What are the basic requirements for submitting a research paper to an engineering journal?

Common requirements include a manuscript that fits the journal's scope, an abstract, keywords, a clear methodology, results, references, correctly formatted figures and tables, and any required declarations or supporting documents. Exact requirements vary by journal.

What documents are required for engineering journal submission?

Depending on the journal, authors may need a main manuscript, title page, cover letter, separate figure files, supplementary material, author contribution statement, funding declaration, conflict-of-interest statement, and ethics documentation where applicable.

How should I format an engineering research paper?

Follow the target journal's current author guidelines and manuscript template. Check the required file format, headings, abstract length, keywords, figures, tables, equations, units, references, and word or page limits.

Is a cover letter necessary when submitting an engineering paper?

Many journals request a cover letter. It generally identifies the manuscript title and article type, summarizes the main contribution, and explains why the paper fits the journal. Follow the journal's instructions to determine whether it is mandatory.

Do engineering journals require plagiarism or similarity reports?

Requirements vary. Some journals or institutions request a similarity report, while others conduct their own screening. Authors should ensure that the work is original, citations are accurate, and reused text or figures comply with applicable copyright and attribution requirements.

What ethical declarations may be required for an engineering journal?

Depending on the research, declarations may cover authorship, funding, conflicts of interest, data availability, human or animal ethics approval, consent, and the use of AI tools. Authors should follow the selected journal's policies.

Can I submit the same engineering paper to multiple journals?

Generally, no. Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to multiple journals is prohibited unless the relevant policies explicitly allow it. Wait for a final decision or formally withdraw the manuscript before submitting elsewhere.

Does every open access engineering journal charge an APC?

No. Some open access journals charge article processing fees, while others operate without standard author publication charges. Check the official journal website for current fees, waiver policies, institutional agreements, and licensing options.

Engineering Journal Submission Requirements: The Author's Checklist

Before preparing the final manuscript, verify that the selected journal is appropriate for your research topic and contribution.

Check the journal's aims and scope

Read the official aims and scope carefully. Engineering journals may specialize in fields such as:

Mechanical and manufacturing engineering
Civil and structural engineering
Electrical and electronics engineering
Computer science and engineering
Chemical and materials engineering
Biomedical engineering
Renewable energy and environmental engineering
Robotics, automation, and control systems

A manuscript may be technically sound but unsuitable for a journal that does not publish research in its subject area. Authors unsure where to begin can review top factors to consider when selecting an engineering journal for publication.

Review recently published articles

Examine recent articles similar to your study. Compare their subject matter, research depth, methods, presentation, and contribution. This helps you determine whether your manuscript fits the journal's audience and expectations.

Verify the journal's credibility

Review the editorial board, peer-review process, publication ethics policies, publisher information, and recent publication history. If indexing is important for your institution, verify it through the relevant official database.

Do not rely only on impact factor claims, unsolicited invitations, or indexing logos displayed on a journal website. Reading why IJOER is not a predatory journal can help authors understand how legitimate journals distinguish themselves from questionable outlets.

2. Prepare the Manuscript According to the Required Structure

The journal's author guidelines should determine the final manuscript structure. However, many engineering research papers contain the following sections.

Title

The title should clearly describe the subject of the research without unnecessary wording. It should accurately reflect the work rather than make claims that the study does not establish.

Abstract

The abstract summarizes the research problem, objective, methodology, principal results, and main conclusion. Follow the journal's word limit and formatting rules.

Some journals require a structured abstract with headings, while others request a single paragraph.

Keywords

Provide the number of keywords specified by the journal. Select terms that represent the main methods, technologies, materials, systems, and research area.

Avoid repeating the title word for word when more precise indexing terms are available.

Introduction

The introduction should establish the research context, summarize relevant previous work, identify the knowledge gap, and state the objectives and contribution of the study.

Literature review or related work

Depending on the journal's preferred structure, relevant prior research may appear in a separate section or within the introduction. Explain how the present work relates to existing studies and what it contributes beyond them. Authors seeking a structured approach may benefit from engineering research methodology concepts, types, and applications.

Materials and methods or methodology

Describe the experimental setup, materials, instruments, models, algorithms, simulations, procedures, and analysis methods needed to understand how the research was conducted.

For computational and simulation-based studies, report relevant model assumptions, parameter values, software or hardware environments, and validation procedures.

Results and discussion

Present the findings clearly and interpret them in relation to the research objectives and previous studies. Use appropriate tables, figures, equations, and statistical measures.

Avoid repeating every numerical value from a table in the text. Instead, explain the most important patterns and their significance.

Conclusion

Summarize the principal findings and explain their implications. A conclusion should not introduce unsupported results. Include limitations and future research directions when appropriate and consistent with the journal's requirements.

References

Ensure that every cited source appears in the reference list and that every reference-list entry is cited in the manuscript, where required by the journal's style.

Some journals also require sections on acknowledgements, funding, author contributions, data availability, conflicts of interest, or supplementary information.

3. Follow the Journal's Formatting Guidelines

Formatting requirements differ between publishers and even between journals from the same publisher. Always download the latest instructions or manuscript template from the journal's official website.

Use the following checklist.

[ ] The manuscript uses the required file format, such as DOCX or LaTeX source files
[ ] Page size, margins, font, line spacing, and paragraph formatting follow the guidelines
[ ] The title, abstract, keywords, and headings use the required format
[ ] Section headings and numbering are consistent
[ ] Equations are editable or prepared in the format required by the journal
[ ] Tables and figures are numbered consistently
[ ] Units follow the journal's requirements and accepted scientific conventions
[ ] Abbreviations are defined at first use where necessary
[ ] Supplementary files follow the required naming and file-format rules
[ ] The manuscript follows any page, word, or figure limits

Do not assume that one publisher's template will be accepted by another journal. A paper formatted for a conference may also need substantial revision before journal submission.

4. Check Figures, Tables, Equations, and Technical Data

Engineering papers frequently rely on technical illustrations and quantitative results. Poor-quality figures, inconsistent units, or incomplete technical descriptions can make the manuscript difficult to evaluate.

Figures and diagrams

Before submission, verify that:

[ ] Every figure is cited in the manuscript
[ ] Figure numbers and captions are correct
[ ] Labels, legends, axes, and symbols are readable
[ ] Images meet the required resolution and file-format specifications
[ ] Graphs use clear units and appropriately labelled scales
[ ] Diagrams and photographs are original or used with the necessary permissions
[ ] Colours and line styles remain distinguishable when printed or viewed in grayscale, where relevant

Check whether the journal requires figures to be embedded in the manuscript, uploaded separately, or provided in both forms.

Tables

Tables should present information clearly without unnecessary duplication.

[ ] Each table has a number and descriptive title or caption
[ ] Column headings and measurement units are clear
[ ] Abbreviations and symbols are explained where needed
[ ] Numerical precision is consistent
[ ] Tables are cited in the text
[ ] Data are consistent with the corresponding discussion and figures

Equations and symbols

Check that equations are numbered according to the journal's format and that all variables are defined. Use consistent notation throughout the paper and verify that symbols, subscripts, superscripts, and units have not changed during document conversion.

Engineering data and validation

For experimental, computational, or simulation-based research, confirm that the manuscript explains how results were generated and evaluated.

Depending on the study, this may involve equipment specifications, boundary conditions, calibration procedures, numerical methods, model validation, benchmark comparisons, uncertainty analysis, or reproducibility information.

5. Apply the Correct Referencing Style

Reference formatting is a common source of avoidable submission errors.

Engineering journals may use IEEE-style numbered citations, author–date references, or publisher-specific formats. Use the exact style required by the selected journal. Authors new to manuscript preparation may find guidance in how to write a research paper article in engineering.

Reference checklist

[ ] Every in-text citation corresponds to a reference-list entry
[ ] Reference-list entries are cited in the text as required
[ ] Author names, article titles, publication years, volume numbers, and page ranges or article numbers are accurate
[ ] DOI links are included where required and available
[ ] Journal names and conference titles follow the specified style
[ ] Citations to websites include appropriate details and access dates where required
[ ] Recent and foundational research is represented appropriately
[ ] Sources are relevant to the research question and claims being made

Reference-management software can help maintain consistency, but automatically generated citations should still be checked manually. Verify bibliographic details against the original publication.

6. Meet Publication Ethics Requirements

Ethical compliance is essential for engineering research, including work involving human participants, personal data, proprietary information, animal studies, or potentially sensitive technologies.

Originality and plagiarism

The manuscript should present original work or clearly identify and cite material taken from other sources. Direct quotations, reused figures, adapted diagrams, and previously published text must be handled according to copyright and citation requirements.

A similarity score alone does not determine whether a paper constitutes plagiarism. Authors should examine the matched text, remove inappropriate overlap, and cite sources correctly.

Duplicate submission and redundant publication

Do not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously unless the relevant publication policies explicitly allow it. Disclose related manuscripts or previous publications where required.

If a journal submission substantially extends a conference paper, check the journal's policy on prior publication and explain the additional contribution. Cite the earlier work and identify reused material.

Authorship and author contributions

All listed authors should meet the applicable authorship criteria and approve the final manuscript. Agree on the author order before submission.

Some journals require a contributor statement describing roles such as conceptualization, methodology, software, investigation, data curation, writing, supervision, or funding acquisition.

Do not add authors who did not make an appropriate contribution or omit contributors who qualify for authorship.

Conflicts of interest and funding

Disclose relevant financial, professional, or personal relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation. State funding sources and grant details where required.

If there is no applicable funding or conflict of interest, use the journal's requested declaration rather than omitting the section without explanation.

Human participants, personal data, and safety

If the research involves human participants, personal data, clinical information, or animal studies, follow the applicable legal, institutional, and journal requirements. Provide ethics committee approval, consent statements, or other documentation when required.

For engineering experiments involving hazardous materials, high voltages, machinery, or sensitive systems, describe relevant safety procedures when appropriate.

AI tools and research integrity

Check the journal's current policy on generative AI and other automated tools. Some journals require disclosure of AI assistance used in writing or analysis. AI tools should not be listed as authors where the publisher's policy prohibits this.

Authors remain responsible for factual accuracy, citations, originality, data integrity, and the final manuscript.

7. Prepare the Required Submission Documents

A complete submission may require files in addition to the main manuscript. The precise list depends on the journal, article type, and publisher.

Document or file	Purpose
Main manuscript	Contains the research paper in the required format
Title page	Provides title, author details, affiliations, and corresponding-author information when required
Cover letter	Introduces the manuscript and explains its relevance to the journal
Figures and tables	Uploaded separately when the journal requires individual files
Supplementary material	Provides additional data, videos, code, proofs, or technical information
Conflict-of-interest declaration	Discloses relevant competing interests
Funding statement	Identifies research funding or states that no specific funding was received
Author contribution statement	Describes each author's role where required
Ethics approval or consent documentation	Supports compliance for applicable research
Copyright or licence forms	Records publication rights and licensing choices when requested
Suggested reviewers	Provides potential reviewers if the journal requests them

Not every journal requires all these documents. Follow the submission portal and author instructions rather than uploading unnecessary files.

8. Write an Effective Cover Letter

A cover letter helps the editor understand the purpose and relevance of the submission. It should be concise, accurate, and specific to the journal.

A typical cover letter includes:

The manuscript title and article type
A brief explanation of the research problem and principal contribution
Why the work fits the journal's scope and readership
Confirmation of compliance with relevant submission policies
Any declarations requested by the journal

Do not use the cover letter to repeat the entire abstract. Avoid exaggerated claims such as describing the paper as the world's first or most important study unless such claims are rigorously justified.

Check whether the journal requires a particular declaration about exclusive submission, author approval, related work, or conflicts of interest.

9. Complete the Online Submission Form Carefully

After preparing the manuscript and supporting files, authors usually submit their work through an online editorial system.

The form may request:

Manuscript title and abstract
Keywords and subject classifications
Full names and institutional affiliations of all authors
Corresponding-author email address and contact details
Author order and contributor roles
Funding and conflict-of-interest declarations
Ethics and data-availability statements
Suggested reviewers, where applicable
Preferred article type and open access selection

Check every entry before proceeding. The metadata entered into the portal should match the manuscript and title page.

Pay particular attention to author names, affiliations, email addresses, funding information, and the order of authors. Incorrect metadata can cause administrative delays or create problems after publication.

10. Review Open Access Options and Publication Charges

If you are considering open access, understand the journal's publication model before submitting. Authors comparing publication venues may find top DOAJ open access journals in engineering and what Scopus indexing is and its importance in engineering research useful references.

Questions to ask

Is the journal fully open access, hybrid, or subscription-based?
Is there an article processing charge?
Is the fee payable only after acceptance?
Are taxes or other mandatory charges additional?
Are waivers or discounts available?
Does your institution have an agreement with the publisher?
Which Creative Commons or other licence options are available?
Are there funder-specific open access requirements?

Do not assume that every open access journal charges an APC, or that every journal advertising open access is free for authors. Check the official fee and licensing information before making a decision.

11. Final Engineering Journal Submission Checklist

Use this consolidated checklist before clicking the final submission button.

Journal suitability

[ ] The journal's scope matches the manuscript
[ ] Recent publications confirm the topic is relevant
[ ] The peer-review process and editorial policies are transparent
[ ] Indexing has been independently verified where required

Manuscript quality

[ ] The research objective and contribution are clearly stated
[ ] The literature review identifies the research gap
[ ] The methodology is sufficiently detailed
[ ] Results are accurate, clearly presented, and appropriately interpreted
[ ] Limitations are acknowledged where relevant
[ ] The abstract and conclusion accurately reflect the findings

Formatting and references

[ ] The latest author guidelines have been followed
[ ] The manuscript uses the correct template and file format
[ ] Figures, tables, equations, and units are consistent
[ ] References follow the required style
[ ] Word, page, figure, and supplementary-file limits are met

Ethics and declarations

[ ] Originality and citation requirements are satisfied
[ ] All authors have approved the final version
[ ] Related publications and submissions are disclosed as required
[ ] Funding and conflict-of-interest statements are complete
[ ] Ethics, consent, and data declarations are included where applicable
[ ] AI-tool disclosures comply with the journal's policy

Submission files and metadata

[ ] The cover letter is ready
[ ] The title page is included if required
[ ] Figures and supplementary files are uploaded correctly
[ ] Required declarations and forms are complete
[ ] Author names and affiliations match across the files and portal
[ ] Open access choices and fees have been reviewed
[ ] The submission preview has been checked for errors

Common Reasons Engineering Manuscripts Are Returned Before Peer Review

An editorial office may return a manuscript for technical corrections before it reaches academic reviewers. Common reasons include incomplete submission forms, missing files, incorrect manuscript formatting, missing declarations, poor-quality figures, reference inconsistencies, or a mismatch with the journal's scope.

A manuscript can also be rejected without external peer review if the editor considers the work unsuitable, insufficiently novel, methodologically weak, or outside the journal's readership. Reviewing top engineering journals offering rapid peer review and publication can help authors understand how review efficiency varies across outlets.

Completing a checklist cannot guarantee acceptance, but it can reduce preventable administrative problems and help authors present their work more professionally.

Continue Exploring

Engineering journal submission requires careful preparation, ethical compliance, accurate technical reporting, and attention to publisher-specific instructions. Authors should begin by selecting a suitable journal, then prepare the manuscript, verify references and figures, complete all required declarations, and check the online submission details.

The most useful checklist is always the one adapted to the target journal's current guidelines. Reviewing those instructions before submission can save time, prevent avoidable corrections, and help the editorial team assess the research efficiently.