Corresponding Author vs First Author

The first author is the author listed first in the author line, usually the person who did most of the work; the corresponding author is the person designated to communicate with the journal and readers. They may be the same person or different people. Corresponding author status is administrative and does not by itself indicate the size of contribution.

Responsibilities of the corresponding author

• Submit the manuscript and communicate with the editor.
• Ensure all authors have approved the submission and that ethics, registration and declaration requirements are met.
• Handle review, revisions, proofs and post-publication questions.
• Keep the author group informed and provide contact details for the long term.
• Respond to readers' queries about the work, including requests for data where policy requires.

ICMJE notes that the corresponding author should ensure that required forms and statements are complete, and that all authors are informed about editorial decisions.

Choosing one

Choose someone who will remain reachable for years, has the time and authority to coordinate and is comfortable communicating with editors. In many teams this is the senior author; in others, the first author takes the role, especially early-career researchers building a record.

Illustrative example

Invented for teaching. A resident is first author and drafts the paper but is moving to another country. The team chooses the senior author as corresponding author because they will stay at the institution and can answer reader questions in the future. Both appear on the title page with their roles.

Common pitfalls

• Choosing someone who will be unreachable.
• Treating the corresponding role as "more credit".
• Not telling co-authors about decisions.

Key takeaways

• Corresponding author = communication and administration; first author = typically largest contribution.
• Choose a stable, reachable person.

This page is general educational information about research methods. It is not medical, legal or regulatory advice; follow your institution's ethics board and your target journal's instructions.