Nature Communications Formatting Requirements: Complete Author Guide

Nature Communications uses an unstructured abstract, consistent with the Nature Portfolio standard.

• Word limit: 150 words maximum
• Structure: Unstructured (single paragraph)
• Citations: Not allowed
• Keywords: Not submitted by authors; assigned by editorial staff
• Abbreviations: Spell out at first use

The abstract should state the problem, approach, key findings, and significance. Since Nature Communications covers all natural sciences, your abstract needs to be accessible to readers outside your specific field. Avoid jargon that's specific to a narrow subdiscipline.

Include quantitative results where possible. "We identify 23 novel loci associated with trait X" or "Our catalyst achieves 94% conversion with 99% selectivity" gives readers concrete information. Avoid vague claims about "significant" improvements without numbers.

One practical tip: Nature Communications receives a high volume of submissions, and editors triage quickly. Your abstract is your first (and sometimes only) chance to convince an editor that the paper is appropriate for the journal's scope and impact level. Lead with the finding, not the background.

Nature Communications allows up to 10 display items (figures and tables combined) in the main text.

Figure specifications:

No Extended Data: Unlike Nature, Nature Communications doesn't use Extended Data. All main display items go in the article (up to 10), and anything beyond that goes in Supplementary Information. This simplifies the structure.

Supplementary Information: Additional figures, tables, notes, and data that support the main text. These are peer-reviewed, but they're hosted as downloadable files rather than displayed inline. Label them "Supplementary Fig. 1," "Supplementary Table 1," etc.

Source Data: Raw data underlying figures should be provided as Source Data files. These are linked to specific figures and made available to readers. Nature Communications has been increasingly strict about Source Data since 2021, and reviewers now routinely request it.

Online-only publication: Nature Communications is entirely online. There's no print edition, which means color is free, there's no print-specific CMYK requirement, and figure sizing is optimized for screen viewing. Design your figures for digital reading: use sufficient contrast, clear labels, and colorblind-friendly palettes.

Multi-panel figures are standard. A single figure with panels a through l is common in Nature Communications. There's no formal panel limit per figure, but keep figures readable. If you need a magnifying glass to read the panel labels, the figure has too many panels.

Nature Communications uses the standard Nature reference style.

In-text citations: Superscript numbers, numbered sequentially in order of first appearance. Commas between multiple citations (e.g., "^1,2"), hyphens for ranges (e.g., "^3-7").

Reference list format:

1. Smith, A. B., Johnson, C. D. & Williams, E. F. Title of article. Nat. Commun. 16, 1234 (2025).

Key formatting details:

• Author names: Last name, comma, initials without periods
• "&" before the last author
• Journal names abbreviated per ISO 4
• Volume in bold
• Article number (not page range) for online-only journals like Nature Communications
• Year in parentheses
• DOIs encouraged

Nature Communications has a reference cap of approximately 60 for Articles. This is more generous than Nature (~30) and reflects the more detailed treatment expected of Nature Communications papers. The reference list appears before the Methods section in the published article, though in the manuscript the Methods is part of the main text.

Since Nature Communications is online-only, many references will cite article numbers rather than page ranges. Format these as "Nat. Commun. 16, 1234 (2025)" where 1234 is the article number.

Nature Communications uses a straightforward supplementary system.

Supplementary Information: A single PDF or multiple files containing additional figures, tables, notes, and methods. All supplementary items are peer-reviewed. The Supplementary Information file should be organized with a table of contents if it exceeds 10 pages.

• Supplementary Figures: labeled "Supplementary Fig. 1," etc.
• Supplementary Tables: labeled "Supplementary Table 1," etc. Large tables should be submitted as separate Excel files.
• Supplementary Notes: for mathematical derivations, extended analyses, or additional discussion
• Supplementary Methods: for detailed protocols that don't fit in the main Methods section

Source Data: Provided for each figure, linked directly. These are typically Excel files or CSV files containing the underlying data points.

Data availability: A Data Availability statement is mandatory. It must specify where all data supporting the findings are available, including repository names, accession numbers, and DOIs. Nature Communications enforces this at the production stage. Papers won't publish without valid data availability statements.

Code availability: If custom code was used, a Code Availability statement is required, specifying the repository URL and DOI (via Zenodo or equivalent). The code must be publicly accessible upon publication.

Reporting Summary: A Nature Portfolio Reporting Summary must be completed and uploaded. This covers statistical methods, data exclusions, replication details, and ethical approvals. For life sciences manuscripts, a Life Sciences Reporting Summary is required.

Nature Communications follows the standard Nature Portfolio manuscript structure. The manuscript should begin with:

• Title (concise, informative, no abbreviations; Nature Communications recommends a maximum of 15 words)
• Author names with superscript affiliation numbers
• Affiliations with full institutional addresses
• Corresponding author(s) with email addresses
• ORCID iDs (required for corresponding author, strongly encouraged for all)

Not on the first page but required:

• Author contributions (in the manuscript, after the main text)
• Competing interests statement (in the manuscript)
• Data availability statement (in the manuscript)
• Code availability statement (if applicable)

The cover letter is uploaded separately. For Nature Communications, the cover letter should clearly state the significance of the work and why it's appropriate for a broad-scope journal. Editors use the cover letter for triage. Don't waste it on generic statements like "We believe our work will be of interest to the broad readership of Nature Communications." Instead, state the specific advance and its implications.

Open access licensing: Since Nature Communications is fully open access, you'll need to select a Creative Commons license during submission. CC BY 4.0 is the default. Some funders (e.g., UKRI) require CC BY, while others allow CC BY-NC. Check your funder's requirements before selecting.

Nature Communications has several characteristics that set it apart from other Nature Portfolio journals.

1. Methods are in the main text, and they count toward the word limit. This is the biggest practical difference from Nature. Don't try to write a 5,000-word results section and then add 2,000 words of methods on top. Budget your word count to include Methods from the start. A typical split is ~3,500 words for Introduction + Results + Discussion and ~1,500 words for Methods.

2. The 10-display-item cap is generous but not unlimited. You have room for detailed data presentation, but don't use 10 figures if 7 tell the story. Reviewers appreciate concise papers even when the format allows more. Quality over quantity.

3. Transfer manuscripts from Nature are common. If your paper was rejected from Nature but the editors suggest Nature Communications, you can transfer the manuscript with reviews intact. The Nature Communications editors may send it for additional review or make a decision based on the existing reviews. Formatting differences are handled during revision, not at the transfer stage.

4. Open access means APCs. The article processing charge for Nature Communications is substantial (check the current rate on the journal website). Factor this into your funding budget early. Many institutions and funders cover APCs. Springer Nature also offers APC waivers for authors from low-income countries.

5. No Extended Data tier. Unlike Nature, which has three tiers (main, Extended Data, Supplementary), Nature Communications has two: main text (up to 10 items) and Supplementary Information. This simpler structure is easier to manage but means you need to decide upfront whether a figure belongs in the article or the supplement.

6. The Reporting Summary is taken seriously. The Nature Portfolio Reporting Summary isn't a checkbox exercise. Reviewers receive the completed Reporting Summary alongside the manuscript and use it to evaluate statistical rigor, data exclusions, and ethical compliance. Incomplete or vague responses will generate specific revision requests. Fill it out with the same care as the manuscript.

7. Data and code availability enforcement is real. Nature Communications checks data availability statements at the production stage. If you state that data are available at a GEO accession number, the production team will verify that the accession number resolves and that the data are set to release on publication. Invalid or unresolved or pre-publication accession numbers will block publication.

8. Transparent peer review is the default since November 2022. Nature Communications publishes reviewer reports and author responses alongside accepted articles by default. Authors can opt out during submission, but the opt-out must be deliberate. Many authors are surprised to learn their reviewer correspondence will become part of the public record. If there are unusual reviewer exchanges or concerns you'd prefer not to publish, consider the opt-out option.

In our pre-submission review work with manuscripts targeting Nature Communications, four patterns generate the most consistent desk rejections and post-acceptance delays.

Methods word count not budgeted into the 5,000-word total. The most common formatting error from authors new to Nature Communications, or transferring from Nature, is treating the Methods section as separate from the word limit. At Nature Communications, Methods sits within the main text and counts toward the ~5,000-word limit. A paper with 4,800 words of Introduction, Results, and Discussion plus a 1,500-word Methods section is 30% over the limit. Authors who discover this at the revision stage face substantial cuts to content that has already been accepted by reviewers.

Reporting Summary completed as a checkbox exercise. The Nature Portfolio Reporting Summary is sent to reviewers alongside the manuscript. Reviewers flag vague or unhelpful responses, generating specific revision requests on statistical methods, data exclusions, and replication. Common failure patterns: "N/A" for fields that clearly apply, no explanation for outlier exclusions, missing information about blinding in animal studies, and inadequate power calculations. Fill it out with the same rigor as the manuscript itself.

Data availability statements with unresolved or pre-publication accession numbers. Nature Communications production verifies all data availability statements before acceptance is finalized. If a GEO accession, PDB ID, or Zenodo DOI in the statement returns an error, the paper is held until valid accession information is provided. The check happens days before expected publication. Generate valid, public accession numbers before submitting the final manuscript, not after.

Cover letter that doesn't establish cross-disciplinary significance. Nature Communications editors use the cover letter for triage decisions. A generic cover letter signals that authors haven't considered whether the finding merits Nature Communications specifically (a broad-scope journal) versus a specialty journal. The cover letter should state what the finding is in one sentence, what makes it new in one sentence, and why it is significant to readers across multiple scientific disciplines.

A Nature Communications pre-submission readiness check evaluates Methods word count compliance, Reporting Summary completeness, and data availability statements before submission.

Nature Communications combines Nature Portfolio formatting standards with the practical differences of an open access journal: Methods in the main text, 10 display items, and no Extended Data tier. These differences trip up authors who are used to the main Nature journal's format, especially those handling a transfer manuscript.

Nature Communications submission readiness check checks your formatting against Nature Communications' specific requirements, including word limits (with Methods counted), display item counts, reference style, and required statements. It catches the differences between Nature and Nature Communications formatting that are easy to miss.

For a complete overview of the journal, see the Nature Communications journal profile. For the parent journal, see our Nature formatting requirements guide.