Prior to publication, Cochrane protocols, reviews, and updates go through Cochrane’s production process. Production includes copy editing, authors reviewing proofs, and a final proofread by copy editors.

The production process ensures that accepted manuscripts are  

• Written in concise, accessible language
• Free from typographical errors 
• Internally consistent and consistent with the Cochrane Style Manual 
• Structurally complete and appropriately organized

The production process begins at acceptance. Acceptance indicates the scientific content of the manuscript is suitable for publication. At acceptance, editors should provide relevant information for the copy editor in the manuscript Production Notes. Instructions on accepting content for publication and completing Production Notes are available in the Editorial Manager Knowledge Base. 

Corrections made in production should not include substantial rewriting of the main article, technical editing, full checking of consistency of descriptions of findings, or extensive work on tables. Supplementary materials are not copy edited or proofread. It is the editors’ responsibility to ensure that authors are asked to make any substantial corrections at revision stage.  

Cochrane protocols, reviews, and updates must follow the guidance in the Cochrane Style Manual. A shorter collection of key points is provided in Cochrane Style Essentials. 

Production services are managed by Cochrane production staff within the Publishing and Technology Directorate.  

Author resources

• Author guidelines: Preparing manuscripts for submission
• Author guidelines: Correcting proofs
• Editorial Manager instructions for authors: Review final proofs after copy editing
• Editorial Manager instructions for authors: Final queries from the copy editor