Author Guidelines

Final Manuscript Preparation Guidelines

This page provides details on typesetting and layout requirements pertaining to final manuscript submission to Middle Grades Review (MGR).

Language Requirements

MGR is an English-language journal and is only able to accept manuscripts composed in English.

Formatting Requirements

Document Setup

  • Page size: Use U.S. letter (8.5 in. X 11 in.) page size.
  • Page orientation: Set all pages as portrait orientation. Do not mix portrait- and letter-orientation pages within your manuscript.
  • Margins: Set all margins (left, right, top and bottom) at 1 inch. Figures and tables must fit within these margins.
  • Font: Use black only. Select Times New Roman or the closest comparable font available. Use 14 point for headings and subheadings, 12 point for the main body and captions, and 10 point for footnotes. 
  • Line spacing: Double space all text. 
  • Columns: Use a single column layout.
  • Justification: Fully justify all text within the paper’s body. Left justify the references list.
  • Hyphenation: Do not hyphenate.
  • Letter spacing: Use only one space after end punctuation. Do not kern, track, or distort text.
  • Page numbers: Do not use.
  • Headers and footers: Do not use.
  • Page breaks: Avoid using unless required to keep a figure or table from splitting between two pages.
  • Section or column breaks: Do not use.
  • Title page and abstract: Do not use. Begin the document with the introduction. MGR editors will add your title page and abstract using information you provide during the submission process.

Manuscript Preparation Recommendations

Article Length

Authors should work within the word counts specified in the Editorial Policy and/or the Call for Manuscripts. Word counts given exclude references.

Language and Grammar

All submissions must be written in English. Except for common foreign words and phrases, the use of foreign words and phrases should be avoided.

Citation and Style Guide

Authors should use standard English grammar and cite all sources using APA Style, 7th Edition.

Indents, Line Spacing, and Justification

  • Indent all paragraphs except those following a section heading. Do not use the space bar to indent. Instead, use the tab key or set the paragraph indent using the ruler that appears beneath the toolbar. Use a hanging indent for the reference list.
  • Line spacing should be double throughout the entire manuscript, including body text, references, notes, and captions. Do not insert extra space between paragraphs of text with the exception of long quotations or special remarks. Set these off from the surrounding text by indenting from both sides. Do not indent using the tab key or space bar. Use Word’s indent features or the ruler that appears beneath the toolbar.
  • Maintain full justification of all text throughout the entire manuscript, including body text, notes, and captions. Do not hyphenate. Left justify the reference list.

Emphasized Text

Use bold or italics, not color or underline, to indicate text you wish to emphasize. Do not enlarge text for emphasis.

Figures and Tables

  • Figures must be .tiff, .jpg, .bmp, or .eps format.
  • Figures must be high-resolution (300 pixels per inch or greater). Determine the required image size by considering the size at which your finished figure will appear online and in print. For example, a figure that must print at 6 inches wide by 4 inches high must measure 1800 pixels wide by 1200 pixels tall to avoid appearing fuzzy or pixelated.
  • Embed figures directly into the Microsoft Word file. Place each figure immediately after the paragraph in which it is first referenced. Type the figure caption immediately beneath the figure.
  • Take care not to skew or distort image files when placing them in the manuscript.
  • Build tables directly in the Microsoft Word file. Do not place them as images, since screen readers will be unable to access them. Place each table immediately after the paragraph in which it is first referenced.
  • Do not use color or shading in table text, cells, or rows. All table text must be black.
  • Make your figures and tables accessible. Use Microsoft Word’s accessibility features to add alternative text describing your figures for people who use screen readers. Avoid color combinations known to cause difficulty for people with low vision and colorblindness, such as pairings of reds and greens.

Color Use

We encourage authors to use color in figures, maps, illustrations, and other images. Please keep accessibility in mind and consider how colors may print for readers without access to a color printer. Avoid the use of colors in situations where their translation to black and white would render the material illegible or incomprehensible. Do not use color or shading in tables. All type must be black.

Non-English Terms

Non-English terms should be set in italics rather than underlined.

Main Text

Compose the main body of the manuscript using black Times New Roman or a similar font. Use 14 point for headings and subheadings, 12 point for the main body and captions, and 10 point for footnotes. Double-space all text. Use a single column, fully justified layout. Do not hyphenate, use only one space after end punctuation, and do not kern, track, or distort text.

Headings

Headings (e.g., start of sections) should be formatted according to APA Style, 7th Edition.

Titles

Set book, movie, and other titles in italics. Do not underline.

Footnotes

Footnotes, when necessary, should appear at the bottom of the page on which they are referenced rather than at the end of the paper. Set footnotes in 10 point Times New Roman or the closest comparable font available, with single spacing and preceded by a footnote separator rule (line). Footnote numbers or symbols in the text must follow, rather than precede, punctuation. Place excessively long footnotes in an appendix.

References

  • Provide complete in-text citations and full end references in APA Style, 7th Edition. References should appear at the end of the document. Double-space references and use a hanging indent. Left justify the reference list.
  • Ensure that both in-text citations and the reference list are complete and accurate. (Reference lists generated by citation managers are prone to error and must always be checked by the author prior to submission.)
  • If manuscript reference software (such as Zotero or EndNote) has been used, unlink end references from in-text citations. This prevents problems with file corruption.
  • Provide functioning DOIs or URLs for all online references. If a URL is used, it must also include information about the date it was accessed. Links must not lead to password-protected resources.
  • All tables, figures, and/or charts must be properly attributed to their source. Prior written approval must be obtained for reuse of any copyrighted or previously published tables, figures, charts, or other material.

Submission Details

Prior to submission:

  1. Copyedit and proofread all materials, including the abstract, manuscript, and reference list. Ensure that your references are complete and that all listed DOIs and URLs are functional.
  2. Before saving the final version of your file:
    a. Unlink references from in-text citations if you have used citation management/manuscript reference software.
    b. Remove any access/sharing restrictions from your file.
    c. Accept any comments or tracked changes, then turn off the track changes feature.
  3. Confirm that all authors have approved the version of the manuscript you are about to submit.
  4. Fill in, sign, and date the required Author Agreement Form. Save the completed file in a place you can access it during the submission process.
  5. Gather each author’s preferred name, email address, institutional affiliation, and ORCID identifier. This information is required during the submission process.