Manuscript Preparation Guidelines

1. Introduction

These Manuscript Preparation Guidelines apply to all submissions to DScholar Press International, including Books, Conference Proceedings, Working Papers, and Reports. Authors, editors, and contributors are expected to prepare their manuscripts in accordance with these requirements before submission.

Compliance with these guidelines facilitates efficient editorial assessment, peer review (where applicable), copyediting, typesetting, and publication.

Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in the submission being returned for revision before editorial evaluation.

2. File Format

  • Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format.

  • PDF files are not accepted for initial submission.

  • The manuscript must be fully editable and free from security restrictions.

3. Page Setup

  • Paper Size: A4 (210 × 297 mm)

  • Margins: 2.54 cm (1 inch) on all sides

  • Orientation: Portrait

  • Page Numbers: Bottom centre or bottom right

  • Headers: Avoid unless essential.

4. Font and Formatting

  • Font: Times New Roman

  • Title: 16 pt, Bold

  • Main Headings: 14 pt, Bold

  • Subheadings: 12 pt, Bold

  • Body Text: 12 pt

  • Line Spacing: 1.5

  • Paragraph Alignment: Justified

  • Paragraph Spacing: 6 pt after each paragraph

  • First-line Indent: 0.5 inch (except immediately after headings)

Use consistent formatting throughout the manuscript.

5. Language

Manuscripts must be written in clear, concise, and grammatically correct English.

Authors may use either British English or American English; however, the chosen variety must be used consistently throughout the manuscript.

Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to obtain professional language editing before submission.

6. Manuscript Structure

Where applicable, manuscripts should include:

  • Title

  • Subtitle (if applicable)

  • Abstract

  • Keywords

  • Main Text

  • Acknowledgements

  • Funding Information

  • Conflict of Interest Statement

  • References

  • Appendices (if applicable)

Publication-specific requirements may require additional sections.

7. Title and Abstract

The manuscript title should accurately reflect the content of the work.

Where applicable, include:

  • Abstract: 150–300 words

  • Keywords: 4–8 keywords

Books or publication types that do not require an abstract should instead include a concise summary.

8. Headings

  • Use a clear hierarchy of headings.
  • A maximum of four heading levels is recommended.
  • Avoid excessive subdivision.

9. Tables

Tables should:

  • Be numbered consecutively.

  • Include concise titles placed above each table.

  • Be created using Microsoft Word table tools.

  • Not to be submitted as images.

  • Include source information where appropriate.

10. Figures, Images and Illustrations

Figures should:

  • Be numbered consecutively.

  • Include descriptive captions below each figure.

  • Be of publication quality (minimum 300 dpi).

  • Have written permission for any copyrighted material.

Authors are responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions.

11. Mathematical Equations

Mathematical expressions should be prepared using Microsoft Equation Editor or MathType.

Important equations should be numbered consecutively.

12. Units, Symbols and Abbreviations

Use the International System of Units (SI Units) wherever applicable.

Abbreviations should be defined at first mention and used consistently throughout the manuscript.

13. References and Citation Style

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all sources cited in the manuscript are accurate, complete, and consistently formatted. Every in-text citation must correspond to an entry in the reference list, and every reference listed must be cited within the text.

DScholar Press International is a multidisciplinary academic publisher. Accordingly, the citation and referencing style may vary depending on the publication, book series, conference proceedings, working paper series, report series, or subject discipline.

Authors should use the citation style specified in the relevant Author Guidelines, Call for Chapters/Papers, or by the Volume Editor. Accepted referencing styles may include, but are not limited to:

  • American Psychological Association (APA) 7th Edition

  • Modern Language Association (MLA) 9th Edition

  • Chicago Manual of Style (Notes and Bibliography or Author–Date)

  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

  • Vancouver Style

  • Harvard Referencing Style

  • Other internationally recognised citation styles appropriate to the discipline.

Where no specific citation style has been prescribed, manuscripts should follow the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th Edition referencing style.

The selected citation style must be applied accurately and consistently throughout the manuscript.

Authors are encouraged to include Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) wherever available.

14. Footnotes and Endnotes

Footnotes and endnotes should be used only where necessary for explanatory purposes.

Do not use footnotes solely for bibliographic references unless required by the prescribed citation style.

15. Supplementary Files

Authors may upload supplementary materials that support the manuscript, including:

  • Datasets

  • Research instruments

  • Appendices

  • Multimedia files

  • Permissions

  • Ethical approval documents

  • Conflict of Interest statements

  • Other supporting documents

Supplementary files should be clearly named and referenced within the manuscript where appropriate.

16. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Any use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in preparing the manuscript must be disclosed in accordance with the AI Policy of DScholar Press International.

AI tools must not be listed as authors or editors.

Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, integrity, and scholarly content of their submissions.

17. Research Ethics

Authors must comply with the Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement of DScholar Press International.

Where applicable, manuscripts should include:

  • Ethics approval details

  • Informed consent statements

  • Animal research approval

  • Funding information

  • Conflict of Interest declaration

Authors are responsible for ensuring the integrity and authenticity of all submitted work.

18. Copyright and Permissions

Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission to reproduce any copyrighted material included in the manuscript, including figures, tables, illustrations, photographs, maps, or lengthy quotations.

Any required acknowledgements must be included within the manuscript.

19. Accessibility

Authors are encouraged to prepare accessible manuscripts by:

  • Using meaningful heading styles.

  • Providing alternative text for figures where possible.

  • Using descriptive table headings.

  • Avoiding colour alone to convey information.

20. Publication-Specific Requirements

Certain publication categories may have additional submission requirements.

For example:

  • Peer-reviewed publications require an anonymous manuscript prepared in accordance with the Double-Blind Peer Review Guidelines.

  • Non-peer-reviewed publications require a complete manuscript containing all author and editor information.

Authors should consult the relevant submission guidelines for their selected publication category before submitting their work.

21. Final Checklist

Before submission, authors should confirm that:

  • The manuscript is complete.

  • The correct publication category has been selected.

  • The manuscript complies with these formatting guidelines.

  • All references are complete and consistently formatted.

  • Tables and figures are correctly numbered and cited.

  • All required supplementary files have been uploaded.

  • Permissions for copyrighted material have been obtained.

  • AI use has been disclosed where applicable.

  • Ethical requirements have been satisfied.

  • The manuscript has been carefully proofread before submission.

Submissions that do not comply with these requirements may be returned to the author for correction before editorial assessment or peer review.