Analytical Methods

Communications

These must report preliminary research findings that are highly original, of immediate interest and are likely to have a high impact. Communications are given priority treatment, are fast-tracked through the publication process and appear prominently at the front of the journal.

The key aim of Communications is to present innovative concepts with important analytical implications. As such, Communications need only demonstrate 'proof of principle': it is not expected that the analytical figures of merit will necessarily surpass those of existing, highly refined analytical techniques.

At the time of submission, authors should also provide a justification for urgent publication as a Communication. Ideally, a Full paper should follow each Communication in an appropriate primary journal.

There is no page limit for communications in Analytical Methods, however the length should be commensurate with scientific content. Authors are encouraged to make full use of electronic supplementary information (ESI) in order to present more concise articles.

Full papers

These must describe science that will be of benefit to the community in the particular field of analysis and are judged according to originality, quality of scientific content and contribution to existing knowledge.

Although there is no page limit for Full papers, appropriateness of length to content of new science will be taken into consideration.

Technical notes

These should be brief descriptions of developments, techniques or applications that offer definite advantages over those already available. Technical notes should offer practical solutions to problems that are of interest to the readership and merit publication, but where a Full paper is not justified.

Technical notes should be as brief as possible; wherever appropriate authors should use references to the established technique, explaining in full only what is novel about the proposed approach.

Critical reviews

Critical reviews are definitive, comprehensive reviews but must also provide a critical evaluation of the chosen topic area. Authors should try to be selective in the choice of material, whilst still aim to cover all the important work in the field, also indicating possible future developments.

Minireviews

Minireviews are highlights or summaries of research in an emerging area of analytical science covering approximately the last two-three years. Given topics should review work no more than approximately 36 months old, and articles should cover only the most interesting/significant developments in that specific subject area.

The articles should be highly critical and selective in referencing published work. A small amount of speculation (one or two paragraphs) of possible future developments may also be appropriate in the Conclusions section.

Tutorial reviews

Tutorial reviews are concise overviews highlighting specific areas of analytical chemistry that might be of interest to the readers of Analytical Methods, including but not limited to sample preparation, experimental procedures and data analysis. They should include discussion of recent developments in the field as well as potential future directions and are intended to provide an introduction and overview of the chosen topic area for both researchers who are new to the field as well as experts already in the area. The inclusion of worked examples using real or model datasets is encouraged where appropriate.

Tutorial reviews should be written at a level that could be understood by an advanced undergraduate student, allowing a researcher new to a field to understand the broad premise and direction.

Tutorial reviews should not contain unpublished research and potential writers should contact the editorial office before commencing their work.

Comments

Comments and Replies are a medium for the discussion and exchange of scientific opinions between authors and readers concerning material published in Analytical Methods.

For publication, a Comment should present an alternative analysis of and/or new insight into the previously published material. Any Reply should further the discussion presented in the original article and the Comment. Comments and Replies that contain any form of personal attack are not suitable for publication. 

Comments that are acceptable for publication will be forwarded to the authors of the work being discussed, and these authors will be given the opportunity to submit a Reply. The Comment and Reply will both be subject to rigorous peer review in consultation with the journal’s Editorial Board where appropriate. The Comment and Reply will be published together.