Submission guidelines

2. Document format & typography

Prepare the main manuscript as an editable file (Microsoft Word .docx preferred). PDF may be requested at revision or proof stages but is not sufficient for the initial submission text unless the journal explicitly allows it.

• Font: Times New Roman throughout the manuscript body.
• Body size: 12 pt for all main text (abstract, main text, references, figure captions when included in the same file).
• Line spacing: Double (2.0) for the main document, including the abstract and references list unless your journal specifies otherwise.
• Margins: At least 2.5 cm (1 in) on all sides.
• Alignment & paragraphs: Left-aligned text; first-line indent 0.5 in (1.27 cm) for new paragraphs, or a blank line between paragraphs—choose one style and apply consistently.
• Page numbers: Continuous numbering in the footer, starting from the title page or abstract as instructed by the submission system.

3. Heading hierarchy

Use Word heading styles so structure is preserved for production and accessibility. Do not format headings only with bold or larger font without applying the correct style.

• Heading 1: The manuscript title only (once on the first page of the main document, or as required by the journal template).
• Heading 2: Major sections (e.g. Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, References).
• Heading 3 & Heading 4: Subsections and sub-subsections as needed. Avoid deeper than four levels; restructure if more nesting is required.

4. Title page

Include at minimum:

• Full title of the article (sentence or title case per journal preference).
• All author names and institutional affiliations (department, institution, city, country). Use superscript symbols to link authors to affiliations where multiple affiliations apply.
• Corresponding author(s): Clearly mark each corresponding author (name, email, ORCID if available). There may be more than one corresponding author. Routine submission-related correspondence (system notifications, revisions, proofs) is sent to the submitting author unless the journal specifies otherwise; ensure that account email is monitored.
• Optional: running short title, word counts, article type.

5. Abstract

• The abstract must be a single continuous passage. Do not divide it into labelled sections (e.g. “Background / Methods / Results”).
• Maximum length: 300 words.
• Do not cite references or include figures, tables, or equations in the abstract unless the journal explicitly allows structured abstracts for specific article types.

6. Keywords

Provide at least four relevant keywords or short phrases (additional keywords are welcome). Use for indexing; avoid the same words as the title only. Separate with commas or semicolons as requested in the submission form.

7. Main text

Organise the body with clear H2 sections (and H3/H4 as needed). Reporting should follow field-appropriate standards (e.g. CONSORT, PRISMA, ARRIVE) where applicable; state this in the Methods if you used a checklist.

Define abbreviations at first use in the abstract and again in the main text if needed. Use SI units unless discipline-specific conventions require otherwise.

8. Figures

• Submit figures as separate high-resolution files (e.g. .tif, .eps, .pdf for line art; .png or lossless formats for raster images).
• Resolution: At least 300 dpi at final published width for photographs and micrographs; 600–1200 dpi for line art and graphs where possible.
• Number figures in the order cited (Figure 1, Figure 2, …). Include a short caption for each (below the figure in the manuscript file or in a separate list if the journal requests).
• Ensure text within figures is legible (preferably ≥8 pt after reduction). Use consistent fonts (Arial or similar sans-serif is acceptable inside figures even when the main text is Times New Roman).
• Obtain written permission for any adapted or reproduced material and credit the source in the caption.

9. Tables

• Build tables in Word using the table tool—not as images—so they can be edited during production.
• Number in order of citation (Table 1, Table 2, …). Place the caption above the table.
• Avoid vertical rules unless necessary; keep footnotes concise and use symbols in a standard order (*, †, ‡, …).

10. Citations & references

Sciencelet uses a numeric (Vancouver-style) system for in-text citations and the bibliography: cite sources with numbers in square brackets in the order they first appear in the text [1], [2], or as superscript numbers if your journal specifies—be consistent. The reference list is numbered to match (not alphabetical).

Each bibliographic entry should be composed using APA 7th edition rules for element order, punctuation, italics, and use of DOIs—adapted to a numbered list. Examples:

• Journal: author(s), year, article title, journal title in italics, volume(issue), pages. Include DOI when available.
• Book: author(s), year, title, publisher. Chapter in edited volume: follow APA chapter format.

List only works cited in the text. Verify all DOIs and URLs before submission. Unpublished meetings, personal communications, and datasets should be cited in text with sufficient detail and included in the reference list only if retrievable.

11. Authorship

Authorship should follow the ICMJE recommendations (or your discipline's equivalent): substantial contribution to conception or design, or acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data; drafting or critical revision; final approval of the version to be published; and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work. Anyone who meets these criteria should be listed as an author; contributors who do not meet all criteria should be named in Acknowledgements with their contribution described.

The submitting author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors have seen and approved the manuscript and author list and that conflicts of interest are disclosed.

12. Acknowledgements

Briefly thank people who provided help that does not meet authorship (technical support, writing assistance, language editing), funding sources (if not covered under a separate Funding section), and grant numbers. Written permission is required for acknowledgements of individuals who might be identifiable.

13. Competing interests

Disclose any financial or non-financial competing interests that could influence the work or its interpretation: employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, patents, personal relationships, etc. If none exist, state explicitly: “The authors declare no competing interests.”

14. Funding

List all funding sources for the work, including grant numbers and a brief description of each funder's role (if any) in design, data collection, analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation.

15. Ethics & compliance

• Human participants: State ethics committee or IRB approval (name, approval number) and that the study followed the Declaration of Helsinki or comparable framework. Informed consent must be obtained unless a waiver was granted—state this clearly.
• Animals: State ethics approval, species, and measures to minimise suffering in line with institutional and national guidelines.
• Clinical trials: Register before recruitment where required; report the registry name and identifier in the manuscript.
• Data & code: State where data (and code, if applicable) can be accessed, including repository name, accession or DOI, and any access conditions.

16. Preprints & prior dissemination

If a preprint or conference abstract exists, disclose it with title, repository or venue, and date. Posting a preprint after submission may breach embargo policies—check with the journal before doing so.