How to write and publish a scientific paper - Barbara Gastel, Robert A. Day 2022

The order of the names
How to list the authors and addresses
Preparing the text

“If you have co-authors, problems about authorship can range from the trivial to the catastrophic” (O’Connor 1991, p. 10).

The easiest part of preparing a scientific paper is simply entering the bylines: the authors and addresses. Sometimes.

We haven’t yet heard of a duel being fought over the order of listing of authors. But there have been instances in which otherwise reasonable, rational colleagues have become bitter enemies solely because they could not agree on whose names should be listed, and in what order.

What is the right order? Unfortunately, there are no agreed-upon rules or generally accepted conventions. Some authors, perhaps to avoid arguments among themselves, agree to list their names alphabetically. In the field of mathematics, this practice appears to be common. Some pairs of researchers who repeatedly collaborate take turns being listed first. If allowed by the journal, sometimes papers include a note indicating that the first two authors contributed equally to the research.

In the past, there was a general tendency to list the head of the laboratory (or head of the research group) as an author, whether or not that person actively participated in the research. Often, the “head” was placed last (second of two authors, third of three, etc.). Therefore, the terminal spot seemed to acquire prestige. Thus, two authors, neither of whom was head of a laboratory or even necessarily a senior professor, would vie for the second spot. If there were three or more authors, the prestige-seeking author would want the first or last position, but not one in between.

Commonly, the first author is the person who played the lead role in the research. Qualification to be listed first does not depend on rank. A graduate student, or even an undergraduate, may be listed first if they led the research project. And even Nobel laureates are not to be listed first unless their contributions predominate. Multiple authors may then be listed approximately in order of decreasing contribution to the work. In some fields, the head of the laboratory is still often listed last, in which case this position may continue to command particular respect. However, the head should be included only if they indeed at least provided guidance.

The sequence of authors on a published paper tends to be best decided unanimously before the research begins. Accordingly, upon receiving a grant, some research groups prepare a spreadsheet specifying what presentations and publications are expected to result and stating the anticipated author list for each. Changes may be required later, depending on which turn the research takes, but it is foolish to leave this important question of authorship to the end of the research process.