Final Submission Preparation Guidelines
These guidelines apply to submissions that have been accepted for publication or invited for final revision.
General Expectations
Final manuscripts should be carefully proofread, clearly organized, and ready for publication with minimal additional editing. Authors should submit a clean, final version of their work with all revisions complete.
Submissions should reflect the conventions of the discipline or field most relevant to the work. Research-based and analytical submissions are expected to follow an appropriate style manual (e.g., APA, Chicago, MLA, or another relevant standard). All submissions should demonstrate consistency in formatting, citation, and overall presentation.
Creative, multimedia, and practice-based submissions that do not align with a single prescribed style manual should still demonstrate clear organization, internal consistency, and professional presentation.
File Types and Submission Format
Submit your manuscript as a single file whenever possible. Accepted formats include:
• Microsoft Word
• RTF
• PDF
All files must be suitable for conversion to a high-quality PDF for publication.
If your submission includes supplementary materials (audio, video, images, scores, etc.), these should be submitted as clearly labeled additional files.
Title, Author Information, and Abstract
Do not include a separate title page.
Title and author information will be collected during submission and displayed in the journal’s standardized cover page. The manuscript file should begin with the main body of the work or, where appropriate, a simple title at the top of the first page.
Abstracts should be entered in the submission system rather than formatted as a separate page within the manuscript, unless required by the conventions of the selected style manual.
Formatting Requirements
• Page size: 8.5 × 11 inches
• Margins: 1–1.5 inches on all sides
• Font: readable 12-point font (e.g., Times New Roman or similar)
• Layout: single-column format
• Formatting should be applied consistently throughout
Do not include:
• Page numbers
• Headers or footers
• Track changes, comments, or editing marks
The first page of the manuscript should begin cleanly, without excessive spacing or decorative formatting.
Organization and Structure
Use headings and subheadings consistently to organize the work. Paragraphs should be clearly structured and uniformly formatted.
Submissions that follow a style manual should also follow conventions related to:
• Title formatting
• Section organization
• Citation and reference structure
Creative and non-traditional submissions should demonstrate intentional structure and clear internal organization.
Citations and References
Use a citation style appropriate to the discipline and type of submission (e.g., APA, Chicago, MLA). The selected style should be applied consistently throughout the document.
All sources should be accurately cited, and reference lists should be complete and properly formatted.
Authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all citations.
Tables, Figures, and Musical Examples
• Place tables, figures, and musical examples near where they are referenced
• Include clear titles or captions
• Ensure all materials are high-resolution and clearly legible in PDF format
Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce any copyrighted material.
Multimedia Materials
If your submission includes audio, video, or other media:
• Use widely accessible, standard file formats
• Clearly label all files
• Indicate how each file relates to the submission
References to supplementary materials should remain clear when the manuscript is read as a standalone PDF (e.g., “see accompanying media file”).
PDF Quality and Compatibility
Authors are responsible for ensuring that their final file converts cleanly to a high-quality PDF.
When preparing a PDF:
• Ensure that fonts are embedded
• Use standard or widely supported fonts, especially when including specialized symbols or notation
• Confirm that all text, images, and symbols display correctly
Due to variations in hardware and software, the journal cannot guarantee that all PDFs will display identically across all devices.
Accessibility and Readability
Authors should use formatting that supports readability and accessibility. This includes clear headings, consistent structure, and descriptive captions where appropriate.
Where possible, provide contextual information that helps readers interpret multimedia content.
Final Proofreading Checklist
Before submitting your final manuscript, confirm that:
• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct
• Formatting is consistent throughout
• Citation style is applied consistently
• All references are complete and accurate
• All images, figures, and examples are clear and legible
• All files are included and clearly labeled
• The document displays correctly when exported to PDF
A polished final submission ensures a smooth and efficient publication process.