In short: Choosing the right article type is the first step to publishing successfully. The type determines your paper's structure, length and how it is reviewed. This guide explains the main types and how to pick the one that fits your work.
Why article type matters
Journals publish several distinct kinds of article, each with its own purpose, structure and review path. Selecting the correct type before you write helps you meet the journal's requirements and reach the right readers. You can see the types we publish on our article types page and the formatting rules in our author guidelines.
The main types of research article
| Type | What it is | Typical review |
|---|---|---|
| Original research | Reports a new primary study, using the IMRaD structure. The most common type. | Full peer review |
| Review | Synthesises existing knowledge on a topic to give an up-to-date overview. | Full peer review |
| Systematic review & meta-analysis | Uses a pre-defined, reproducible method to find and appraise all relevant studies; a meta-analysis statistically combines their results. | Full peer review |
| Case report | A detailed account of a single, instructive case — an unusual presentation, diagnosis or outcome. | Full peer review |
| Case series | Describes several similar cases together to identify a pattern. | Full peer review |
| Short communication | A concise report of a smaller but complete piece of research. | Full peer review |
| Editorial | A short, often invited, opinion piece on a topic or on articles in the issue. | Editorial review |
| Commentary / Perspective | An argued viewpoint on a current issue or a published article. | Editorial or peer review |
| Letter to the Editor | A brief response to a published article or a short observation. | Editorial review |
Original research vs review — the key distinction
The most important distinction for most authors is between original research, which reports data you collected in a new study, and a review, which synthesises studies that already exist. If you generated new primary data, you are writing original research. If you are summarising or systematically appraising the existing literature, you are writing a review.
How to choose the right type
- Match the type to what you did — new primary study, synthesis of others' work, or an instructive single case.
- Check the journal accepts it — not every journal publishes every type.
- Follow the structure and limits — each type has its own expected structure, word limit and reporting requirements.
- Use the right reporting guideline — for example CONSORT for trials or PRISMA for systematic reviews.
Key takeaways
- Article type sets your paper's structure, length and review path.
- Original research reports new data; reviews synthesise existing studies.
- Systematic reviews use a reproducible method and may include a meta-analysis.
- Choose the type that matches what you did, then follow the journal's rules.