How to Write Acknowledgement in a Journal Article
September 23, 2026
Knowing how to write acknowledgement in a journal article comes down to three decisions: who supported the work, what exactly they did, and where your target journal wants the section. The acknowledgement is one of the last things authors write and one of the few places where a careless line can cause problems. Someone can be named without consent, a funder can be missed, or a person who deserved authorship can be reduced to a thank-you.
This guide explains what belongs in an acknowledgement for a research paper, who to include, and how to structure it. You'll also find original samples you can adapt, plus a checklist for submission day.
Quick answer:
An acknowledgement in a research paper is a short section that recognizes people, institutions, funders, or other support that contributed to the research but do not necessarily qualify for authorship. Placement and requirements depend on the target journal, so check its author guidelines first.
Spelling note
"Acknowledgment" is the standard American spelling and "acknowledgement" is common in British and Indian academic usage. Both are accepted. Use the one your journal or institution uses, and keep it consistent.
What Is an Acknowledgement in a Research Paper?
An acknowledgement (or acknowledgements section) is a brief passage in a manuscript, thesis or report that credits non-author support. That support might be technical assistance, research facilities, data collection, funding, editing or intellectual guidance.
In academic publishing, its job is transparency. It shows readers who and what made the work possible. It is not an author list, and it is not a place for a personal tribute.
How to Write Acknowledgement in a Journal Article
Quick answer: To write an acknowledgement in a journal article, list everyone who supported the work, group them by type of contribution, confirm nobody qualifies for authorship, describe each contribution specifically, add funding details, verify permissions, and trim.
1. List the people and organizations who supported the research
Sort your list into academic guidance, technical or laboratory support, data collection, funding, editing and institutional facilities. Grouping makes the section easier to read and shows reviewers you have thought about who contributed what.
2. Group contributions by type
Brainstorm freely at first. Include supervisors, lab or field staff, statisticians, editors, participant communities, institutions, facilities and funders. You will cut later.
3. Decide whether the contribution belongs in authorship instead
If someone shaped the research design, analyzed or interpreted data, or drafted and revised the manuscript, they may meet authorship criteria. Check your target journal's authorship policy and, where relevant, ICMJE or COPE guidance before defaulting to a thank-you.
4. Mention specific contributions
"We thank Dr. R. Menon for advice on the sampling design" is stronger than "We thank Dr. Menon for his support." Specificity signals real contribution.
5. Add funding details where required
Many journals want the funder name and grant number. Some publishers want this in a separate funding statement rather than the acknowledgements. Copy grant details from your award letter, not from memory.
6. Check permissions and journal requirements
Acknowledging a person can imply they endorse your findings, so ICMJE recommends that editors ask authors to obtain permission from acknowledged individuals. Many journals follow this. Confirm consent and read the journal's author guidelines and manuscript template.
7. Edit for clarity and brevity
Cut adjectives, remove repeated thanks and keep the tone professional.
Who Should You Acknowledge in a Research Paper?
Use this table as a starting point, not a rulebook. Journal and institutional rules take priority.
| Contributor / Support | Usually Acknowledge? | Possible Reason | Example Wording Direction | Important Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supervisor / advisor / mentor (non-author) | Yes | Guidance on design or interpretation | “…for guidance on the study design” | If they shaped the work substantially, consider authorship |
| Technical or laboratory staff | Yes | Instrument operation, assays | “…for technical assistance with mass spectrometry” | Name the task |
| Statistician | Often | Analysis advice | “…for statistical consultation” | Substantial analysis may warrant authorship |
| Research assistant / field staff | Often | Data collection, coding | “…for assistance with data collection” | Check contribution level |
| Participants | Where appropriate | Time and data | “We thank the participants who…” | Protect anonymity; no identifiable details |
| Institution / department | Often | Facilities, approvals, resources | “…for providing research facilities” | Follow institutional naming rules |
| Funding agency and grant | Yes, if funded | Financial support | “Supported by [Funder], grant no. [XXXX]” | May belong in a separate funding statement |
| Equipment or facility provider | If relevant | Access to instruments or data | “…for access to the imaging facility” | Confirm the required credit line |
| Editor, proofreader, translator | Sometimes | Language editing | “…for language editing” | Some journals require this to be disclosed |
| Colleagues | Sometimes | Feedback on drafts | “…for helpful comments on earlier drafts” | Avoid long name lists |
| Anonymous reviewers | Sometimes | Constructive feedback | “…the anonymous reviewers” | Keep it generic; optional in many journals |
| Family and friends | Depends | Personal support | Brief single line | Common in theses, rare in journals |
| AI tools / software | Depends on policy | Language, coding, analysis | Follow the journal's AI disclosure format | Never list an AI tool as an author |
Where Does the Acknowledgement Go in a Journal Article?
Most commonly it sits after the conclusion and before the references. Some journals move it to back matter, a title page file or a separate field in the submission system, particularly for blinded peer review. Some publishers split funding, contributions and conflicts into their own sections. Others combine everything under "Acknowledgements."
The rule is simple: follow the manuscript template and submission instructions for your target journal.
How Long Should a Journal Article Acknowledgement Be?
Quick answer: A journal acknowledgement is usually only a few sentences to a short paragraph, although limits vary by journal.
Rough practical ranges (not universal rules):
Journal article: 2-6 sentences
Conference paper: 1-3 sentences (IEEE-style papers are typically concise)
Thesis: a page or so
Dissertation: one to two pages
Project report: a short paragraph to a page
Acknowledgements Across Different Academic Documents
| Document | Typical placement | Typical style | Personal support? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journal article | Before references or in back matter | Concise, formal | Rare |
| Conference paper | Before references | Very brief | Rare |
| Thesis | Front matter, before contents | Formal, more detailed | Often accepted |
| Dissertation | Front matter | Formal, longer | Often accepted |
| Project report / assignment | Front matter | Simple, clear | Often accepted |
Acknowledgement Format for Research Paper
There is no universal order. A workable structure is:
1.Opening thanks (one line)
2.Specific contributions (academic guidance, data help)
3.Institutional or technical support (facilities, equipment)
4.Funding (funder, grant number)
5.Participants (where relevant)
6.Closing line (only if appropriate)
In journals, personal thanks usually appear last or not at all. Your target journal's instructions come first.
Acknowledgement Examples for Research Papers and Journal Articles
All samples below are original. Replace the bracketed text.
Short journal acknowledgement
The authors thank the technical staff at [Department] for assistance with data collection. This work was supported by [Funder] (grant no. [XXXX]).
Supervisor
I am grateful to Prof. [Name] for guidance on the research design and for feedback on earlier drafts of this manuscript.
Funding
This research was funded by [Funding Agency] under grant [Number]. The funder had no role in study design, analysis or the decision to publish.
Technical or statistical support
We thank [Name], [Institution], for statistical advice on the regression models, and [Name] for support with laboratory analysis.
Participants
We thank the [number] participants who gave their time and shared their experiences for this study.
Thesis or dissertation
I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. [Name], for consistent guidance throughout this research. I also thank the [Department] for research facilities, my colleagues for helpful discussion, and my family for their encouragement.
Qualitative research
We are grateful to the community members and interviewees who generously shared their perspectives. Their contributions shaped the themes presented here.
Editing or proofreading
The authors thank [Name/Service] for English-language editing of the manuscript.
Conference paper
The authors acknowledge [Institution] for providing computing resources for the experiments.
Research project (student)
I thank my teacher, Mr. [Name], for guiding this project, and my school for providing access to laboratory resources.
How to Write Acknowledgement in Research Paper for Students
An acknowledgement for a research paper for students is usually simpler than a journal version. Undergraduate and postgraduate researchers generally follow a university template, which often allows a warmer tone.
Assignments: For "how to write acknowledgement for assignment," keep it to a few sentences thanking the instructor, any source of help and, if allowed, the institution.
Research projects: For an acknowledgement for a research project, name the guide, the institution and anyone who provided data or equipment.
Thesis writers: Thank the supervisor, committee, funders and participants, then personal supporters.
Use your own words and mention real contributions. Copied acknowledgement templates read as generic and can be flagged by examiners.
Common Mistakes in Research Paper Acknowledgements
Thanking someone with an authorship-level contribution instead of considering authorship.
Vague thanks such as "for their support," with no specifics.
Omitting required funding or grant numbers.
Naming people without their permission.
Exaggerated or emotional language in a journal article.
Long lists of irrelevant names.
Placing the section wrongly or ignoring the journal template.
Including confidential data or promotional language.
Copying a template word for word.
Skipping AI or editing disclosure where the journal requires it.
Should AI Tools Be Mentioned in the Acknowledgement?
Requirements vary by journal and publisher, so follow the target journal's current AI policy. A common baseline is that AI tools cannot be listed as authors, a position shared by COPE and ICMJE guidance. Beyond that, expectations differ by use:
Brainstorming: some journals ask for disclosure and some don't.
Language editing: often needs disclosure, sometimes with lighter requirements.
Coding and data analysis: normally belongs in the methods, with tool and version.
Image generation: often heavily restricted.
Manuscript drafting: usually requires clear disclosure and human accountability.
Some publishers ask for a dedicated AI statement instead of the acknowledgement. Read the guidelines rather than assuming.
Acknowledgement vs Funding, Author Contributions and Conflict of Interest Statements
Journals commonly separate these:
Acknowledgements: non-author support
Funding statement: funder, grant and funder's role
Author contributions: who did what (often using CRediT roles)
Conflict of interest: financial or personal relationships that might bias the work
Data availability and ethics statements: where data live and approvals granted
Not every journal uses the same structure. If a separate section exists, put the content there rather than duplicating it.
Research Paper Acknowledgement Checklist
Journal author guidelines and template checked
Section placed correctly
No authorship-level contributor omitted from the byline
Each contribution described specifically
Funder names and grant numbers verified
Permission obtained from named individuals
Participant confidentiality protected
AI and editing disclosures handled per policy
Tone professional and concise
Spelling consistent
Frequently asked questions
Thank the people and organizations that supported the work, describe each contribution specifically, add funding details and follow the journal's placement and format rules. Keep the tone professional and the section concise.
List supporters, group them by contribution type, check authorship criteria, add grant details, confirm permissions and place the section as the journal instructs. Most are a few sentences long.
Include academic or technical support, institutional facilities, funding sources and, where appropriate, participants. Name specific contributions and avoid promotional language, confidential details or irrelevant names.
Often after the conclusion and before the references, though some journals use back matter, a title page file or a separate submission field. Check the journal's manuscript template.
Journal acknowledgements are usually a few sentences; theses and dissertations run longer, from about a page to two. Journal limits override any general range.
Name the supervisor and state what they contributed, for example guidance on design or feedback on drafts. If they substantially shaped the study or manuscript, consider authorship instead.
Yes, if it provided facilities, equipment, data access or approvals. Use the institution's preferred name and follow any required credit line.
Yes, when the research received financial support. Many journals and funders require the funder name and grant number, sometimes in a separate funding statement.
Often, in a general statement, provided anonymity and consent conditions are respected. Never include identifying details.
Yes. Describe the role, such as statistical consultation or language editing. A statistician with substantial analytic input may qualify for authorship, and some journals want editing support disclosed.
Many journals recommend or require it, and ICMJE advises obtaining permission from acknowledged individuals because naming can imply endorsement. Check your target journal's policy.
It depends on the journal and publisher. AI tools cannot be authors, but disclosure rules differ by use, so follow the current policy.
Acknowledgement recognizes support, while authorship reflects substantial intellectual contribution and accountability for the work. Authorship criteria are set by the journal and frameworks such as ICMJE.
Journals rarely encourage it, although a brief line is sometimes accepted. Theses and dissertations commonly include family thanks.
No. Funding disclosure may be required, but the acknowledgement itself is often optional unless the journal or institution says otherwise.
Conclusion
To write an acknowledgement for a research paper, identify who supported the work, describe each contribution specifically, verify funding details and permissions, and place the section where the journal expects it. Check whether anyone deserves authorship first, then edit until it is short and precise.
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