When you submit a manuscript to Sage Open, you will have an opportunity to create an author list for your article. Make sure all author names and affiliations are written as they should appear on the contributor form and published manuscript. For example, if your co-author wants to include their middle initial and ORCID, please be sure to include this information in your author list.


For changes to your author list, such as adding authors, removing authors, or changing the order of authors, we will need all authors to complete an authorship change form. Email us at sageopen@sagepub.com with your request and completed form. You may also change your author list directly in our peer review system when you upload a revision, but be sure to include a completed authorship change form in your supplementary files.


Sage Open uses the ICMJE definition of authorship, which has 4 criteria:


  • “Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work;
  • AND Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content;
  • AND Final approval of the version to be published;
  • AND Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part”

Sage Open does not consider third-party submissions. Your article can be submitted by one of your co-authors but not by an assistant or a submission service.