# Every Author as First Author

**Authors:** Erik D. Demaine, Martin L. Demaine  
**arXiv:** [2304.01393](https://arxiv.org/abs/2304.01393)  
**Date:** 2023-04-03  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/2304.01393v1/

## Key points

- Authorship order plays a significant role in determining credit and recognition for research
- Traditional approach can be arbitrary and unfair, with the first author receiving more recognition than their co-authors simply because their name appears first alphabetically
- Erik D. Demaine and Martin L. Demaine propose a new standard for writing author names on papers and in bibliographies that places every author as a first author - superimposed
- This innovative approach enables authors to write papers as true equals without any advantage given to whoever's name happens to come first alphabetically or based on seniority
- The authors develop the technology for implementing this standard in LaTeX, BibTeX, and HTML and provide several examples of how it works in practice
- By placing all authors on an equal footing, this new standard promotes collaboration among researchers by encouraging them to work together as equals rather than competing for recognition based on factors such as alphabetical order or seniority
- It also helps prevent disputes over authorship credit by ensuring that all contributors receive equal recognition for their contributions
- Overall, the proposed standard represents a significant step forward in promoting fairness and equality in academic publishing
- By enabling all authors to be listed as first authors - superimposed, it creates a level playing field where everyone's contributions are valued equally
- This could have far-reaching implications for the future of scientific research by fostering greater collaboration and innovation among researchers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives

## Summary

In the world of academic publishing, authorship order can play a significant role in determining credit and recognition for research. However, this traditional approach can often be arbitrary and unfair, with the first author receiving more recognition than their co-authors simply because their name appears first alphabetically. To address this issue, Erik D. Demaine and Martin L. Demaine propose a new standard for writing author names on papers and in bibliographies that places every author as a first author - superimposed. This innovative approach enables authors to write papers as true equals without any advantage given to whoever's name happens to come first alphabetically or based on seniority. The authors develop the technology for implementing this standard in LaTeX, BibTeX, and HTML and provide several examples of how it works in practice. By placing all authors on an equal footing, this new standard has several advantages over traditional approaches to authorship. It promotes collaboration among researchers by encouraging them to work together as equals rather than competing for recognition based on factors such as alphabetical order or seniority. It also helps prevent disputes over authorship credit by ensuring that all contributors receive equal recognition for their contributions. Overall, the proposed standard represents a significant step forward in promoting fairness and equality in academic publishing. By enabling all authors to be listed as first authors - superimposed, it creates a level playing field where everyone's contributions are valued equally. This could have far-reaching implications for the future of scientific research by fostering greater collaboration and innovation among researchers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.