Author Guidelines

Language and Manuscript Format

English is the principal publication language of ELR. English-language manuscripts should be prepared in LaTeX wherever practical.

Files Required at Submission

Every submission must include a reviewer-facing anonymous version and a separate identified version.

See Ensuring an Anonymous Review before uploading your files.

Word Format for English Manuscripts

LaTeX remains preferred. Authors preparing an English manuscript in Microsoft Word should use the following baseline formatting.

The History of Chinese and Linguistic Theory

• Submit an Anonymous Word file and matching Anonymous PDF.
• Submit an Identified Word file and matching Identified PDF.
• Chinese main text should normally use New MingLiU (新細明體), 12 pt.
• Latin-script material should normally use Times New Roman, 12 pt.
• Use full-width Chinese punctuation in Chinese prose.
• Use Word's built-in footnote or endnote system rather than manually numbering notes.
• Images should normally be inserted inline rather than as floating objects.
• Avoid floating text boxes.
• Use Unicode for rare and historical characters wherever possible.
• Where a character cannot be represented reliably in digital text, a clear inline image may be used. The PDF must preserve the intended glyph and layout.

Article Types and Length

Manuscript Structure

A full research manuscript will normally contain:

• title;
• abstract;
• keywords;
• numbered main sections;
• linguistic examples, figures, tables, or formal material;
• conclusion;
• references;
• appendices or supplementary information where required.

The identified version should additionally contain author information, acknowledgements, funding statements, and competing-interest disclosures where applicable.

Examples, Figures, Tables, and Special Characters

Figures and tables should be numbered consecutively and referred to by number in the text. Essential distinctions should not depend on colour alone.

Authors working with palaeographic material, excavated texts, rare characters, specialist symbols, or non-standard glyphs should inspect the submitted PDF carefully before submission.

Preprints and Earlier Versions

Earlier working-paper, conference-paper, preprint, repository, or other publicly circulated versions should be disclosed during submission.

The existence of a previous scholarly version does not by itself make a manuscript unsuitable for ELR, but the editorial team must be able to identify the publication history and relationship between versions.

Research Integrity and AI-Assisted Tools

Authors remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, analysis, references, attribution, and final wording of all submitted material.

AI systems cannot be authors. Material use of AI-assisted tools should be disclosed where relevant and must not compromise confidentiality, copyright, research integrity, or third-party rights.

See Ethics and Disclosures .

Cover Letter

Authors are encouraged, but not required, to submit a brief Cover Letter together with their manuscript. It can help the Editors identify the submission's research focus, theoretical significance, intended ELR publication track, and relevant areas of expertise for peer review.

Where appropriate, authors may include:

• the full title of the manuscript;
• the intended publication track: ELR Main Journal, HCLT, RCTL, PCP, or ELR Theoretical Forum;
• a concise statement of the principal research question, theoretical significance, and contribution of the manuscript;
• two or three potential reviewers with relevant expertise, preferably including affiliation, email address, and principal research areas;
• for multi-authored submissions, a brief description of individual author contributions where useful; and
• other information relevant to editorial assessment.

Suggested reviewers should be independent of the authors. Authors should avoid recent collaborators, close professional or supervisory relationships, and other potential conflicts of interest. Reviewer suggestions are advisory only; the Editors retain full discretion over reviewer selection.

Editorial use only. The Cover Letter is treated as editorial correspondence. It is kept separate from the anonymized manuscript and is not included in the files supplied to reviewers during double-blind peer review.

Accepted formats: PDF, DOC, or DOCX.

Submit Your Manuscript