Tutorial:How to create an article - checklist before validation

Overview of all steps

This tutorial is part of How to create an article step by step and provides a checklist to use before sending an article for approval.

Once your text is ready and your tables and graphs are inserted, please make a last check before sending it for validation to your hierarchy.

Full article

Checklist: Text

Is the introduction short and does it inform the reader about the content of the article?
No mandatory section missing? (Main statistical findings, Data sources and availability, Context, See also, Further Eurostat information)? Not applicable for background articles.
Are all acronyms explained the first time they appear?
Are all statistical and technical terms linked to the corresponding glossary page when they first appear?
Do the figures in the text correspond to the figures in the tables/graphs?
Is the ranking of Member States in the text in the right order?
Are the references to the tables and graphs correct?
No spelling mistakes? (TIP: If you edit the article using Firefox as browser the spell-check is activated and all mistakes are highlighted.)

Checklist: Tables and graphs

Do the tables and graphs follow the Eurostat layout (are the appropriate theme colours used)?

Are graphs, tables and maps positioned optimally with regard to the related text?
Do the titles follow the guidelines?
Do the titles include unit and period?
Do the tables and graphs include the data sources?
Are the tables and graphs easily readable when clicked on?
Are possible footnotes included below the image?

Checklist: Maps

All maps should be sent to the GISCO team for opinion/approval before inserting into the Statistics Explained article, using the following Teams group: GRP-ESTAT GISCO MAP CHECKING

Checklist: Links

Do all links work?
Are Regulations, Directives, Commission documents mentioned in text linked to EUR-Lex product page? (using the EUR-Lex template)
Is the Excel file with the source data for tables, figures and maps present? Are the images it contains formatted according to the layout rules?
Are all technical terms linked to glossaries?
Are Eurostat publications mentioned linked to the publication product page?
Are there links to Eurostat data?

Checklist: Language

Important: has a native English speaker read and corrected the article?
All articles must be first proofread by a native speaker (within your unit if available) or sent for proofreading to DGT via Poetry (the author is responsible for requesting the proofreading).
Is the style adapted to a non-specialist audience?

Checklist: Layout

Is the first screen view balanced and informative? - containing the introduction, an image and at least a part of the table of contents.