Time is precious for a scientist: Harmonization and standardization of manuscript submission to journals

Abstract Background Preparation and submission of a manuscript per the specific instructions of every publisher is time consuming for not only authors but also for reviewers and authors as well. This condition constitutes an obstacle for scientific development as well. In this aim, description of uniform criteria representing contents of paper submission as well as practical principles for manuscript preparation and submission will be useful both to save time and to reinforce spread of scientific information. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed by collection of relevant data from journal sites, publishers’ instructions for authors, online submission resources and experiences of journal editors, authors, and reviewers. Results The instructions for authors for submission of a manuscript differ remarkably per various journals. These variations include formats of cover letter, title page, abstract, references, as well as manuscript font type and size. The word limit for the abstract and manuscript as well as figure and page arrangements is highly variable between journals. There are no uniform and standards for the conflicts of interest and author contribution forms per the publishers. Conclusion It is necessary to establish standard guidelines for facilitation and harmonization of manuscript preparation and submission to journals. The lack of a standard template for submission of manuscripts to journals leads to waste of time and decreased motivation for authors. We suggest that reaching such a consensus on a standard module for preparation and submission of manuscripts for all journals will be useful for both saving time and maintenance of sustainability in publishing.