Submit a Manuscript

Introduction

This page is the entry point for submitting work to the Commons Journal. Use it when your manuscript is complete, formatted according to the Author Guidelines, and ready to enter the editorial workflow.

Please read this page carefully before starting a submission. A strong submission begins with the right manuscript type, the correct files, and complete author and disclosure information.

1. Before You Begin

What submission means

Submitting a manuscript means you are sending your work into a formal editorial process that may include screening, peer review, revision, and publication. Once submitted, your manuscript should be considered under review and should not be sent to another journal at the same time.

Confirm the following before submission

The manuscript fits the journal’s scope.
The manuscript follows the Author Guidelines.
All authors have approved the version being submitted.
The manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere.
Ethics approvals, permissions, and disclosures are complete.
Figures, tables, and supplementary files are ready.

Recommended pre-submission check

Before you start the upload process, confirm that:

the file is in the required format,
the title page and anonymized manuscript are separated if needed,
all citations and references are complete,
and the manuscript has been proofread carefully.

2. What You Can Submit

The Commons Journal accepts different forms of scholarly and editorial work, depending on scope and editorial policy.

Common submission types may include:

Research Articles.
Review Articles.
Policy and Practice Briefs.
Commentaries and Essays.
Commissioned Outputs.
Editorially reviewed pieces.
Special issue or themed issue submissions.

If you are unsure which category applies to your work, choose the type that best reflects the manuscript’s purpose and structure, or contact the editorial office before submitting.

3. What Files You Need

A complete submission usually includes more than just the manuscript text. Prepare all required files before beginning.

Required files

Main manuscript file – the full text in the required format.
Title page – if the journal uses double-blind review, this should be separate from the anonymized manuscript.
Abstract and keywords – either in the manuscript file or entered in metadata.
Figures – separate, high-resolution files if required.
Tables – embedded or separate depending on journal policy.
Supplementary materials – data, appendices, transcripts, or other supporting files.
Cover letter – if requested.
Permissions or ethics documents – if relevant.

File preparation tips

Use clear filenames.
Keep the manuscript and supplemental files organized.
Remove identifying information from the review version if double-blind review applies.
Check that all special characters, tables, and figures display correctly.

4. Step-by-Step Submission Process

The submission process should be straightforward, but every field matters. Complete each stage carefully before moving to the next.

Step 1: Start a new submission

Log in to the journal platform and click the button for a New Submission or equivalent. Choose the correct article type or section for your manuscript.

Step 2: Select the submission category

Choose the article type that best fits your manuscript, such as:

Research Article.
Review Article.
Policy Brief.
Commentary.
Commissioned Output.

Selecting the wrong category can delay screening or review.

Step 3: Enter manuscript details

Provide the required bibliographic and descriptive information, including:

title,
subtitle, if any,
abstract,
keywords,
article type,
subject area or discipline,
language,
any special notes for the editor.

Step 4: Add author information

Enter all authors in the correct order and provide:

full names,
affiliations,
email addresses,
ORCID iDs if available,
corresponding author designation,
any contribution or authorship notes required by the journal.

Step 5: Upload the main file

Upload the manuscript file first. If the journal uses double-blind review, make sure the review version is anonymized and does not include identifying information in the body, title page, acknowledgements, or file metadata.researcheracademy.

Step 6: Upload supplementary files

If required, upload:

figures,
tables,
appendices,
data files,
multimedia files,
cover letter,
copyright forms,
permissions,
ethics documentation.

Step 7: Enter disclosures and declarations

Complete any required statements on:

conflicts of interest,
funding,
ethics approval,
informed consent,
author contributions,
related or overlapping submissions.

Step 8: Review the submission summary

Before finalizing, check the full summary carefully. Confirm that:

the correct files are attached,
authors are in the correct order,
metadata is accurate,
the right submission type has been selected.

Step 9: Complete submission

Click the final submission button only after reviewing everything. Once complete, the system should generate a confirmation and send an acknowledgement email to the corresponding author.

5. Double-Blind Review Preparation

If your manuscript will enter double-blind review, anonymization is essential. The review copy should not identify the authors in any obvious or hidden way.

To anonymize correctly:

Remove author names from the manuscript file.
Remove affiliations from the review version.
Remove acknowledgements and funding statements from the review copy if required.
Replace self-identifying references where appropriate.
Check figure files and captions for identity clues.
Remove identifying metadata from document properties.

Keep separate:

Title page.
Author details.
Funding and acknowledgements.
Manuscript review copy.

If the journal does not use double-blind review for a specific submission type, the submission instructions may differ.

6. Common Reasons for Return Before Review

A submission may be returned for correction before entering review if it is incomplete or non-compliant. Common issues include:

Missing files.
Incorrect article type.
Poor anonymization.
Incomplete author information.
Unclear abstract or missing keywords.
Unformatted references.
Missing ethics or disclosure statements.
Figures or tables that are unreadable or unusable.

To avoid delay, complete every field and upload every required file before final submission.

7. After Submission

After you submit, your manuscript enters the editorial workflow. What happens next depends on the article type and editorial policy, but the general sequence is usually:

Editorial screening.
Assignment to an editor.
Reviewer invitation.
Peer review or editorial review.
Decision letter.
Revision, if requested.
Final decision.
Publication and repository deposit, if accepted.

You may be able to log in at any time to check the status of your submission, depending on the platform setup.

8. Submission Status Meanings

Typical status labels may include:

Submitted – manuscript received.
Under editorial screening – initial check underway.
Under review – external reviewers are evaluating the manuscript.
Revision requested – author action required.
Revised submission received – revision uploaded.
Accepted – approved for publication.
Rejected – not accepted for publication.
Published – final article made available.

9. Editorial Communication

The corresponding author is the main point of contact for editorial communication. Please monitor the email address used for submission and check the journal platform regularly for updates or requests.

If the editorial office requests changes, revisions should be submitted by the deadline provided. Missing deadlines can lead to delay or closure of the submission.

10. If You Need Help

If you encounter technical problems, submission uncertainty, or scope questions before submission, contact the editorial office. If your issue is about formatting or manuscript preparation, consult the Author Guidelines first.

Button suggestions:

Author Guidelines
Editorial Policies
Peer Review Process
Contact Editorial Office