Get your Human Communication Research paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
4.5
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 13 August, 2026
Submitting to Human Communication Research goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Human Communication Research 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 Human Communication Research. 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 Human Communication Research 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 Human Communication Research 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 Human Communication Research 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 | Hum Commun Res requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Unstructured, one-paragraph abstract of no more than 150 words. No mandatory headings. Same requirement for all article types (original studies and replication notes). Additionally requires a public significance statement of 2-3 sentences (up to 50 words) |
| Main text | Original study: maximum 35 double-spaced pages (12-pt. Times New Roman, 1-inch margins), including abstract, public significance statement, keywords, main text, references, and endnotes, but excluding tables and figures. Replication note: maximum 6 double-spaced pages, including references but excluding tables and figures |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Up to 7 selected keywords (author-selected, not editor-assigned) |
| References | APA 7th edition (7th edition of the APA Publication Manual). References should be double-spaced with 0.5-inch hanging indent for the second and subsequent lines, starting on a new page |
| Peer review | Double-anonymous (double-blind) peer review - both author and reviewer identities are kept confidential |
| Submission | mc.manuscriptcentral.com/hcr |
Read the Human Communication Research 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 Human Communication Research in under a page.
Skim two or three recent Hum Commun Res 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 Human Communication Research journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Do one focused pass against the Human Communication Research guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).