Articles submitted to BSA journals are subject to a checklist before being sent into the review process. This is to ensure that they are appropriately anonymised, within the word limit and conform to our File Preparation Guidelines and Notes to Contributors.
Some authors who have failed to read the instructions prior to submitting can find their papers are severely delayed as they correct problems with their file.
To avoid YOUR paper facing delays, please ensure that you adhere to the instructions given in our File Preparation Guidelines and Notes to Contributors and observe our strictly imposed word limit.
Common problems are listed for your information below:
- Length - Please note that over-length submissions will be automatically returned to you for editing. This can cause severe delays to the processing of your manuscript. Therefore please observe the word limit detailed in the 'Notes to Contributors' section of our File Preparation Guidelines and Notes to Contributors. This word limit is strictly enforced and correspondence will NOT be entered into.
- Tables - Please ensure that you have read the 'Notes to Contributors' section and fully understand how tables and figures count towards your word limit. Please ensure tables and figures are included at the bottom of your file rather than in the body of the text.
- Anonymisation - Please ensure that your files are anonymous. This means they do NOT include your name, institution, address, self-references, personal acknowledgements or any other information that might reveal your identity. When replying to a decision letter, please ensure that your reply is not on personal or institutional letterhead.
- No PDFs - Please note that we cannot accept PDFs. We only accept word processing files. This is because a PDF is essentially a photograph of your file. We cannot access the text for editing.
Thank you for taking the time to read this information. We look forward to receiving your submission.
Taylor Bowen, Peer Review Administrator
BSA Publications Department
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