How to write the Acknowledgements section of a research paper
Among all the sections of a typical research paper, the acknowledgements section is the easiest to write—which is probably why most books on writing research papers tend to ignore it. Yet, acknowledgements can be politically tricky. By forgetting to acknowledge those whom you should have acknowledged, you risk offending them; but even those whom you have acknowledged in your paper can take offence at the manner in which this is done. At times, when the help received is substantial, it can be hard to decide whether you should acknowledge the support or offer authorship instead. Wish this were as simple as remembering that it is Acknowledgments without the ‘e’ in US English but Acknowledgements with the ‘e’ in UK English.
This article discusses the purpose of the acknowledgements section in a research paper and offers tips on who should be mentioned in it and how, who should be excluded, and how the section should be formatted.
Who should not be acknowledged?
Formatting the acknowledgements
Why acknowledge?
In academic writing, the time-honoured method of acknowledging people is to cite their work, but that does not apply here. And yet, it is only proper that you put on record – by means of an appropriate mention in the acknowledgements section – any help that you received in conducting your research, in writing about it and publishing it. By doing so, albeit indirectly, you make your work more credible: for instance, when you acknowledge the help you received from a statistician in designing your experiment and in analysing its results, you reassure journal editors and, more important, those who review your manuscript, about the experimental design and the analysis of results. Similarly, acknowledging the help you received from a copy editor shows that you have taken care of the language, style, and formatting.
Who should be acknowledged?
Broadly, you should acknowledge those who helped you by going beyond their normal call of duty, especially those whose help proved crucial to your work or who provided expertise that you lacked. Such people may include some of your peers, your mentors (research supervisors or guides), and even your students. If you received funding, the fact should be acknowledged. Some funding agencies may have specific instructions about how their funding should be mentioned; if that is so, make sure that the form of acknowledgement is consistent with such instructions. You should also consider acknowledging any material or other resources made available to you free of charge. However, if such help is mentioned as part of a conflict-of-interest statement, it should not be repeated in the acknowledgements section.
Consider including reviewers, even if they are anonymous, if their suggestions have resulted in a substantially improved manuscript.
It is also advisable to have your phrasing approved by those mentioned in the acknowledgements, because such a mention may imply that they approve of the contents of the research paper.
Who should not be acknowledged?
Unlike dedications and acknowledgement commonly found in books, acknowledgements in research papers do not feature parents, family members, or friends (unless of course they qualify on other grounds). Similarly, those who provide a service as part of their job (laboratory technicians, field assistants, and so on) are usually excluded. Heads of departments, directors of laboratories, and people in similar positions also should not be acknowledged routinely: include them only if they went out of their way to help you.
Phrasing the acknowledgements
In general, be factual and avoid going overboard. Something along the lines of “The authors thank John Smith for advice on experimental design and statistical analysis” should be fine. Courtesy titles (Mr, Ms, Dr, etc.) before the names are rarely used (but check your target journal), and job titles or designations are seldom given. Avoid such expressions as ‘kind help’, ‘eternally grateful’, and ‘greatly indebted to’. If the acknowledgement is specifically by one of the authors of the paper, it is customary to use only the initials, as in “JS thanks…”.
In terms of sequence, any intellectual contributions come first, followed by technical support, help in revising and writing; financial support is mentioned at the end.
Acknowledgements Examples for Research Papers
The examples below cover the most common scenarios. Each uses the recommended active, factual tone and avoids overly effusive language.
Example 1: Journal article with funding and technical support
The authors thank Dr. Sara Okonkwo (University of Cape Town) for assistance with statistical analysis, and Dr. Miguel Ferreira (Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência) for providing bacterial strains used in this study. This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health under grant number R01GM123456 awarded to J.L.H. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, or the decision to publish.
What this covers:
- Named individual contributors with institutional affiliations and specific roles
- Grant number and funder named in full
- Standard funder non-interference statement
Example 2: Journal article with peer review acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to two anonymous reviewers whose detailed comments substantially improved the clarity and scope of this manuscript. The authors also thank the editorial team at [Journal Name] for their support throughout the review process.
What this covers:
- Anonymous reviewers thanked without being named
- Recognises editorial support without implying endorsement
Example 3: Funded thesis or dissertation
I would like to thank my supervisor, Professor Linda Marsh, for her guidance and critical feedback throughout this project. I am grateful to the members of the Molecular Biology Research Group at [University Name] for their collegiality and practical support. Administrative assistance from Ms. Jo Watkins in the Department of Biochemistry is also gratefully acknowledged. Funding for this research was provided by a PhD studentship from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) under grant reference BB/T000000/1.
What this covers:
- Supervisor named and role described
- Research group acknowledged collectively
- Administrative staff included (appropriate in thesis, not in journal articles)
- Grant reference and funder in full
What to avoid in the Acknowledgements section: common mistakes
| Mistake | Why it’s a problem | Better approach |
|---|---|---|
| “We are deeply indebted to…” | Overly effusive; not standard in scientific writing | “The authors thank…” |
| Acknowledging co-authors | Co-authors are already credited in the authorship line | Remove; only acknowledge non-authors |
| Generic praise (“invaluable support”) | Vague; adds no information | Specify what the person did |
| Naming reviewers by name | Violates peer review confidentiality | “Two anonymous reviewers” |
| Listing family and friends in a journal paper | Not standard in journal publications | Appropriate only in theses |
Acknowledging AI Tools in Your Research Paper
AI tools are now commonly used in academic research — for data analysis, literature searches, coding, and language editing. Whether and how to disclose this use in your acknowledgements is no longer optional at most journals: it is an ethical requirement.
What the major guidelines say
- ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors): AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Any use of AI in manuscript preparation must be disclosed, and authors take full responsibility for the accuracy of AI-assisted content.
- COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics): Recommends transparency about AI use at the point of submission and in the published paper.
- Many individual journals (Nature, Springer, Elsevier, Wiley) now require a dedicated AI disclosure statement, either within the acknowledgements or in a separate section.
How to write an AI disclosure
Be specific: name the tool, the version or access date, and the purpose for which it was used. Do not write a blanket disclaimer.
Template:
[Tool name] ([version or access date]) was used to [specific task, e.g., assist with language editing / generate initial code for data analysis / translate sections from X language]. All outputs were reviewed, edited, and verified by the authors, who take sole responsibility for the integrity of the published work.
Things to avoid:
- Do not list an AI tool as a co-author or contributor. No journal currently permits this.
- Do not omit disclosure to avoid scrutiny. Many journals now use detection tools and will flag undisclosed AI use during peer review.
- Do not use vague language like “AI assistance was used in the preparation of this manuscript” without specifying what kind.
Acknowledgements in a Thesis vs. a Journal Article
The same section name covers two very different documents with different conventions. Confusing the two is a common mistake, particularly among early-career researchers submitting to journals for the first time.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Journal article | Thesis / dissertation |
|---|---|---|
| Position in document | Before references, after the main text | Towards the front, after the abstract or dedication |
| Appropriate length | 50–150 words; single paragraph | Up to one full page |
| Tone | Formal, factual, impersonal | Can be more personal |
| Supervisor | Acknowledge only if contribution went beyond normal role | Almost always acknowledged |
| Lab/support staff | Generally excluded | Commonly included |
| Administrative staff | Excluded | May be included |
| Friends and family | Not included | Commonly included |
| Funding bodies and grant numbers | Required if applicable | Required if applicable |
| Anonymous reviewers | May be thanked | Not applicable |
| AI tool disclosure | Required if applicable | Required if applicable; check university policy |
| Courtesy titles (Mr, Ms) | Rarely used | Rarely used |
| Honorary titles (Dr, Prof) | Included | Included |
| Dedications to deceased individuals | Acceptable, with care | Acceptable |
| Approval by those mentioned | Advisable | Advisable |
Key differences explained
Who can you thank?
In a thesis, acknowledgements are genuinely personal — it is standard practice to thank your supervisor, research group, departmental staff, fellow students, and your family. In a journal article, the section is professional and narrow: only people who contributed directly to the research or manuscript, and funding bodies.
Where does it appear?
In a journal article, the acknowledgements section follows the main body and precedes the references. In a thesis, it typically appears near the front of the document, after the abstract and before the table of contents or introduction. However, exact placement varies by institution — always consult your university’s thesis submission guidelines.
Who decides the rules?
For journal articles, the target journal’s author guidelines govern the format. For theses, your university’s graduate school or department style guide takes precedence. These can differ significantly even within the same field — check both before you write.
Formatting the acknowledgements
As a rule of thumb, the acknowledgement section should be a single short paragraph of say half a dozen lines. Examine the target journal for the format: whether the heading appears on a separate line or run on (that is, the text follows the heading on the same line). Check also whether the heading is in bold or in italics. The headings in the main body of the paper may be numbered, but the acknowledgement section is not numbered. Do not use any special formatting within the paragraph.
How Long Should the Acknowledgements Section Be?
For a journal article, the acknowledgements section is typically a single short paragraph of around 50 to 150 words. Most published examples fall within this range. The section is not meant to be comprehensive; it is meant to be proportionate to the help received.
For a thesis or dissertation, the section can run slightly longer, up to one full page, because the scope of support is broader and personal acknowledgements are appropriate.
Quick reference by document type
| Document type | Typical length | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Journal article | 50–150 words | Single paragraph, no subheadings |
| Conference paper | 30–80 words | Single paragraph |
| Master’s thesis | 150–300 words | One or two paragraphs |
| PhD dissertation | Up to one page | Multiple paragraphs permitted |
Rules of thumb
- If your acknowledgements run longer than a paragraph in a journal paper, review whether all the inclusions are necessary.
- Do not break the section into subheadings or bullet points in a journal paper — it should read as flowing prose.
- Length should reflect genuine contribution, not courtesy. Padding acknowledgements with names of people who provided only routine assistance is discouraged by most journals.
- When in doubt, check your target journal’s published papers and match what you see in a similar article in the same field.
See also
- How should I acknowledge that I have used part of my thesis for my journal article?
- Can I add a co-author and acknowledgements after my paper has been accepted?
- Is it unethical to use someone’s name in the acknowledgments without prior consent?
- Can I change grant ID in the acknowledgments section when revising my paper?
This article was originally published in February 2021, and updated on May 21, 2026.
