Journal of Documentation Template
Writing for Journal of Documentation? This template gives you a submission-ready structure—sections, abstract, and references—so you focus on the research, not the formatting.
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How to Use the Journal of Documentation Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 25 July, 2026
Submitting to Journal of Documentation goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Journal of Documentation 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 Journal of Documentation Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Journal of Documentation. 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 Journal of Documentation journal page before you draft.
What's actually in a Journal of Documentation 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 Journal of Documentation 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 Journal of Documentation guide for authors before you submit.
What does this Journal of Documentation 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 ScholarOne.
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 Journal of Documentation.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the Journal of Documentation 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 ScholarOne.
Journal of Documentation Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | Journal of Documentation requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Structured abstract required with mandatory headings: Purpose, Design/methodology/approach, Findings, and Originality. Optional headings: Research limitations/implications, Practical implications, Social implications. Maximum length: 250 words total, including keywords and article classification. |
| Main text | Section order and length per article type |
| Declarations | Ethics, competing interests, funding, data as required |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Up to 12 appropriate and short keywords. The in-house editorial team may replace some suggested keywords with matching terms to ensure consistency across publications and improve article visibility. |
| References | Harvard referencing style. Any recognized Harvard style is acceptable at initial submission; typesetters will make necessary changes if manuscript is accepted. Emerald's Harvard style guidelines provided but authors may use different Harvard variant. |
| Peer review | Double-anonymous peer review (also known as double-blind peer review) |
| Submission | mc.manuscriptcentral.com |
Quick Tips for Using the Journal of Documentation Template
Read the Journal of Documentation 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 Journal of Documentation in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent Journal of Documentation 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 Journal of Documentation 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 Journal of Documentation guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through ScholarOne.
