Get your Communication Theory 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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Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 7 August, 2026
Submitting to Communication Theory goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Communication Theory 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.
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Communication Theory. 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 Communication Theory journal page before you draft.
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 Communication Theory guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
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 Communication Theory guide for authors before you submit.
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 ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).
| Element | Commun Theory requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Unstructured abstract required, maximum of 150 words. No distinction by article type mentioned; same requirement applies to research articles, theoretical essays, and reviews |
| Main text | Maximum of 10,000 words in length, inclusive of references, tables, figures, appendices, and endnotes. No distinction by article type mentioned |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | At least 5 keywords required, author's own selection (not MeSH or editor-assigned) |
| References | APA Style (7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association). All submitted manuscripts must be prepared in strict accordance with APA Style |
| Peer review | Double-blind / double-anonymous peer review (the journal's 'Publishing with Communication Theory' page explicitly states 'double-anonymized peer review process', and author guidelines require removal of author names and institutional information to enable anonymous peer review) |
| Submission | mc.manuscriptcentral.com/comth |
Read the Communication Theory 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 Communication Theory in under a page.
Skim two or three recent Commun Theory 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 Communication Theory journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Do one focused pass against the Communication Theory guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).