This page is part of MIT's Guidelines for Ethical Authorship and Publication Practices.
As recognized by the ICMJE, not every contribution to a project qualifies for authorship—and that’s okay. Many people provide important support that helps a project succeed, even if their role doesn’t meet the authorship criteria for the discipline or the journal. When that happens, it’s good practice to acknowledge those contributions in a way that’s appropriate for the publication.
Examples of contributions that are often acknowledged—but don’t, on their own, qualify for authorship—include:
- Offering helpful feedback or a critical review of a study proposal
- Securing funding for the project
- Providing general oversight or supervision of a research group
- Assisting with administrative or logistical tasks
- Helping with routine data collection
- Providing writing support, technical or language editing, or proofreading
Acknowledgments are a meaningful way to recognize these contributions and show appreciation, while keeping authorship aligned with established standards.