A systematic pre-submission checklist prevents avoidable rejections and resubmission delays. Publisher portals from ScholarOne to Editorial Manager enforce many of these requirements automatically, but a manual review remains essential before clicking the final submit button.
Author and Ethics Declarations
Confirm that all contributing authors have been listed in the correct order and have approved the final manuscript. Complete any conflict-of-interest, funding, and data availability statements required by the journal. If the study involved human participants or animals, confirm that ethics board approval details are included.
Manuscript Formatting
Verify that the manuscript follows the journal's author guidelines: page margins, line spacing (usually double), font (Times New Roman 12pt is standard), and maximum word count. Number all pages and lines if required. Remove all identifying author information for double-blind review.
Abstract and Keywords
Ensure the abstract meets the journal's word limit (typically 150–300 words) and structure (structured or unstructured). Select keywords that appear in subject thesauri such as MeSH, ERIC, or the journal's own keyword list. Accurate keywords improve post-publication discoverability.
Reference List Verification
Cross-check every in-text citation against the reference list. Verify DOIs are active. Format all references according to the journal's style guide (APA 7th, Vancouver, Chicago, etc.). Use reference management software such as Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote to automate formatting.
Figure and Table Quality
Check that all figures are cited in the manuscript text and submitted in the correct resolution (300 dpi minimum for photographs). Tables should be editable (not images). Provide descriptive captions for all figures and tables that allow them to be understood independently of the main text.
Summary
Completing this checklist before submission significantly improves the quality of your submission package and signals professionalism to journal editors. Many journals now operate rapid desk rejection policies — a single missing declaration or formatting error can result in immediate rejection without review.
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