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Author guidelines

Everything you need to prepare, submit and publish your research — clearly explained, all in one place.

01Prepare
02Submit
03Publish
01 Prepare 02 Structure 03 References 04 Ethics 05 Submit
Before you begin

A clear path to publication

These guidelines cover the complete submission process for Dove Medical Press journals. Follow them carefully to give your manuscript the best chance of a smooth review.

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Check your chosen journal first

Each journal may have additional requirements for article types, word limits and reporting standards.

01

Manuscript preparation

Submit your manuscript in clear American English as a Microsoft Word document. Keep formatting simple and consistent so editors can focus on your research.

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Document

Microsoft Word format with page and continuous line numbers

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Layout

Double-spaced text with 3 cm margins on every side

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Language

Clear, concise American English throughout

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Measurements

SI symbols and recognized unit abbreviations

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Tables & figures

Numbered, titled and cited in the main text

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Terminology

Generic drug names used in titles, text and figures

02

Manuscript structure

Most original research manuscripts should follow the structure below. Exact requirements vary by article type.

Include every author’s full name, institutional affiliation and ORCID where available. Clearly identify the corresponding author.

Original research requires a structured abstract of no more than 300 words. Add three to six descriptive keywords.

Organize original research as Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion and Conclusion.

Credit contributors, describe funding and disclose all financial or non-financial competing interests.

Place clear titles and legends with each item. Supply publication-quality image files separately when requested.
03

References & supplementary data

REF

Reference style

Number references consecutively in order of first mention. Use Vancouver style and list all authors when there are six or fewer.

View examples →
DATA

Supplementary files

Label supporting datasets, appendices, video and other supplementary material clearly and cite each item in the manuscript.

File specifications →
04

Ethics & research integrity

Research must meet internationally accepted ethical standards and include the appropriate statements in the manuscript.

  • 01
    Human and animal research

    Name the approving ethics committee and include approval identifiers and consent statements where applicable.

  • 02
    Clinical trial registration

    Prospectively register clinical trials involving human participants and provide the registry and identifier.

  • 03
    Authorship and contributions

    Every listed author must meet authorship criteria and approve the final manuscript.

  • 04
    Competing interests

    Disclose any relationship or interest that could influence, or appear to influence, the work.

05

Submission process

All manuscripts are submitted online in English. Keep a backup of every file and review your information before completing submission.

1
Choose

Select the journal that best matches your research.

2
Prepare

Format the manuscript and gather supporting files.

3
Submit

Enter manuscript details and upload every file.

4
Review

Track peer review and respond to editorial requests.

5
Publish

Review proofs before your article is released.

Open access

Transparent publishing fees

Article publishing charges vary by journal. The applicable fee is clearly shown before submission and waivers may be available.

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