Instructions for contributors
Each journal published by Cambridge University Press is unique, pursuing a specific set of editorial aims. We strongly encourage authors to read the Instructions for Contributors document associated with their chosen journal as early as possible during the manuscript preparation process, to ensure full understanding of the journal's audience and scope. This document can be found via the homepage of each journal on Cambridge Core.
Click here to view a full list of the journals we publish.
A journal's Author Instructions are an excellent place to find guidance on both broad and specific information about a journal. This should be the author's first resource for varied information on a journal's subject area coverage, accepted article types, manuscript style notes, special forms of submissions and specific post-publication author policies.
Authors will increase production and publication efficiency for their manuscript if they read the instructions for their journal carefully and ensure that their submission follows the desired guidelines.
Manuscript preparation guides
- How to write an effective abstract/select keywords
- Cambridge Journals Artwork Guide
- Supplementary material information
- Seeking permission to use copyrighted material
- Anonymising your manuscript (for double-anonymous peer review)
- LaTex
Cambridge Author Services
To continue to publish the best in global research, it is essential that we support researchers anywhere in the world prepare their research for submission to our journals. In order to help prospective authors to prepare for submission and to reach their publication goals, we also offer a range of high-quality manuscript preparation services – including language editing. Find out more here.
Submitting your paper
A growing proportion of our journals now use an online submission system – in most cases ScholarOne Manuscripts™ or Editorial Manager® – to help manage the submission and peer-review process. These systems allow authors to submit and track their paper online, and help us to make sure the editorial process is both efficient and fully accountable.
How do I decide which affiliation to list on my manuscript?
As per Cambridge’s author affiliation policy, any article affiliations listed in the manuscript should represent the institution(s) at which the research presented was conducted and/or supported and/or approved. For non-research content, any affiliations should represent the institution(s) with which each author is currently affiliated.
Please click here to read our author affiliation FAQs.
Who should I put as the Corresponding Author?
When submitting your paper, you will be asked to assign a Corresponding Author. The Corresponding Author is the person who handles the manuscript and correspondence during the publication process, including approving the article proofs. We ask that the corresponding author confirm that they have the authority to act on behalf of all co-authors in all matters pertaining to publication of the manuscript including supplementary material. The Corresponding Author is responsible for obtaining such agreements and for informing the co-authors of the manuscript’s status throughout the submission, review, and publication process. In addition, the Corresponding Author also acts as the point of contact for any enquiries (including those relating to the integrity of the work) after the paper is published.
The Corresponding Author’s specific responsibilities include:
- Manuscript correction and proofreading. Handling the revisions and re-submission of revised manuscripts up to the acceptance of the manuscripts;
- Agreeing to and signing the Author Publishing Agreement on behalf of relevant coauthors and/or arranging for any third-party copyright owners’ signature;
- Arranging for payment of an APC (article processing charge) where one is required. The affiliation of the corresponding author is used to determine eligibility for discounted or waived APCs under transformative agreements;
- Acting on behalf of all co-authors in responding to queries from all sources post-publication, including questions relating to publishing ethics, reuse of content, or the availability of data, materials, resources etc.
Please click here to read our Corresponding Author FAQs.
Peer review
The peer-review process plays a critical role in both the evaluation and development of scholarly material submitted for publication. Its purpose is to ensure that published papers meet rigorous academic standards, through objective and independent assessment by experts in a given field. Peer review is not simply a filter for acceptance or rejection. For all authors it is an important step in a collaborative editorial process. The ultimate goal is to refine the content and expression of a paper to maximise its contribution to scholarship.
What happens to my paper once I submit it to a journal?
Every journal operates a slightly different review process. Typically, a submitted article will initially be looked at by the journal's editor(s), who will consider its relevance to the scope of the journal, as well as its methodology, the quality of its language and clarity of its argument. The editor(s) will decide whether the submission is suitable to be sent out for review. This process can take 2–3 months for some journals, but can be as quick as a week for others. If you have concerns about the timetable, we encourage you to discuss these with the journal's editor(s).
What happens during the peer-review process?
Your paper will be sent to one or more reviewers who are experts in the field. They will offer comments to support the journal's editor(s) in judging the paper's suitability for publication. In most cases, they will offer you feedback to help you improve your paper.
The objectivity of this process is reinforced by a system of anonymity. The most common types of peer review are: 'single-anonymous', where you will not know the identity of the reviewers; or 'double-anonymous', where neither reviewers nor authors know one another's identity. The exact review process and time it takes will vary in different subject areas and journals. You will often find a statement about the exact process in the Instructions for Contributors for each journal.
Revisions
The editor(s) will make a decision regarding your paper based on the reviewer reports. It is common for an article not to be accepted in first draft and you may be asked to revise and resubmit. Sometimes the revisions requested are minor; other times they may be more substantial. If this happens, you will be given the reviewer reports and, possibly, some additional comments from the editor(s). These should advise you on what you need to revise before submitting a next draft.
What happens to a paper I revise and resubmit?
If you were asked to make minor revisions, usually the editor(s) will check that you have made the necessary revisions before informing you that your paper has been accepted for publication.
If major revisions were suggested, some journals will send the revised paper back to the original reviewers, who will assess whether the paper is now suitable for publication. The editor(s) will then inform you whether the paper is accepted or whether further revisions are necessary.
What happens if my paper is rejected?
If your paper is rejected after peer review, most editors will provide feedback and may still share the comments made by the reviewers in order to help you understand the reasons for the decision, develop your paper or find an alternative publication to which to submit your paper.
Accepted papers
Once accepted, your manuscript will be prepared for publication. Many journals will ask their authors to prepare a final version of their manuscript according to the journal's particular style. If you are asked to do this you should follow carefully the guidelines sent to you by the editor and any instructions about how to submit images or other files. At this stage you will usually be asked to sign a form to define copyright terms and declare any conflicts of interest.
Some research funding bodies require authors to deposit their manuscript at this stage – the version defined as the 'Accepted Manuscript' – in an institutional or subject repository. The Press' policies to support authors in meeting these obligations can be found here.