Definition · Plain-language
CRediT role: Writing – original draft
In the CASRAI-originated CRediT taxonomy (ANSI/NISO Z39.104-2022), Writing – original draft covers preparation, creation and/or presentation of the published work, specifically writing the initial draft — including substantive translation.
The step most authors miss
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What Writing – original draft covers
The ANSI/NISO Z39.104-2022 definition is: "Preparation, creation and/or presentation of the published work, specifically writing the initial draft (including substantive translation)." This covers writing the manuscript from blank page to first complete draft: structuring the argument, writing sections, producing figures captions and tables, and any substantive translation work. It does not cover subsequent rounds of revision, peer-review responses, or critical editorial revisions — those belong to Writing – review and editing.
Distinction from Writing – review and editing
Two writing roles exist precisely because the contribution of drafting and the contribution of revising are often separated in practice. A postdoc who wrote the initial draft and a senior professor who made substantial revisions in response to reviewers perform different and distinct services. Writing – original draft goes to those who created the text; Writing – review and editing goes to those who critically revised, commented on, or restructured an existing text. Both roles can be held by the same person (an author who both drafted and revised), and multiple authors can share each role with lead/equal/supporting qualifiers.
Ghost authorship and the transparency rationale
Medical ghostwriting — where pharmaceutical companies or professional medical writers draft manuscripts that are then signed by clinical academics with no drafting involvement — has been a long-standing concern in biomedical publishing. CRediT's Writing – original draft role directly addresses this: if the listed authors did not write the first draft, they cannot truthfully claim Writing – original draft. A structured CRediT statement that reveals no named author holds Writing – original draft prompts questions about who wrote the manuscript. COPE and ICMJE both address ghost authorship, and CRediT provides the mechanism to make it visible at the article metadata level.
Key facts
At a glance
- Role definition: "Preparation, creation and/or presentation of the published work, specifically writing the initial draft (including substantive translation)"
- Standard: ANSI/NISO Z39.104-2022, role 13 of 14
- URI: casrai.org/credit/roles/writing-original-draft
- Distinct from: Writing – review and editing (revision, not initial drafting)
- Ghost authorship: CRediT makes undisclosed ghostwriting visible at metadata level
- Translation: substantive translation of the initial draft is included in this role
Common misconceptions
What people often get wrong
Often heard: All named authors should receive Writing – original draft.
Actually: Only those who actually wrote the initial manuscript draft should receive this role. Others who made contributions by revising the draft receive Writing – review and editing instead.
Often heard: Writing – original draft and Writing – review and editing are the same role.
Actually: They are distinct roles covering different activities. Original draft is initial creation; review and editing is critical revision. They can be held by the same author or different authors.
Often heard: A professional medical writer who drafted the manuscript should not receive authorship.
Actually: Whether a medical writer qualifies for authorship depends on ICMJE criteria (substantial intellectual contribution, not just writing services). But if they drafted the manuscript and qualify as an author, they should receive Writing – original draft. If they do not qualify as an author, they should be acknowledged as a medical writer in the acknowledgements.
Common questions
FAQ
What if the first draft was written collaboratively by three authors?+
All three can receive Writing – original draft, using the "equal" qualifier if their contributions were roughly equal, or lead/supporting to indicate relative weight.
Does Writing – original draft cover the translation of a manuscript into a different language?+
ANSI/NISO Z39.104-2022 explicitly includes "substantive translation" in the Writing – original draft definition. Substantive translation — producing a complete, accurate translation of the manuscript — is a significant intellectual contribution and qualifies for this role.
