{"id":36957,"date":"2025-07-24T15:16:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T09:46:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/?p=36957"},"modified":"2026-01-21T18:25:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T12:55:27","slug":"journal-formatting-tips-straight-from-editors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/journal-formatting-tips-straight-from-editors","title":{"rendered":"Journal Formatting Tips Straight From Editors\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction: Are You Losing Out on the Format?<\/a><\/p>\n

The 6 Most Common Formatting Mistakes to Watch Out For<\/a><\/p>\n

Where Do You Get Stuck?<\/a><\/p>\n

3 Practical Tips from Editors<\/a><\/p>\n

Conclusion: The Key to Success Is Preparation with Consistency<\/a><\/p>\n

Introduction: Are You Losing Out on the Format?<\/h2>\n

Have you ever been ready to submit a manuscript, only to get overwhelmed by formatting? Many researchers view formatting as a “chore” when writing papers. In fact, even with outstanding research content, manuscript formatting<\/a> errors can lead to desk rejections. That means you may never reach the peer review stage! <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many ways your manuscript can get flagged at the editor’s desk – such as submitting a manuscript in double spacing when the journal requires single spacing. Or how about using the wrong reference style (such as Vancouver instead of APA)? Have you ever forgotten to anonymize author details for a double-blind review? These requirements can differ from journal to journal and can all result in immediate rejection! One editor noted rejecting a paper simply because the figures were embedded within the text when the journal required them as separate files.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We asked around 70 editors, in a survey, to give us some tips, some common formatting pitfalls and offer practical solutions to overcome them.<\/span> Here we summarize the highlights of this survey:<\/span><\/p>\n

The 6 Most Common Formatting Mistakes to Watch Out For<\/h2>\n

Formatting mistakes often arise because of time constraints, unclear guidelines, or attempting to fix everything at the last minute. Here are 6 common formatting mistakes that the editors pointed out:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Styling errors<\/span><\/b>: Issues such as incorrect font size or type, line spacing, page <\/span> margins, and other minor settings.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Reference list inconsistencies<\/span><\/b>: Discrepancies between the text and references, <\/span> incorrect punctuation, improper italicization, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Using the wrong or outdated template<\/span><\/b>: Templates are updated periodically. <\/span> Using an old template from your last submission can lead to noticing template <\/span> changes midway through, requiring extensive revisions later.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Inconsistent figure labels or captions<\/span><\/b>: Missing labels or inaccurate captions for <\/span> figures and tables.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Missing or incorrectly formatted supplementary files<\/span><\/b>: Errors in the formatting <\/span> or absence of supplementary materials.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Page numbering or paragraph setting errors<\/span><\/b>: Incorrect page numbers or improper paragraph formatting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where Do You Get Stuck?<\/h2>\n

Editors were asked what they found to be the most challenging tasks while formatting. Here are the top responses:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Template application<\/span><\/b>: Choosing the correct template is the first major hurdle.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Consistency in citation styles and references<\/span><\/b>: Ensuring consistency in the citation style and references can be a labor-intensive task.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Placing and formatting figures (DPI, captions, etc.)<\/span><\/b>: Many struggle with the correct placement and formatting of figures, including DPI settings and captions.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Managing supplementary materials<\/span><\/b>: Managing and formatting supplementary materials correctly can feel cumbersome.<\/span><\/p>\n

3 Practical Tips from Editors<\/h2>\n

The editors we surveyed gave us some suggestions that you may find helpful the next time you format your manuscript.<\/p>\n

Tip 1: “Find and Use the Correct Journal Template”<\/h3>\n