lead contact (can be a corresponding author) who handles all post-publication correspondence. This is listed in STAR Methods.
• Highlights: 3-4 bullet points, 85 characters max each.
• eTOC Blurb: 50-80 words, third person.
• Graphical abstract: Submitted as a separate image file.
• Cover letter: Strongly recommended. Should explain significance and why Cell is appropriate.

ORCID iDs: Required for the corresponding author. Encouraged for all co-authors.

Declaration of Interests: All authors must complete a conflict-of-interest disclosure form at submission. This is a Cell Press-wide requirement and is published with the article.

These are the details that experienced Cell authors know:

Graphical abstract is gate-keeping. Cell editors often evaluate the graphical abstract during the initial editorial screen. A poorly designed graphical abstract can contribute to a desk rejection, not because of the science, but because it suggests the authors don't understand how to communicate their work visually. Invest time in this. Use tools like BioRender or Adobe Illustrator, not PowerPoint screenshots.

Highlights replace the traditional abstract for browsing. When editors and readers scan Cell's table of contents, they see the graphical abstract and the Highlights before the Summary. If your Highlights are vague or poorly written, busy readers won't click through to the full paper.

STAR Methods are published within the article, not as supplementary. Unlike Science (where Methods go to SM) or Nature (where Methods go after references), Cell's STAR Methods are part of the main article record. They appear at the end of the paper, after the acknowledgments and references. They're fully searchable, fully citable, and appear in the PDF.

The Key Resources Table must use RRIDs. Research Resource Identifiers (RRIDs) are required for antibodies, cell lines, organisms, and software listed in the KRT. If a resource doesn't have an RRID, you need to provide alternative unique identifiers. The RRID Portal can help you find identifiers.

Cell's "In Brief" format. For accepted articles, Cell's editorial team writes a brief plain-language summary called "In Brief" that appears on the article page. Authors don't write this, but knowing about it helps you understand why your eTOC Blurb and Highlights should clearly communicate the main finding. These are the source material the editor uses.

Color is free but expected. Cell doesn't charge for color figures and actively expects high-quality color presentation. Grayscale figures in a Cell paper look out of place. Consistent color schemes across figures are strongly encouraged.

Transparent peer review. Cell offers transparent peer review, where reviewer reports and author responses are published alongside the article. This is opt-in, not mandatory, but Cell encourages it. If you opt in, format your response to reviewers knowing it will be public.

1. eTOC Blurb in third person. Many authors write it in first person ("We show..."). Cell requires third person ("Author et al. demonstrate...").

1. Key Resources Table completeness. Every antibody, plasmid, cell line, software tool, and dataset must appear in the KRT. Reviewers and editors check for completeness.

1. Figure legends in a separate section. Don't place legends directly under figures. They go in a dedicated section after the main text.

1. STAR Methods section order. The four sections must appear in the prescribed order. Don't rearrange them or merge them.

1. Lead contact designation. One author must be designated as the lead contact in STAR Methods. This is separate from (but can overlap with) the corresponding author designation.