Quick Fix: Submitting a manuscript in 2026? Just open your submission portal, find the "Author Disclosure" or "Conflict of Interest" section, type "None declared" if you have nothing to report—or list any conflicts if you do—and hit submit before finalizing your submission.
What’s Happening
Here’s the deal: Author disclosure is how researchers and scholars come clean about any potential conflicts of interest that could sway their work’s objectivity or credibility. We’re talking money (grants, consulting fees), personal ties, or professional relationships that might nudge their judgment. By 2026, most journals, funding agencies, and professional orgs demand a disclosure form before they’ll even consider publishing your work—or approving your grant. Miss something important? You might face rejection, retraction, lost funding, or a tarnished reputation.
Step-by-Step Solution
Want to get this right the first time? Follow these steps:
- Find the right section: In your submission portal (ScholarOne, Editorial Manager, or whatever your target journal uses), hunt down the "Author Disclosure," "Conflict of Interest," or "Ethics Statement" tab. You’ll usually land here after uploading your manuscript, but before you hit final submission.
- Don’t forget the team: Every co-author needs their own disclosure form. Some systems let the corresponding author submit for everyone, but honesty matters here. Each person must confirm their contributions and any potential conflicts.
- Be brutally clear: List every financial interest—grants, speaking fees, patents, royalties—and non-financial ones too, like personal relationships or political ties. Vague language? That’s a fast track to rejection.
- Credit your helpers: Used a professional editor, writing service, or data analyst? Name them and disclose who paid. Journals following ICMJE guidelines expect this.
- Double-check and submit: Review everything for accuracy. Submit the form before you lock in your final submission. Some journals want a signed PDF or digital signature; others just need an electronic thumbs-up.
Menu Paths and Settings (Common Systems)
| System | Where to find disclosure |
|---|---|
| Elsevier (EVISE) | During submission → "Author Details" → "Disclosure of Interest" |
| Springer (Editorial Manager) | After uploading your manuscript → "Author Comments" → "Conflict of Interest Statement" |
| PLOS ONE | Before submission → "Authors" → "Add/Edit Authors" → "Disclosure" |
| Wiley (ScholarOne) | In the submission checklist → "Author Disclosure Form" |
If This Didn’t Work
Hit a snag with your disclosure? Don’t panic. Try this:
- Check the latest rules: Journals update their requirements constantly. Peek at the journal’s ICMJE recommendations or APA Ethical Standards to see what changed.
- Talk to the editorial team: Email the journal’s editors with a clear explanation of your disclosure. Attach a revised form if you need to.
- Make it crystal clear: If they flagged ambiguity, rephrase your disclosure to say "None declared" or list conflicts in a straightforward, standardized way.
Prevention Tips
Want to dodge disclosure headaches next time? Keep these tricks in your back pocket:
- Build a reusable template: Create a form that lists every possible conflict. Update it yearly to reflect new funding, jobs, or relationships.
- Stick to standard wording: Follow Crossref’s metadata standards so your disclosures look consistent across journals.
- Delegate the dirty work: In multi-author papers, pick one person to manage disclosures and chase down every co-author’s form before submission.
- Stay current: Journals like Nature and Science keep tightening their rules. Check the journal’s "Author Guidelines" page before you submit—every time.
- Keep detailed records: Save notes on each author’s role—who conceptualized the study, curated the data, wrote the draft, etc.—to match ICMJE authorship criteria.
