You've fixed the reference list and adjusted the headings. Then the submission system asks for a statement, file, or author detail you haven't prepared. Formatting turns out to mean more than how the manuscript looks.
The handbook emphasizes reading the journal's instructions early. Treat them as a set of requirements to verify for the selected article type, not a page you open only when the draft is finished.
Confirm what belongs in the manuscript
Check the requested structure, length, abstract, tables, figures, references, and supplementary material. Distinguish mandatory instructions from examples or guidance for other article types.
If a template is provided, verify that it's the current one for the submission you're making.
Check identification and file requirements
Read how author information should be supplied and whether any review files need identifying details removed. Inspect document properties and supplementary files as appropriate to the instructions. Make sure the files agree with the information entered in the system.
Don't assume the rules match those of the last journal you used.
Prepare accurate statements
Review the required disclosures, permissions, research protection information, data statements, contribution information, and other declarations. Use the actual circumstances and applicable requirements. A copied statement can be incorrect even when it sounds familiar.
Resolve questions with coauthors or the appropriate office before submitting.
Check the supporting materials
Open figures, tables, appendices, and other files. Confirm labels, cross-references, readability, and the version you're uploading. Verify that you may provide each item under the relevant permissions and restrictions.
A missing attachment or mismatched table number can make a sound argument difficult to assess.
Inspect the submission itself
Follow the final confirmation process and review any generated proof or combined file available. Check the title, abstract, authors, order, and uploaded versions. Keep a copy of the submitted record and the confirmation.
Completing these steps doesn't promise acceptance. It helps ensure the journal receives the intended work with the information it asks for.
Build a short checklist from the selected journal's current instructions and put an owner beside each unresolved item. Use it while preparing the files, then again at submission. You'll be checking a defined set of requirements rather than hoping the system reveals everything in time.
Adapted from The New Faculty Handbook by Zafer Unal, p. 116.
