How to format and use a journal template for your research paper

When writing your research paper it is crucial to understand what format your target journal requires, and what journal template you should use (if one at all). Although many of our journals have the basic elements of style in common, each journal can have its own guidelines for formatting. This defines how an article will look when it is published online or in print.

Read on to find out how to format your research paper for submission to your target journal.

Quick links

How to format your research paper

  • Go to Taylor & Francis Online and search for the title of your chosen journal using the search bar.

  • Select the relevant journal and click on the instructions for authors tab.

  • Read your target journal’s instructions for authors, and find out about its formatting guidelines.

  • Below are a list of Word templates which can be used for many of our journals. Please download the relevant template and apply it to your research paper format.

  • Each version of the template has its own instructions file. Read the instructions to learn how to save and use the template.

Get familiar with the journal’s instructions for authors

Be prepared, speed up your submission, and make sure nothing is forgotten by understanding the journal’s individual requirements.

Find out more about instructions for authors

Using Taylor & Francis word templates for journal articles

  1. Check to see which version of Word is installed on your computer

  2. Read the instructions for the relevant version of the template in the list below

  3. Download and save the template file to your computer

  4. Apply these styles to your paper as appropriate

Taylor & Francis templates

Format-free submission

Many Taylor & Francis journals allow format-free submission.

If you use a consistent citation format and include all the necessary information, you may be able to submit your work without worrying about formatting your manuscript.

To find out if your journal allows format-free submission, go to your journal’s homepage on Taylor & Francis Online.

Read the instructions for authors’ for your chosen journal to find out if it operates format-free submission.

Submitting your article format-free?

Read our guide for more information on how to submit your article format-free.

Format-free submission guide

Other journal format options

LaTex templates

Some of our journals accept manuscripts that use a LaTeX template.

Please check the instructions for authors on your chosen journal’s homepage on Taylor & Francis Online to know if LaTeX is an accepted format.

Your journal may provide a link to its specific template in the instructions for authors’ section of the journal’s homepage on Taylor & Francis Online.

If no template is provided, please contact us for advice.

What is LaTex?

LaTeX Templates defines it as a system producing high-quality professional documents, by using plain text markup language similar to HTML and CSS collated into a PDF document.

F1000Research

F1000Research publishes different article types offering flexibility in format and structure, although specific requirements may apply to some article types.

You can find out more about article type-specific instructions for submission with F1000Research in the F1000Research Article Guidelines.

To submit to F1000Research, your manuscript can be submitted as:

  • Word (DOC or DOCX)

  • Rich text format (RTF) files

  • ZIP files – if authored in LaTeX (the project ZIP file must include the PDF)

What is F1000Research?

This is an Open Research publishing platform offering rapid article publication and other research outputs without editorial bias.

Save time – let us help format your manuscript

Consider using expert editors to help you meet deadlines and make sure your manuscript complies to your target journal’s requirements.

Get help formatting your manuscript

Related resources