acknowledgments

Acknowledgments are brief statements in a work that express gratitude to individuals and organizations that contributed to its creation but did not meet authorship or copyright criteria. They commonly appear at the end of a book, thesis, article, film, or other project, and they serve to recognize intellectual collaboration, financial support, logistical assistance, and personal encouragement.

In scholarly works, acknowledgments typically thank supervisors, colleagues who provided feedback, editors, librarians, and institutions that supplied resources or access to data. In books, authors may acknowledge editors, agents, proofreaders, production staff, and family. For funded projects, funders are acknowledged, sometimes with grant numbers, and any contractual obligations or resource provisions are noted. In creative productions, directors, producers, performers, designers, and supporters may be named.

Writing tips include adopting a modest, precise tone; verify the spelling of names and affiliations; obtain consent to be named where appropriate; avoid implying endorsement by funders beyond their monetary support; and keep the text concise. It is common to tailor the length and content to the work and audience, and to follow any field-specific or publisher guidelines. Some disciplines require explicit disclosure of potential conflicts of interest.

Placement and formatting vary by context. Acknowledgments may appear after the title page, dedication, or table of contents, or in a journal’s final section. Spelling varies by region: acknowledgments (American English) or acknowledgements (British English). Overall, acknowledgments reflect the collaborative nature of work and recognize the broader network supporting a project.