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How to Successfully Submit to Sustainable Cities and Society: A LetPub Guide for 2025
06 Oct 2025
Submitting your scholarly work to Sustainable Cities and Society via LetPub can, admittedly, feel like quite a formidable task at first. It involves navigating numerous stages, uploading various files, and meticulously adhering to a plethora of specific rules. Yet, by dissecting the process and tackling it one step at a time, it becomes entirely manageable. This comprehensive guide offers a thorough walkthrough of everything you need to know for a seamless submission journey in 2025—from meticulously preparing your manuscript and making judicious open access choices, to deftly handling the final proofing stage. If you're new to this academic publishing landscape, or simply wish to circumvent common pitfalls, do continue reading for actionable insights and a streamlined methodology.
Key Takeaways
- Before even penning a single word, thoroughly review the journal's specific formatting and word count regulations—these often encompass guidelines for figures and tables, too.
- Select the most appropriate article type and ensure your research unequivocally aligns with the journal’s stated aims and scope.
- Always uphold stringent ethical guidelines, secure the requisite permissions for any third-party content, and transparently declare any potential conflicts of interest.
- Become proficient in utilizing the ScholarOne system for efficiently uploading your files, attaching supplementary materials, and linking your essential ORCiD.
- Acquire a clear understanding of your open access options, potential Article Processing Charges (APCs), and what to anticipate once your submission is successfully sent.
Understanding Submission Requirements for Sustainable Cities and Society LetPub
Submitting your original work to Sustainable Cities and Society through LetPub in 2025 need not be an intimidating endeavor, but it’s absolutely crucial to master the foundational requirements to prevent an immediate desk rejection. Ultimately, success hinges upon meeting the journal's precise technical specifications, selecting the correct article category, and ensuring your paper is both lucid and readily comprehensible. Let's meticulously unpack each part to position yourself for a seamless journey from the very outset.
Formatting Your Manuscript and Figures
- Manuscripts should primarily be submitted as Microsoft Word files; while a PDF version is acceptable as an auxiliary document, it should never serve as the sole submission format. For those utilizing LaTeX, remember to furnish a corresponding PDF.
- Acceptable file types for figures include: .png, .jpeg, .gif, .tif, .eps. Always strive for images that are crystal-clear and of high resolution.
- Aim for a clean, eminently readable font—such as Times New Roman or Arial, at 12pt. Double-spacing remains the industry standard, and please, don’t forget to number every page.
- Tables and figures must be explicitly referenced within the main text, rather than merely appended at the document’s conclusion. Always meticulously verify captions for both clarity and completeness.
Here’s a concise table you can reference for essential manuscript formatting guidelines:
| Section | Requirement |
|---|---|
| File format | .doc/.docx (primary), .pdf (extra) |
| Font and Spacing | Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt, double space |
| Figure formats | .png, .jpeg, .gif, .tif, .eps |
| Page Numbers | Include on all pages |
Choosing Appropriate Article Types and Classifications
- Select judiciously from the journal’s roster of accepted article types—this might include full research articles, comprehensive reviews, detailed case studies, or succinct short communications.
- Ensure your article’s central focus precisely aligns with the journal’s overarching aims: consider themes like sustainable urban development, smart cities technology, social impact, climate adaptation, or impactful public policy.
- Clearly classify your article during the initial submission process. If you find yourself uncertain, re-read the journal description or consult recent issues for invaluable reference.
Meeting Word Count and Abstract Guidelines
- Typically, the manuscript should fall within a word count of 4,000 to 10,000 words—and remember, this comprehensive tally includes everything: your abstract, references, tables, and figures.
- Abstracts must often be structured (covering background, method, results, and conclusion sections) and should adhere strictly to a 200-300 word limit, unless updated journal guidelines for 2025 specify otherwise.
- Be sure to include 4-6 pertinent keywords that genuinely reflect your topic, but steer clear of overly broad buzzwords that don’t genuinely assist readers in discovering your work.
- Double-check that your submission isn’t unduly short or excessively long. Editors may, unfortunately, desk-reject papers that transgress stated limits, and that’s an easily avoidable oversight.
Ultimately, the submission of your manuscript largely hinges on meticulous preparation—diligently adhering to the checklist, attending to every minor detail, and thoroughly reviewing your work before hitting send can truly be a game-changer. Indeed, the primary obstacles often aren't tied to the caliber of your research itself, but rather to whether you’ve precisely aligned with the journal’s stipulated formatting, structural, and documentation requirements.
Preparing a Manuscript That Stands Out
Securing acceptance for your paper in Sustainable Cities and Society fundamentally begins with a clear grasp of their publication scope. Before investing significant effort, we recommend a thorough examination of the journal's aims and scope. Is your topic truly aligned with their core focus areas—perhaps urban sustainability, smart cities initiatives, environmental public health, or the social dimensions of urban growth? If your subject appears even marginally tangential, the editor might, regrettably, opt for a desk rejection before peer review is even considered. What a shame that would be!
Points to check:
- Ensure your manuscript’s central research question resonates deeply with the journal's overarching themes.
- Clearly articulate how your results contribute meaningfully and make an impact within the realm of sustainable cities.
- Actively avoid content that is overly generalized or lacks direct relevance to their specific readership.
If you’re unsure whether your work is a suitable fit, consider soliciting feedback from a trusted colleague or mentor before submitting—it could potentially save you a considerable amount of time later on.
Choosing the right keywords isn’t merely a bureaucratic formality—it genuinely influences how easily others can discover and engage with your scholarly contributions. These keywords (up to 12 are typically allowed) should specifically target the pivotal concepts, methodologies, geographical regions, and pertinent issues explored in your paper. Think of the precise terms a researcher would input into a database when actively seeking work akin to yours.
How to pick the best keywords:
- Focus intently on terms that directly and accurately describe your work’s specific methods and key outcomes.
- Employ specific place names or distinct project types (e.g., 'urban mobility', 'climate adaptation in Latin America') where applicable.
- Review the keywords employed by similar, high-impact articles for valuable inspiration and guidance.
Tip: General terms like ‘city’ or ‘environment’ are typically too broad—narrow your focus for optimal discoverability.
The abstract invariably serves as the reader’s initial—and occasionally sole—point of engagement with your research. Sustainable Cities and Society expects a structured abstract, capped at 250 words, that adheres to the following sections:
| Section | What to Include |
|---|---|
| Purpose | What fundamental question or pressing problem does your research endeavor to tackle? |
| Design/methodology/approach | How precisely did you conduct your study? Detail the methods, framework, and data utilized. |
| Findings | Summarize your key results and articulate their significance. |
| Originality | What is genuinely novel about your work? Why does this particular contribution matter? |
| (Optional) Limitations | Briefly acknowledge any boundaries or discernible gaps within your study. |
| (Optional) Practical Implications | How might these findings be practically applied in real-world contexts? |
| (Optional) Social Implications | Discuss the broader relevance of your work to society, policy, or specific communities. |
Quick checklist for your abstract:
- Ensure all structured sections are covered with utmost conciseness.
- Avoid specialized jargon and any unexplained technical terms.
- Do not directly copy sentences from the main text—instead, synthesize and summarize where possible.
- Meticulously check for grammar and spelling errors, as these can unfortunately deter both editors and prospective readers.
A well-crafted, clear abstract not only effectively conveys your main points to the editor but also significantly enhances your article's visibility in search engines and crucial citation databases.
Ensuring Ethical and Legal Compliance
Adhering to the ethical and legal mandates isn't merely a perfunctory task for Sustainable Cities and Society—in fact, it forms the foundational prerequisite for your manuscript to even be deemed eligible for review. Below, we've delineated the paramount factors to meticulously consider throughout every stage of your submission.
Addressing Research Ethics and Informed Consent
Should your study involve human participants—whether through interviews, surveys, or the collection of any personal data—you are unequivocally required to obtain proper institutional approval and maintain thorough documentation. Here’s precisely what Sustainable Cities and Society expects:
- Secure ethical approval from a recognized institutional review board (IRB) or a comparable ethics committee.
- Within your ethical statement, explicitly include the committee’s name, its geographical location, the approval number, and the date of approval.
- Clearly state which national or international guidelines were meticulously followed during your research.
- Articulate precisely how informed consent was managed for all participating individuals.
- Ensure that participant anonymity is rigorously protected, unless a clear, documented agreement to the contrary has been established with the participants themselves.
Dedicating the necessary time to secure ethics approval and informed consent *before* commencing your research typically preempts most submission-related headaches further down the line, and crucially, demonstrates a profound respect for your participants.
Obtaining Proper Permissions for Third-Party Content
If your manuscript incorporates tables, figures, photographs, or substantial blocks of text that you did not personally create, it is imperative that you obtain explicit, written permission from the original creator or publisher prior to submission. Sustainable Cities and Society simply will not accept work where permissions are either missing or remain pending.
Ensure your acquired permission comprehensively covers:
- Non-exclusive rights allowing the use of the material in both print and diverse digital formats.
- Worldwide publication rights, specifically in English.
- Utilization for the entire lifespan of your article, without any time-based limitations.
Your essential checklist for any third-party material:
- Proactively identify any non-original content early in your drafting process.
- Obtain robust written permission, ensuring it encompasses all required rights.
- Include confirmation of these permissions directly with your submission—there are no exceptions.
Declaring Conflicts of Interest and Copyright Issues
When submitting, it is paramount to be completely transparent about anything that could potentially be perceived as a conflict of interest:
- Any financial ties, existing sponsorships, or personal relationships that are connected to your research.
- Previous publication of any portions of the manuscript. You must explicitly declare if your work, or parts of it, has been presented or published elsewhere, even in an earlier iteration.
- Any specific permissions or copyright assignments mandated by the journal itself.
Sustainable Cities and Society employs sophisticated tools to rigorously check for originality. Dual submissions or unresolved copyright issues can unequivocally lead to immediate rejection. Do not risk it—thoroughly review your submission for any overlap or questions regarding ownership before you finalize and send it off.
| Compliance Requirement | Examples Needed |
|---|---|
| Ethics committee approval | University IRB letter, approval number, guideline followed |
| Informed consent documentation | Signed consent forms, process description |
| Third-party permissions | Publisher letter/emails, license agreement forms |
| Conflict of interest statement | Funding sources, affiliations, specific declarations |
By fully addressing these crucial requirements from the outset, you can effectively circumvent unnecessary delays and keep your valuable research on the most direct path toward publication. While it might initially seem like an extensive list, it undeniably demonstrates professionalism and a profound respect for your work, your participants, and the stringent standards of the journal.
Navigating the ScholarOne Submission System
Submitting your manuscript to Sustainable Cities and Society through ScholarOne might initially appear complex, but with a bit of practice, the process proves remarkably intuitive. Remember, ScholarOne stands as the sole, exclusive platform for your submission—so, do resist the urge to email your manuscript or attempt alternative platforms. Taking the time to familiarize yourself with each section before commencing your upload can truly preempt a good deal of future frustration. What's the biggest hurdle? Often it's just getting started; a quick walkthrough makes all the difference.
Creating and Managing Your Author Account
- Register for a dedicated ScholarOne account. It's important to note that each author generally requires their own account, and each journal manages these accounts separately. Thus, even if you’ve published elsewhere, it’s wise to double-check if your existing details automatically carry over.
- Whenever feasible, utilize your institutional email address for enhanced communication reliability and consistency.
- Your username typically defaults to your email address—so ensure it’s an inbox you check with consistent regularity.
If you’re embarking on your first submission, resist the temptation to rush the registration process. Take a moment to ensure your name and institutional affiliation are precisely how you wish them to appear in the final published work.
Uploading Files and Supplementary Materials Correctly
There's a specific, sequential order to meticulously uploading your files:
- Main Manuscript: Upload your primary text file, ensuring all identifying author details have been carefully removed for the double-anonymous peer review process.
- Figures and Tables: Submit these as entirely separate files, strictly adhering to the journal’s specified format (e.g., TIFF, JPEG). Crucially, do not embed them within your main manuscript document.
- Additional Files: Documents such as author biographies and acknowledgments belong here, each housed in its own distinct file.
- Supplementary Materials: If you are providing supporting data or extra materials, label these with absolute clarity and ensure they are explicitly referenced within your main text.
| File Type | Format Suggested | Naming Example |
|---|---|---|
| Main Manuscript | Word (.docx) | manuscript.docx |
| Figure | TIFF/JPEG | figure1.tif |
| Table | Excel/Word | table1.xlsx |
| Supplementary Material | PDF/ZIP/Text | supplement1.pdf |
Utilizing ORCiD for Author Identification
- Do not bypass the ORCiD field during your submission. This unique researcher identifier is instrumental in helping editors, reviewers, and readers readily identify your scholarly contributions.
- If you haven't yet acquired an ORCiD, you can effortlessly register for one in just a few minutes at orcid.org.
- Including your ORCiD ensures that your professional profile will directly link to this article upon its publication, enhancing discoverability.
Taking the time to include accurate author information and meticulously organize your files *before* uploading is an investment well worth the effort. ScholarOne will promptly email you with a unique manuscript number following a successful submission—keep this crucial identifier readily accessible for all future correspondence.
Optimizing References and Supplementary Materials
As you meticulously prepare your submission for Sustainable Cities and Society, handling your references and supplementary materials with precision can profoundly influence the review process. Indeed, errors in this area are surprisingly common, yet they are quite simple to circumvent if you know precisely what to attend to—it’s all about the details, isn’t it?
Applying Correct Harvard Referencing Styles
All references must exhibit consistency, completeness, and strictly adhere to the Harvard style stipulated by the journal. This imperative applies equally to your in-text citations and the comprehensive reference list presented at the conclusion of your manuscript. While Harvard style might appear straightforward at first glance, you must rigorously double-check the following:
- Utilize italics for ‘et al.’ when citing works with three or more authors.
- Organize your reference list alphabetically according to the first author’s last name.
- Pay meticulous attention to crucial details such as DOIs, precise journal names, accurate page numbers, and correct punctuation.
| Reference Type | In-Text Citation Example | Full Reference Example |
|---|---|---|
| Single Author | (Adams, 2006) | Adams, J. (2006), “Urban resilience”, Cities, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 567-578. |
| Two Authors | (Adams and Brown, 2006) | Adams, J. and Brown, T. (2006), "Urban growth", Urban Studies, Vol. 19, pp. 234-250. |
| Three or More Authors | (Adams et al., 2006) | Adams, J., Brown, T. and Lee, K. (2006), "Sustainable transport", Transport Review, Vol. 18, pp. 101-120. |
| Dataset | (Campbell and Kahn, 2015) | Campbell, A. and Kahn, R.L. (2015), American National Election Study, 1948, ICPSR07218-v4, ICPSR (distributor), Ann Arbor, MI, https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR07218.v4 (accessed 6 October 2025) |
Keep in mind:
- Always include persistent identifiers, such as Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), whenever they are available.
- For any electronic sources, it is essential to consistently provide access dates.
- Scrupulously avoid orphaned citations—ensure that every single source listed in your references is explicitly cited somewhere within your text.
Exercising extra vigilance with your reference list will not only facilitate reviewers and readers in swiftly verifying your sources but also unequivocally demonstrates a commendable attention to detail.
Citing Datasets and Non-Traditional Sources
The accurate documentation of your datasets and unconventional sources holds just as much importance as citing traditional journal references. For datasets, specifically:
- Provide the author(s), the precise title of the dataset, its repository location, and a persistent URL.
- Always include the access date, particularly for materials that might be subject to change or removal.
- Apply the identical Harvard style principles as you would for your standard references.
For sources like conference papers, internal working documents, or reports published exclusively online:
- Fully spell out the event, its date, and the complete internet link (if one is available).
- For enhanced clarity, consider placing full URLs within endnotes or footnotes.
Handling Supplementary Data, Tables, and Figures
Submitting additional figures, tables, or datasets is an excellent practice that bolsters the transparency of your research, but there’s a distinct, correct way to execute it:
- Submit supplementary files individually and name them with absolute clarity—for instance,
Supplementary_Table_I.docx. - Number tables using Roman numerals (I, II, III, ...), each accompanied by a concise, descriptive title.
- Explicitly mention the existence of each supplementary file within your main text (e.g., “See Supplementary Figure I”).
- If you utilize an external repository, meticulously double-check that all links are functional and that the files are readily accessible to any interested party.
- Crucially, avoid including any identifying information within filenames if your submission is intended for anonymous peer review.
• Acceptable supplementary file types include: PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PNG, JPEG, TXT, RTF, and PostScript.
Please remember that supplementary materials will not undergo copy-editing or formatting by the journal, so it is your responsibility to ensure everything is absolutely reader-ready before you submit.
Attending to these often-overlooked details might not be the most exhilarating aspect of scholarly work—yet, it ensures your submission remains professional and significantly streamlines the review process in ways you might not fully anticipate.
Making Open Access Choices and Understanding Costs
When submitting to Sustainable Cities and Society through LetPub, you'll inevitably encounter decisions regarding how your work will be shared and what financial implications might arise. These choices, while potentially perplexing, directly influence how widely readers can access your research and, consequently, what you might need to budget for—it's a critical consideration, wouldn't you agree?
Exploring Gold and Green Open Access Options
Broadly, there are two principal pathways to achieving open access (OA):
- Gold Open Access: Under this model, your final published article—the definitive version of record, complete with all its professional formatting and branding—is immediately made freely available to everyone. This route almost invariably entails the payment of an Article Processing Charge (APC).
- Green Open Access: Once your work has been formally accepted, you retain the right to deposit your accepted manuscript (this is the peer-reviewed version, *not* the publisher's formatted PDF) into a public repository. In most cases, there is no associated fee for this. Your manuscript becomes accessible post-publication, sometimes with a brief or no embargo period.
- It’s worth noting that you'll typically make your final OA route selection once your paper has been accepted for publication, rather than at the initial submission stage.
Table 1: Quick Comparison of Gold vs. Green Open Access
| Feature | Gold OA | Green OA |
|---|---|---|
| Reader access | Immediate, publisher site | Public repository (post-print) |
| Fee (APC) | Yes | Usually no |
| Version shared | Publisher’s PDF | Accepted manuscript |
| Copyright/license | Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0) | Varies, but often with some restrictions |
Understanding Article Processing Charges (APC)
If you opt for the gold open access pathway, you will be required to pay an APC once your paper has been formally accepted. The exact cost can vary significantly depending on the specific journal, and you can typically locate this crucial information either within the journal’s detailed author guidelines or during the submission process itself. APCs are designed to cover the extensive editorial work, typesetting, digital hosting, and long-term archiving associated with your article.
Occasionally, opportunities for discounts, waivers, or institutional agreements may exist. If funding presents a challenge, do investigate whether your university or research funder offers support for APC payments, or consider applying for a waiver if such options are available.
Key points to double-check regarding APCs:
- Always confirm the current, prevailing fee for Sustainable Cities and Society before proceeding with your submission.
- Crucially, avoid making any payments at the point of submission—payment for gold OA only becomes due *after* your manuscript has received formal acceptance.
- Be highly vigilant against fraudulent payment requests. Should you receive an email soliciting fees prior to acceptance, contact the journal directly to verify its legitimacy.
Choosing between gold and green OA fundamentally affects both the distribution of your work and who is permitted to utilize it, yet rest assured, you invariably retain the right to share your own accepted version.
Selecting Creative Commons Licenses for Publication
The majority of gold open access articles published in this journal typically employ the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Here’s what this widely used license entails:
- It allows anyone to share, use, or adapt your work—even for commercial purposes—provided they afford you proper attribution.
- If you have a preference for a different license (e.g., non-commercial, or no-derivatives), it’s advisable to consult directly with the publisher, although CC BY 4.0 is the standard.
- The choice of license significantly influences how broadly your work can be reused and by whom. Thoughtfully consider your ultimate aims for impact and dissemination when making this decision.
When selecting a Creative Commons license:
- Reflect carefully on your desired level of openness for your research.
- Ensure you fully comprehend what each specific license permits others to do with your scholarly output.
- Some funding bodies mandate a particular license, so always review any grant conditions beforehand.
Take ample time to thoughtfully weigh your aims and available resources when deciding on an access route and license. There isn’t a singular "best" choice—it genuinely hinges on your unique circumstances, so evaluate all factors and don’t hesitate to reach out to the editorial office if you find yourself at an impasse.
Post-Submission Processes and What to Expect
After you’ve successfully clicked “submit” on your manuscript for Sustainable Cities and Society via LetPub, a natural question arises: what precisely transpires next? The journey from submission to eventual publication is rarely swift, but with a clear understanding of each impending stage, you can significantly mitigate stress and ensure your work progresses as smoothly as possible.
Editorial Assessment and Peer Review Procedures
Once your paper is officially lodged in the system, the editorial office initiates a preliminary check. This critical initial screening involves:
- Verifying that your manuscript genuinely aligns with the journal’s stated aims and overall scope.
- Assessing the clarity of your language and the organizational structure of your paper.
- Ensuring that your file contains no author-identifying details that could compromise the integrity of the double-anonymous peer review process.
Should your article successfully pass this initial screening, the editors will then dispatch it to a minimum of two independent reviewers for a more in-depth examination. During this phase, you’ll need to exercise patience as they:
- Rigorously assess your research quality, originality, and overall significance.
- Provide detailed, constructive feedback aimed at improving your work.
- Submit their ultimate recommendations (which could range from acceptance, minor revisions, major revisions, or outright rejection).
Review timelines can certainly vary, but most initial editorial decisions are typically communicated within 60 days. You will receive timely email notifications whenever there’s an update. Always double-check that any official emails explicitly reference your correct manuscript number to safeguard against potential scams.
It's often a good practice to periodically check your article’s status directly within the submission portal. Sometimes updates will appear there even before you receive an email notification.
Responding to Reviewer Comments and Revisions
If the feedback arrives with a “revise and resubmit” decision—a common and often positive outcome—here’s a strategic approach to tackling it:
- Read all comments with careful deliberation, striving to avoid taking any criticism personally.
- Prepare a comprehensive response document that meticulously addresses each reviewer’s specific point.
- Implement all necessary changes clearly within your manuscript, ideally using tracking features or highlighting for easy identification.
- Double-check that you haven’t inadvertently included your name or any other identifying information in the revised submission.
Here’s a straightforward checklist to guide your revision process:
- [ ] Address every reviewer comment thoroughly in your response letter.
- [ ] Revise the manuscript precisely in line with the received feedback.
- [ ] Include both a clean copy and a marked-up copy, if specifically requested.
- [ ] Ensure you meet the stipulated resubmission deadline (typically a few weeks).
Major revisions might indeed demand more substantial time and concerted effort, but they frequently signal that your paper possesses a strong chance of acceptance if all expressed concerns are effectively addressed.
Final Proofing, Typesetting, and Copyright Transfer
Once the editors have formally accepted your revised manuscript, you’re not quite at the finish line just yet. The subsequent crucial steps typically include:
- Completing the necessary copyright and license forms (which are usually managed online).
- Diligently reviewing the typeset proofs for any typographical errors or factual inaccuracies.
- Providing your final approval for the version slated for publication.
At this juncture, you may be prompted to settle any required publication fees or to definitively confirm your preferred open access option. The proofing stage represents your final critical checkpoint to identify any lingering typos, incorrect author details, or formatting discrepancies. Bear in mind, you typically cannot request major content changes at this stage—only minor, essential corrections are permissible.
Here’s what to keep firmly in mind during your proof review:
- Confirm the absolute accuracy of author names and affiliations.
- Meticulously check all tables and figures for precision and correctness.
- Ensure every single reference is impeccably accurate and complete.
- Immediately flag any production-related mistakes you encounter.
All told, these final steps necessitate both close attention and prompt action on your part. Do not delay communication with the journal team if anything remains unclear or appears incorrect. Any holdup at this critical stage can, unfortunately, impede the timely publication of your valuable work.
With a comprehensive understanding of these processes, submitting your work to Sustainable Cities and Society through LetPub transforms into a far more organized and manageable endeavor. Even though the waiting periods can test your patience, maintaining a proactive and responsive stance will undoubtedly help your article progress as seamlessly as possible toward its ultimate publication.
Conclusion
Submitting your research to Sustainable Cities and Society can initially feel like an extensive undertaking, but it is ultimately about approaching the process methodically, one step at a time. It’s imperative to rigorously follow the journal’s specific guidelines, meticulously check your formatting, and painstakingly verify your references. Don’t overlook the critical step of examining the open access options and determining what best suits both your publishing goals and your available funding. While services like Editage can provide valuable assistance with language refinement or formatting, remember that their use does not, in itself, guarantee acceptance. Always be unequivocally transparent about any potential conflicts of interest and permissions, and ensure your data and methodologies are presented with utmost clarity for the benefit of the reviewers. Once you’ve successfully uploaded your manuscript and received confirmation, you’re well on your way. The entire process may indeed require patience, but exercising diligent care at each stage will undoubtedly help ensure a smooth progression. We extend our best wishes for your submission, and always remember: every published article commences with a carefully prepared, well-executed manuscript.
Frequently Asked Questions
What file format should I use to submit my manuscript and figures?
For your main manuscript, a Microsoft Word file is the preferred format. Figures, on the other hand, are best submitted as PNG, JPEG, or GIF files. Should you be working with LaTeX, remember to provide a corresponding PDF version as well; simply submitting a PDF for the main text won't suffice on its own.
How do I choose the right article type and classification for my submission?
During the submission process, you'll be prompted to select the article type that most accurately represents your work. Your choices typically include research paper, review, case study, technical paper, conceptual paper, viewpoint, and literature review. The key is to pick the category that aligns most closely with the nature and scope of your specific research.
What are the word count and abstract requirements?
Manuscripts generally need to fall within a range of 4,000 to 10,000 words. It's crucial to remember that this comprehensive count includes all elements: tables, figures, and your reference list. Your abstract should be a concise summary, not exceeding 250 words, and must also incorporate relevant keywords and the appropriate article classification.
Do I need permission to use third-party content in my paper?
Indeed, if you incorporate material from external sources, securing explicit permission is often necessary, unless the content falls under specific STM permissions guidelines that permit free sharing among certain publishers. It is always best practice to meticulously check and explicitly declare any obtained permissions at the time of submission to prevent any potential delays in the review process.
What are the open access options and costs for publishing?
You have two primary open access routes: Gold and Green. Gold open access makes your article immediately free for everyone to read, but this option typically involves an Article Processing Charge (APC). Green open access, conversely, allows you to share the accepted manuscript freely—usually in an institutional or subject repository—without incurring an APC.
How do I make sure my references and data citations are correct?
It is imperative to apply the Harvard referencing style consistently throughout all your citations. Endeavor to include DOIs for both datasets and articles whenever they are available. Before finalizing your submission, meticulously verify that all your references are complete and accurate, and ensure every piece of data, code, and any supplementary materials used in your research is properly cited.
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