Guide for Authors
Guide for Authors
Instructions for Preparing Scientific Manuscripts
Manuscript Submission
Authors should submit their manuscripts electronically through the journal website submission system to the editorial office.
- Manuscript Preparation
Manuscripts may be submitted in English or Arabic and must be written in clear, error-free language using accurate scientific terminology. The manuscript should be typed in Times New Roman, with font size 12 for English and font size 14 for Simplified Arabic, using Microsoft Word, formatted on A4 paper size with a single-column layout, and without line numbering within the text.
Writing in English
The Rafidain Journal of Environmental Sciences publishes articles in both Arabic and English. Authors who are not proficient in English are advised to seek professional language editing prior to submission. Either American or British English is acceptable, but not a mixture of both. The journal does not provide language editing services; therefore, authors are fully responsible for the grammatical and linguistic accuracy of their manuscripts. Authors may use professional editing services before submission. All accepted articles will undergo final language review by the journal.
General Formatting Requirements
The journal does not impose a strict formatting style; however, each manuscript must include the following essential components: Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and References. All figures and tables must be included in the main manuscript file and arranged according to their order of appearance in the text.
- Manuscript Structure
Title
The manuscript title should not exceed 17 words. Geographic locations such as countries, cities, or study sites may be mentioned. Avoid abbreviations or overly technical terms. If abbreviations are used, they should be defined at their first occurrence.
Abstract
The abstract should be between 150 and 250 words and should clearly state the objective of the study, general methodology, main results, and key conclusions. The abstract must not contain abbreviations or references.
Keywords
Authors must provide 4 to 5 keywords suitable for indexing. These should differ from the words used in the title and should not contain abbreviations.
Introduction
The introduction should present the scientific background of the study, its significance, a brief review of recent related literature, and a clear statement of the research objective.
Materials and Methods
This section must provide sufficient details to allow the replication of experiments or fieldwork. Authors are required to use metric units and the International System of Units (SI). Any statistical software used should be identified, including the version if possible. If analytical instruments were used, specify the type of instrument and the laboratory location.
Results
This section should clearly present the findings and highlight their significance. Figures and tables should be self-explanatory and not require reference to the main text. Avoid duplication of data in the text, tables, or figures. Tables and figures must be numbered sequentially as they appear in the text.
Discussion
This section should provide a scientifically accurate interpretation of the results, supported by recent literature. Avoid restating the results. The discussion may be combined with the results section. It is recommended to conclude this section with a brief summary of the findings.
Conclusion
This section should emphasize the key findings and scientific implications derived from the study. References should not be included in this section.
Acknowledgments
This section should recognize any financial or technical support, as well as individual or institutional contributions. The full name of the funding agency must be provided, including the grant number if applicable.
References
References should follow the Harvard referencing style. Authors may use reference management tools such as Mendeley or any other recognized software, or format references manually using Microsoft Word, provided that the formatting fully complies with the Harvard style.
Figures and Tables
Figures and tables must be of high quality, clearly drawn, and legible. Figures should be submitted in JPEG, PNG, or BMP format, accompanied by descriptive captions. They must be embedded within the manuscript. For multi-part figures (e.g., three or more), label each part clearly, as in: Figure 2a, Figure 2b, Figure 2c.
- File Size
The final manuscript file submitted for publication should not exceed 10 MB.