For Authors

Submit Manuscript

Strict limitations in terms of the number of words, figures, tables and references apply for each category of submission. Submitted papers must exhibit a very high standard of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence and paragraph construction. The use of UK English is preferred

Should submission of a revised manuscript be required, authors must upload the Word doc via ‘Online manuscript submission’ page only.

Authors Style Guide

Topics for NZJCE

The NZJCE publishes original contributions, theoretical as well as empirical, in the fields of clinical education; practice-based teaching; clinical learning; practical experience and other topics considered as relevant.

Types of submissions

• Articles: (< 3,000 words (excluding endnotes and references). Plus abstract < 300 words)
• Letter to the Editor. (< 1500 words. No abstract).
• Editorials. (< 1500 words. No abstract).
• Clinical Communication: (Case report/study, update on current developments and teaching pedagogy) of 1,000-2,000 words. No abstract.)
• Book reviews: (<500 words. No abstract).

General Formatting

  • The manuscript should be submitted in Microsoft Word (.docx), preferably using Times or Arial font.
  • Use left hand alignment of text. Do NOT justify text.
  • Use 1.5 line spacing of text with 30 mm page margins.
  • Do NOT number lines.
  • Number all pages consecutively in the top right-hand corner, beginning with the title page.
  • Submitted manuscripts must not contain automatic numbering of references and footnotes. Any links between superscripted numbers in the text and references, or between figure or table designations and the figure or table captions, must be removed prior to submitting the final version of the manuscript.
  • Specify any special characters in words in square brackets after the special character so the editorial staff can make sure the correct special character is used. The bracketed describing words will be deleted when the paper is set for print.
  • Use ‘English Equation Editor’ for equations in the document.

References

  • We recommend the use of a tool such as EndNote for reference management and formatting.
  • In the text, references should be cited using superscript Arabic numerals, not in brackets, and numbered in the order in which they appear in the text.
  • If referring to an author by name, state the last name followed by the superscripted reference number, e.g. Smith5. For two authors, state the last names of both authors followed by the superscripted reference number, e.g. Smith and Jones6. For three or more authors, state the last name of the first author followed by ‘et al’’ and then the superscripted reference number, e.g. Brown et al.7
  • If references are cited in tables or figure legends, number them according to the first mention of the table or figure in the text.
  • Do not use ibid. or op cit. (abbreviations indicating that the citation is from the previous reference). A reference appears in the reference list only once. If a reference is cited more than once, then repeatedly use the number assigned to it on its first use.
  • Avoid citing “personal communication”; if necessary the reference should be cited in the text only, for example, (Smith A, 2000, unpublished data).
  • References are listed in the reference list at the end of the paper in the order they are cited in the text of the paper.
  • Full biographical details must be given for all references, including authors names, the title of the paper, name of the journal, year of publication, volume number, start page and finish page, as per the examples below. Do not include issue number of journals. Name only the first three authors, followed by et al., if there are four or more authors. Names of journals should be abbreviated in the according to the style used for MEDLINE (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/journals) For books, name the place of publication, publisher, and date of publication.
  • Take great care to punctuate reference citations as shown in the examples below. When in doubt as to how to cite an unusual form of reference go to http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/uniform_requirements.html.
  • Authors are responsible for the accuracy of the references.