Submitting your manuscript online

Preparing your Manuscript

1. Follow the manuscript preparation instructions carefully. Failure to follow these instructions may lead to delay in the publication of your manuscript.
2. Note: Before you begin, you should be sure you are using an up-to-date version of Netscape or Internet Explorer. If you have an earlier version, you can download a free upgrade using the icons found at the bottom of the 'Instructions and Forms' section of the online submission web site.
3. First, you will need to log into the online submission web site.
4. When naming your files, please use simple filenames, preferably the first author's surname, and avoid special characters and spaces. If you are a Macintosh user, you must also type the three-letter extension at the end of the file name you choose (e.g. .doc, .rtf, .jpg, .gif, .tif, .pdf, .eps).

Submitting your Manuscript

Now that your files are ready, visit the online submission web site .

1. First, you will need to log into the system. Note: Before you begin, you should be sure you are using version 4.0 or higher of Netscape or Internet Explorer. If you have an earlier version, you can download a free upgrade using the icons found at the bottom of our login screen.
   • If you know your login details (i.e. you have submitted or reviewed a manuscript on this system before), use your User ID and Password to log on.
   • If you do not know your login details, check to see if you are already registered by clicking on the 'Check for existing account' button and following the on-screen instructions. If you are not already registered, you can register by clicking on the 'Create a new account' button on the login screen and following the on-screen instructions.
   • If you have trouble finding manuscripts or have other problems with your account do not create another account. Instead, please contact Manuscript Central Customer Support (see below).
2. To submit a new manuscript, go to the 'Author Centre', choose 'Submit First Draft of a New Manuscript' and then follow the on-screen instructions. There are up to 12 steps for you to follow to submit your manuscript. You move from one step to the next by clicking on the 'Save and Continue' button on each screen or back to the previous screen by clicking on the 'Previous' button. Please note that if you click on the 'Back' or 'Forward' button on your browser, the information you have entered will not be saved . At any stage you can stop the submission process by clicking on the 'Return to Menu' button - everything you have typed into the system up to, but not including, the current screen will be saved. To return to the submission process you will need to click on the manuscript title in the 'Partially Submitted Manuscripts' section in your 'Author Centre'. You may like to have the original word processing file available so that you can copy and paste the title and abstract into the required fields.
3. To upload your files in the Author Centre 'File Upload Centre':
   • Click on the 'Browse' button and locate the document you want to upload.
   • Select the document's designation from the pull-down menu. The designation choices may vary from journal to journal, but will always include 'Main Document' (your manuscript text).
   • You will also be asked whether each document you upload should be considered for review, and the default is set to 'Yes'. Please be advised that if you select 'No', the editorial staff will still be able to view that document and make it available to an editor or reviewer if necessary. Cover letters should not be made available for review.
   • Click on the upload button to submit your file. If you are uploading your manuscript file, and it is in one of the formats specified above, it will be automatically converted to a .pdf file for peer review.
   • When the upload of each file is completed, you will see a confirmation window asking you to write a description of that document. For your Main Document, you can use language such as 'Manuscript Text' or 'Main Document'. For any other supporting documents, please indicate clearly what the document is as well as its format (MS Excel, MS Word, etc.).
4. From the files you submit to make up your manuscript, the system creates and stores separately two types of documents:
   • Files for Review. These will be the files viewable to the editor and reviewers of your manuscript. The system will automatically convert your text documents (any document in .doc, .rtf or .ps format) into .pdf and make that newly converted document accessible for review, leaving the originally uploaded document under the second column, 'Files for Production'. [Note: PDF files are readable with Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for download from the main login screen of Manuscript Central, as well as from Adobe .] The system will also save under 'Files for Review' any documents which are uploaded in formats that it cannot convert.
   • Files for Production. These are all the original word-processor files and figures you uploaded. Not listed here will be those files you designated for review but submitted in a format that cannot be converted by the system.
5. After the successful upload of your text and images, it will be possible for you to view and proof your manuscript now located on the web site. The on-screen version of your manuscript you review at the journal's web site will also be the version accessed by the editor and the reviewers.
6. If the files have not been uploaded to your satisfaction, click on the 'Previous' button to move back to the file upload screen where you can remove the files you do not want, and repeat the upload process.
7. When you are satisfied with the uploaded manuscript then click on the 'Submit' button. It is not until this button is pushed that the manuscript and all of the associated information (i.e. contributing authors, institutions, etc.) is linked together and the manuscript is given a manuscript number. Once the manuscript is submitted it is not possible to undo the submission.
8. After the manuscript has been submitted you will receive an email confirmation stating that your manuscript was successfully submitted. This email will also give the assigned manuscript number, which is used in all correspondence. If you do not receive this email, your manuscript will not have been successfully submitted to the journal and the paper cannot progress to peer review. If this is the case your manuscript will still be sitting in the 'Partially Submitted Manuscripts' section of your 'Author Centre' awaiting your attention.
9. If you return to your 'Author Centre' you will notice that your newly submitted manuscript can be found in the 'Submitted Manuscripts' area.

Submitting a Revised Manuscript

1. Logon to the online submission web site as before and, in the 'Author Centre', click on 'Manuscripts to be Revised'. You will then see the title of any manuscripts you submitted that are under revision.
2. If you click on the manuscript title you will reach the 'File Manager' screen. Here you can upload the file that constitutes your revised manuscript. To facilitate the production process, it is essential that you upload your revised manuscript as a .doc or .rtf file, and not in .pdf format. Supplementary files should also be uploaded with the revised manuscript file.
3. If you click on 'View comments/respond' you will see the editor's letter to you together with the referees' comments. You may cut and paste your responses into the text areas at the bottom of the screen.
4. IMPORTANT. High-resolution versions of your images are required (600 d.p.i. for line drawings and 300 d.p.i for colour and half-tone artwork). For useful information on preparing your figures for publication, go to this page. Please note that publication of your manuscript will not proceed until figures suitable for reproduction are received.

Getting help

If you experience any problems during the online submission process please use the 'Author Help' function, which takes you to specific submission instructions, or 'Get Help Now', which takes you to the Frequently Asked Questions page. Alternatively, contact the editorial office at ( HMG.editorialoffice@oup.com ).