Discover the latest updates to the ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication (the ACS Guide) and how it helps scientists and student researchers communicate more clearly, confidently, and accessibly.
In today’s fast‑evolving research landscape, the ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication remains an indispensable reference for scientists communicating across many different formats. Whether presenting to stakeholders or publishing findings in a peer‑reviewed journal, the ACS Guide provides step‑by‑step instruction across the full scholarly communication journey.
To meet the changing needs of modern researchers, the ACS Guide is updated annually through an expert‑driven, peer‑reviewed process. Each update reflects best practices while addressing emerging standards in accessibility, usability, and scientific communication.
The 2026 updates focus on enhanced accessibility, improved usability, and expanded examples designed to make complex guidance easier to understand and apply.
Jump to Section:
Enhanced Accessibility
New and Expanded Content
- Poster Presentations
- Effective Slide Presentations
- Effective Writing & Word Usage
Additional Updates
Enhanced Accessibility
- Improved visual accessibility: Updated figures and graphics feature higher contrast and improved readability, making visual content clearer and more inclusive.
- Expanded multimedia accessibility: Videos now include standards‑compliant captions and are compatible with common screen readers, improving access for users with diverse needs.
New and Expanded Content
Poster Presentations (Sections 1.7.1-1.7.3)
- Stronger visual examples: A new graphical abstract (Figure 1.7.2) shows how visual summaries boost poster impact and help users quickly grasp core presentation concepts—especially first‑time presenters.
- Real‑world inspiration: New examples of ACS award‑winning posters showcase best‑in‑class design and content from scientific meetings.
- Simplified guidance: A new, consolidated quick‑reference table outlines poster typography best practices, including font selection, hierarchy, and sizing.
- Ready‑to‑use templates: A free, downloadable ACS PowerPoint poster template allows users to easily edit, rearrange, and customize sections.
- Practical printing guidance: New content explains poster printing workflows, timelines, and funding considerations.
Effective Slide Presentations (Sections 1.8.1-1.8.5)
- End‑to‑end preparation guidance: Expanded advice walks researchers through the full preparation process, from brainstorming to defining core presentation elements.
- Stronger conclusions: New guidance helps presenters end presentations with clarity, impact, and confidence.
- Improved design fundamentals: New content covers text treatment, typography, heading structure, backgrounds, links, color usage, and contrast.
- Accessible file preparation: An expanded section outlines best practices for preparing presentation files and handouts while aligning with accessibility standards.
- Confidence‑building techniques: Expanded advice offers practical strategies for managing nerves and reducing anxiety before presenting.
- Holistic conference experience: Expanded coverage explains the responsibilities and value of both presenters and attendees in a conference setting.
- Online‑ready delivery: A new section outlines technical specifications and best practices for recording presentations.
- Stronger audience interaction: Expanded guidance helps presenters confidently address questions and facilitate discussion.
- Curated support materials: New resources support presentation preparation, public speaking skills, and effective slide design.
Effective Writing & Word Usage (Sections 5.1.1-5.1.5)
- Clearer comparisons: A streamlined layout makes “parallel” and “not parallel” sentence examples easier to read and compare.
- Expanded grammar guidance: New examples clarify common subject–verb agreement errors, and an all‑new section explains correct punctuation of restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses and phrases.
- Inclusive language guidance: A streamlined section on gender‑neutral language points users to the most current, authoritative resources.
- Faster learning: A new layout enables easier side‑by‑side comparison of correct and incorrect word usage in scientific writing.
- Interactive learning: A new exercise helps users identify and correct problematic phrasing using best practices from Section 5.1.
- Centralized research tools: A new resource directory helps users quickly find AI tools, laboratory resources, chemistry reference books, research databases, and style guides, along with guidance on how to use them.
Additional Updates
- 4.3.3 ACS Style Quick Guide (Section 4.3.3): Updated book citation guidance makes the Quick Guide easier to follow and apply.
- 1.6.1 Chemistry Preprints (Section 1.6.1): Updated arXiv information reflects current preprint resources.