Channels Template
Get your Channels paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
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How to Use the Channels Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 3 August, 2026
Submitting to Channels goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Channels guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the Channels Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Channels. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the Channels journal page before you draft.
What's actually in a Channels submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the Channels guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the Channels guide for authors before you submit.
What does this Channels Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through the journal's submission system.
Steps to Use This Template with SciSpace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The SciSpace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for Channels.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the Channels guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through the journal's submission system.
Channels Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | Channels requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Research Articles and Data Notes: unstructured abstract, 200 words. Commentary: structured abstract, no more than 300 words. Technical Reports: abstract required but no specific word limit stated in the guide. Review Articles: abstract required but no specific word limit stated |
| Main text | Research Articles: no maximum length but suggested not to exceed 5000 words excluding materials/methods and references. Review Articles: no obligatory length restriction. Commentary: no longer than 3000 words including figure and table captions. Technical Reports: 3000 words or less (longer acceptable at editor's discretion). Data Notes: no longer than 3000 words inclusive of abstract, figure and table captions. General policy states 'There are no word limits for papers in this journal' but specific article types have guidance/limits as noted |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Research Articles and Data Notes: 3-6 keywords required. Commentary: 5-10 keywords required |
| References | NLM (National Library of Medicine) reference style will be applied post-acceptance by Taylor & Francis. Volume and page numbers are essential; DOI numbers recommended but not essential |
| Peer review | Single-anonymous (single-blind) peer review. Once assessed for suitability by the editor, manuscripts are single anonymous peer reviewed by independent, anonymous expert referees |
| Submission | rp.tandfonline.com/submission/create?journalCode=KCHL |
Quick Tips for Using the Channels Template
Read the Channels guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to Channels in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent Channels papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the Channels journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the Channels guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through the journal's submission system.
