SAFE Journal of One Health operates a format-free initial submission policy, reducing administrative burden on authors so they can focus on the scientific quality of their work.
At the initial submission stage, manuscripts are not required to conform to a specific journal template, page layout, font type, or detailed formatting style. Editorial decisions are based on originality, scientific merit, methodological quality, and relevance.
Format-Free Initial Submission
SAFE Journal of One Health (SJOH) operates a format-free initial submission policy, designed to reduce the administrative burden on authors and allow them to concentrate on the scientific quality of their work.
At the initial submission stage, manuscripts are not required to conform to a specific journal template, page layout, font type, font size, or detailed formatting style. Editorial decisions are based primarily on originality, scientific merit, methodological quality, and relevance rather than strict formatting compliance.
Authors should ensure that manuscripts are clear, complete, professionally presented, and contain all essential components relevant to the article type.
- Title and author information
- Abstract and keywords
- Introduction
- Materials and Methods (where applicable)
- Results
- Discussion and/or Conclusions
- Figures and tables with captions
- Acknowledgements (if applicable)
- Funding statement
- Author contributions
- Conflict of interest declaration
- Ethical approval and consent statements (where applicable)
- References
References may be submitted in any widely recognised citation style, provided that formatting is consistent throughout the manuscript. Authors are encouraged to supply complete bibliographic information, including author names, article titles, journal or book titles, publication year, volume, issue numbers, page ranges, and DOIs wherever available.
When a manuscript advances to the revision or acceptance stage, authors may be asked to format their manuscript in accordance with the journal's production requirements prior to final publication.
Recommended Formatting for Initial Submission
Although not mandatory at initial submission, authors are encouraged to use the following settings to aid readability during peer review:
- A clear, readable font (e.g., Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, or Cambria)
- Font size between 11 and 12 points
- Double-line spacing
- Single-column layout
- Continuous page numbering
- Continuous line numbering
- Standard International System of Units (SI Units)
- The Editorial Office may request formatting adjustments when necessary to facilitate peer review and production
Accepted File Formats
To facilitate efficient peer review and production, authors are encouraged to prepare manuscripts using the SJOH manuscript template. However, use of journal templates is entirely optional at the initial submission stage.
Main Manuscript Files
The following file formats are accepted for the main manuscript:
| Format | Details |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Word | .doc or .docx — Authors using Word are encouraged to use the SJOH Microsoft Word template. Manuscripts should be submitted as a single editable document containing the complete text, references, tables, and figure captions. Where practical, figures and tables should be placed near their first citation to assist editors and reviewers. |
| Rich Text Format | .rtf — Accepted as an alternative to Word format. |
| .pdf — Accepted for initial peer review. Source files may be requested following acceptance to facilitate production. | |
| LaTeX | Authors using LaTeX may submit a compiled PDF for peer review. Following acceptance, source files may be requested by the Editorial Office. An optional SJOH LaTeX template is available for authors who prefer to prepare manuscripts in the journal format from the outset. |
Figures and Tables
Figures should be of sufficient quality for peer review and eventual publication. Figure captions should be included within the manuscript file, while high-resolution figure files may be uploaded separately. Tables should be incorporated directly within the manuscript at the appropriate location.
Supplementary Material
Supporting information, datasets, appendices, multimedia files, software code, protocols, and other supplementary materials may be submitted in commonly used file formats. Authors are encouraged to use open and widely accessible formats wherever possible.
Available Templates
| Template | Description |
|---|---|
| SJOH Manuscript Template (Word) | Pre-formatted Word document structured in accordance with SJOH publication requirements. |
| SJOH Title Page Template | Standalone title page for inclusion with the manuscript file. |
| SJOH Cover Letter Template | Structured template for the submission cover letter. |
| SJOH LaTeX Template | LaTeX source template for authors preparing manuscripts in LaTeX format. |
Cover Letter
SJOH encourages authors to include a cover letter when submitting a manuscript. A well-written cover letter can help editors understand the significance, originality, and relevance of the submitted work and may assist the initial editorial assessment.
What to Include
The cover letter may briefly address:
- The primary objectives and key findings of the study
- The scientific, practical, or policy significance of the work
- How the manuscript advances current knowledge in the field
- Why the manuscript is suited to publication in SAFE Journal of One Health
- Any additional information that may assist the editorial evaluation
If the manuscript has previously been submitted to another journal, authors may provide relevant information about earlier reviews or revisions if they believe this would assist the editorial assessment.
Reviewer Suggestions
Authors may suggest suitable peer reviewers as part of the submission process. Please note that the editorial team reserves the right to select reviewers at its discretion, regardless of author suggestions.
Recommended Author Declarations
Authors are encouraged to include the following statements in the cover letter:
- The manuscript is original and has not been published previously.
- The manuscript is not currently under consideration by another journal.
- All authors have reviewed and approved the submitted version of the manuscript.
- All authors agree to its submission to SAFE Journal of One Health.
Cover Letter Template
Authors who prefer a structured format may download the SJOH Cover Letter Template. Use of the template is entirely optional.
Download the SJOH Cover Letter Template ›
Templates and Author Resources
For authors who wish to prepare manuscripts in the journal format from the outset, the following resources are available for download:
| Resource | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Manuscript Template | Provides a pre-formatted document structure aligned with SJOH publication requirements. Suitable for Word users at any stage of manuscript preparation. |
| Title Page Template | Standalone title page document for inclusion with the manuscript submission. |
| Cover Letter Template | Structured letter template to accompany manuscript submissions. |
| LaTeX Template | Source LaTeX files for authors preparing manuscripts in LaTeX. A compiled PDF should be submitted for initial peer review; source files will be requested following acceptance. |
Contact
Authors with questions about the submission process are welcome to contact the Editorial Office.
Editorial Office — SAFE Journal of One Health
Published by The SAFE Society Publishing
Email: editor@thesafesociety.com
Website: https://journal.thesafesociety.com