Prepare Your Manuscript for Your Target Journal
Journal formatting requires careful review of the target journal's current Instructions for Authors. Wallace can help adapt the presentation of your manuscript to the journal's stated requirements so you can spend less time checking formatting details before submission.
- Formatting based on the target journal's current instructions
- References, citations, sections, tables, and legends
- Manuscript presentation and file-organization review
- Clear service scope before work begins
- Can be combined with other journal-support services
How journal formatting works
Formatting begins with the target journal and article type. Requirements can differ substantially among journals, publishers, and manuscript categories.
Review the journal requirements
We review the target journal's current Instructions for Authors and identify the formatting requirements relevant to your article type.
Format the final manuscript
We adapt the manuscript's presentation, references, sections, tables, legends, and other applicable elements to the journal's stated requirements.
Return the formatted files
You receive the formatted manuscript for final review before submission. If the journal requires additional submission work, that can be evaluated separately.
What journal formatting can cover
- Adapting spelling, punctuation, and presentation conventions specified by the journal
- Reformatting references and in-text citations to the required journal style
- Reorganizing or renaming manuscript sections where required by the journal
- Arranging tables, figure legends, and related manuscript elements according to instructions
- Checking requirements for abbreviations, units, symbols, and similar style details
- Adjusting page-level presentation where needed to improve compliance with the journal template or instructions
What formatting does not replace
- Substantive English editing or shortening of scientific content
- Verification of research ethics or journal policy compliance
- Scientific evaluation of figures, data, or experimental methods
- Writing a new cover letter unless arranged as a separate service
- Adding or revising scientific content in footnotes
- Technical artwork preparation or figure conversion beyond ordinary manuscript placement
What we need from you
Providing the final manuscript and the correct journal information helps us format the document against the right requirements.
Target-journal information
- Name of the target journal
- Journal website or current Instructions for Authors, if available
- Article type, such as original research, review, short communication, or letter
- Any journal template or special instructions you have received
- Published sample articles if you want us to use them as an additional reference
Your final manuscript
If Wallace previously edited or translated your manuscript, please review the returned file before formatting. Resolve editor comments and confirm the changes you want to keep so that the formatting stage is based on the version you intend to submit.
Understanding Instructions for Authors
Journal instructions define the practical requirements for preparing and submitting a manuscript. The exact rules vary, so the current instructions from your target journal should always take priority.
Article type, length, and manuscript structure
Journals may define different requirements for original articles, reviews, letters, short communications, case reports, and other article types. Requirements can include word limits, page limits, section order, title-page information, abstract structure, and keyword limits.
Language and manuscript presentation
A journal may specify American or British English, line spacing, page numbering, column layout, font requirements, or a publisher template. If a language variant is not stated, recently published articles can provide additional context.
References and citations
Reference requirements may specify citation order, author-name format, journal abbreviations, DOI inclusion, punctuation, and a named reference style or publisher-specific variation.
Tables, figures, and legends
Journals may specify limits on tables or figures, numbering conventions, legend placement, whether figures should be embedded or uploaded separately, and technical specifications for image files. Technical figure preparation may require a separate artwork service.
Units, equations, abbreviations, and symbols
Discipline-specific journals may give detailed instructions for SI units, equations, statistical notation, abbreviations, symbols, drug names, microbial nomenclature, and other specialized conventions.
Files and submission materials
Instructions may specify accepted manuscript and artwork file types, file-size limits, file naming, separate title-page or supplementary files, declarations, and other documents needed during submission.
Related journal-support services
Formatting covers manuscript presentation. Other stages of submission may require separate support.
Need your manuscript formatted for a target journal?
Send us your final manuscript, target journal, article type, and any submission instructions you already have. We can review the project and confirm the service scope, turnaround time, and quotation.