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
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