Research knowledge base
Publisher guidance for your next submission
Use publisher guidance to answer a specific submission question. Compare scope, reporting requirements, policies and practical constraints across candidate journals rather than choosing a publisher by name alone.
01
Move from publisher discovery to journal evidence
A journal finder produces candidates within its own coverage. Read the selected journal’s aims, recent articles and current author instructions before treating it as a viable option. The journal-selection guide explains how to record the comparison.
02
Where each resource fits
- Springer Nature journal discovery guidance
Use journal discovery to explore possible destinations. Inspect the particular journal before preparing files.
- Nature editorial policies
Check applicable editorial policies when preparing a Nature submission. Use the chosen Nature Portfolio journal’s own instructions for journal-specific details.
- Emerald journal publishing guide
Use the publishing guide to connect the article’s purpose and audience with a journal. Verify any required abstract structure directly in that journal’s instructions.
- Wiley Journal Finder
Investigate candidates and follow through to their submission information. Keep the reasons for inclusion in the shortlist.
- Elsevier author tools and resources
Locate author resources and journal discovery tools, then consult the chosen journal’s Guide for Authors.
- Sage Journal Author Gateway
Begin with author guidance and continue to the journal’s submission requirements.
- Taylor & Francis: choosing a journal
Consider audience, article type and publication conditions as part of the shortlist.
- PLOS open science publishing
Review open-science policies alongside the selected journal’s requirements.
03
Make a comparison that authors can review
Agree mandatory constraints first: accepted article type, funder requirements, a realistic publication budget and any institutional indexing rule. Then compare candidate journals consistently using the journal comparison worksheet. Keep a dated URL for material conditions, and identify anything that still needs confirmation.
Do not assume that a rule from one publisher applies elsewhere or that all journals within a portfolio have the same requirements. Editorial timing information is planning context, not a promise about an individual paper. A matching tool’s suggestion is not an editorial decision.
04
Turn the choice into a submission package
After selecting one target, assign responsibility for manuscript formatting, figures, declarations, supplementary materials and final author approval. The manuscript-readiness checklist helps turn the instructions into a practical review. For a rejected manuscript, revisit fit and substantive concerns before transferring files to another outlet.
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Continue with your research
External resources reviewed 22 October 2026. Check the current instructions for the selected journal, tool or institution before acting. These links identify independent resources and do not imply an affiliation with or endorsement by their providers.