Submission Preparation Guide
This guide covers preparing a manuscript for journal submission.
When to Use This Skill
- •Writing cover letters
- •Preparing figures and tables for submission
- •Checking manuscript against requirements
- •Resubmitting revised manuscripts
Combine with: human-writing for cover letter prose, manuscript-writing for structure.
Pre-Submission Overview
Required Components (Typical)
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Cover letter | Introduces manuscript to editor |
| Manuscript | Main text with all sections |
| Title page | Title, authors, affiliations, corresponding author |
| Abstract | Standalone summary |
| Figures | Each as separate high-resolution file |
| Tables | Often embedded or as separate files |
| Supplementary materials | Additional data, methods, figures |
| Author statements | Conflicts, contributions, ethics |
Before You Start
- •Identify target journal - Match scope to your work
- •Read author guidelines - Every journal differs
- •Check recent issues - Understand what they publish
- •Note specific requirements - Word limits, figure formats, etc.
Cover Letter Essentials
Purpose
- •Introduce your manuscript to the editor
- •Explain why it fits the journal
- •Highlight significance
- •Address any special circumstances
Key Elements
- •Editor's name (if known)
- •Manuscript title
- •Statement that work is original and not submitted elsewhere
- •Brief summary of findings and significance
- •Why this journal is appropriate
- •Any required statements (conflicts, prior posting, etc.)
- •Suggested/excluded reviewers (if requested)
Cover Letter Length
- •Keep to one page
- •3-4 paragraphs maximum
- •Be specific but concise
See COVER_LETTER_TEMPLATES.md for templates.
Figure and Table Basics
Figures
Resolution requirements:
| Type | Minimum | Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Line art | 600 DPI | 1200 DPI |
| Halftone (photos) | 300 DPI | 600 DPI |
| Combination | 600 DPI | 1200 DPI |
Common formats:
- •TIFF (preferred for final submission)
- •EPS (vector graphics)
- •PDF (often accepted)
- •JPEG (only for photos, maximum quality)
Size guidelines:
- •Single column: ~85 mm (3.3 in)
- •1.5 column: ~114 mm (4.5 in)
- •Double column: ~170 mm (6.7 in)
Tables
Best practices:
- •One table per concept
- •Clear, descriptive title
- •Column headers with units
- •Footnotes for abbreviations and statistics
- •No vertical lines (typically)
- •Consistent decimal places
See FIGURE_TABLE_GUIDELINES.md for detailed specifications.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Manuscript
- • Exceeding word/page limits
- • Missing sections required by journal
- • Incorrect reference format
- • Inconsistent terminology
- • Missing ethics statements
Figures
- • Resolution too low
- • Text too small to read when printed
- • Colors not accessible (colorblind-friendly)
- • Missing scale bars
- • Inconsistent labeling (A vs a vs (a))
Tables
- • Too complex (split into multiple tables)
- • Redundant with figures
- • Missing units
- • Inconsistent formatting
Submission System
- • Wrong file formats
- • Missing metadata
- • Incorrect author order
- • Forgetting supplementary files
Submission Checklist
See SUBMISSION_CHECKLIST.md for comprehensive checklist.
Quick Check
- • Cover letter complete
- • All sections present and within limits
- • All authors listed with correct affiliations
- • Figures high-resolution, correct format
- • Tables formatted correctly
- • References complete and correctly formatted
- • All required statements included
- • Files named according to guidelines
Resubmission Specifics
When resubmitting after revision:
Cover Letter Adjustments
- •Reference original manuscript number
- •Summarize major changes
- •Thank editor and reviewers
- •Note any author changes
Required Documents
- •Response to reviewers (point-by-point)
- •Revised manuscript (clean copy)
- •Revised manuscript (tracked changes)
- •Updated figures if changed
- •Updated supplementary if changed
Checklist Additions
- • All reviewer comments addressed
- • Page/line numbers in response letter match manuscript
- • Both clean and tracked versions submitted
- • Any new authors properly added
- • Cover letter references previous submission
Related Files
- •COVER_LETTER_TEMPLATES.md - Template letters
- •SUBMISSION_CHECKLIST.md - Complete checklist
- •FIGURE_TABLE_GUIDELINES.md - Technical specifications