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▪ Avoid using a single abbreviation as a heading, even if the abbreviation has been expanded earlier in the text. If the abbreviation appears as the sole item in a heading, spell it out. (See , Abbreviations, Clinical, Technical, and Other Common Terms.)▪ Avoid expanding abbreviations for the first time in a heading. Spell the abbreviation out in the heading if that is its first appearance and introduce the abbreviation, if appropriate, at the next appearance of the term. (See , Abbreviations, Clinical, Technical, and Other Common Terms.)▪ Avoid citing figures or tables in headings. Cite them in the appropriate ...Less

A consistent style or typeface should be used for each level of heading throughout a manuscript so that the reader may visually distinguish between primary and secondary headings.The styles used for the various levels of headings will vary from publisher to publisher and publication to publication, even within the same publishing house. They may also vary within a single publication, from one category of article to another (see also , Typography).Headings are often used as navigational links for online articles. Consideration should be given to appropriate online use (eg, avoidance of excessive length and citation of images and references within ...Less

There is no requisite number of headings. However, because headings are meant to divide a primary part into secondary parts, and so on, there should be a minimum of 2.Headings reflect the progression of logic or the flow of thought in an article and thereby guide the reader. Headings also help break up the copy, making the article more attractive and easier to read. Headings may be used even in articles such as editorials and reviews, which usually do not follow the organization described above for research articles. (Other typographic and design elements, such as pullout quotations, bullets [•], enumerations, ...Less

A consistent pattern of organization for all headings should be used for original research articles (see also , Study Design and Statistics, The Manuscript: Presenting Study Design, Rationale, and Statistical Analysis); many scientific articles follow the IMRAD pattern (introduction, methods, results, and discussion). However, not all articles will conform to a single pattern because format and section headings vary with the type of article (see , Typography).Introduction: The introduction should provide the context for the article, the objective of the study, and should state the hypothesis or research question (purpose statement), how and why the hypothesis was developed, and why ...Less