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Style Guide for Authors

This page explains what to do for manuscript preparation. For ethics, authorship, AI/tool disclosure, data availability, and peer-review policies, see the Publication Ethics page. For general policies (rights, open access, archiving), see the Policies page.

Submission Preparation (anonymized)

• Remove author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, specific grant numbers that reveal identity, and self-citing phrases that disclose identity (e.g., “In our prior work at Korea University…”). Replace with neutral wording where necessary.
• File metadata (Properties → Author/Company) should be cleared.
• Self-citations are allowed but should be written in the third person and cited like any other source.

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Minimal Formatting Requirements

HMC uses professional layout after acceptance. Authors should not typeset or style the article as a final PDF. Please follow these minimal requirements for peer review:

• Use a common word-processing format (DOCX preferred).
• Double-spaced text, 12-point standard font, 1-inch margins.
• Continuous line numbers enabled (recommended for review).
• Page numbers included.
• Use italics, not underlining, except for URL addresses.
• Place figures and tables at the end of the document (one per page) for review, with clear call-outs in the text (for example, “see Figure 1”).
• Do not embed high-resolution media in the review manuscript; provide separate files on acceptance.

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Recommended Manuscript Structure

Use headings that suit your method and field. A typical research article includes:

• Title (concise), Abstract (150–250 words), and 4–6 Keywords.
• Introduction (context and contribution).
• Background or Literature Review (as appropriate).
• Method (design, participants/data, materials, procedures, analysis).
• Results or Findings.
• Discussion (interpretation, implications, limitations).
• Conclusion.
• References.
• Appendices (optional).

Special article types (reviews, conceptual pieces, case analyses) may adapt these headings. Keep sectioning clear and consistent.

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Figures, Tables, and Media

• During review: Place low-resolution placeholders at the end of the manuscript (one item per page) and refer to them in text.
• On acceptance: Upload separate, high-resolution files for all figures (preferred formats: TIFF, PNG, EPS, or PDF for vector), tables (DOCX), and media (MP4, MOV, or WAV). Provide descriptive captions and credit/permission lines as needed.
• Accessibility: Use clear labels and, where feasible, include short alternative text for figures.
• Permissions: If reusing previously published material, obtain written permission and include a source credit consistent with the reuse license (see Policies and Publication Ethics).

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References and Citations

Use the APA 7th edition citation style. Consistency matters more than styling details at initial submission.

• Include DOIs where available (formatted as URL links).
• Ensure every in-text citation has a matching reference entry and vice versa.
• Use sentence-case for article and chapter titles, and title-case for journal names (APA standard).
• Long URLs may be shortened if they resolve reliably.
• If you cite web content that may change, provide an access date.

For link-rot resilience, authors may submit archived links (for example, via the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine) alongside live URLs.

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Statements Required on Acceptance

• Authorship and CRediT: Provide a CRediT contribution statement (as maintained by Elsevier) for all authors. See CRediT contribution statement.
• Conflicts/Funding: Submit conflicts-of-interest disclosures and a funding statement (ICMJE forms accepted).
• Data Availability: Include a data-availability statement with repository links (where appropriate and ethical).
• AI/Tool Disclosure: Describe any use of AI or computational tools that influenced the manuscript or analysis.
• Ethics: Provide IRB/ethics approval details and consent procedures if applicable.
• Acknowledgments: Add acknowledgments (removed during review) and any permission wording for reused materials.

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Open Science Practices

HMC encourages transparency and reproducibility in scholarship. Authors may apply for Open Science Badges (OSF) to recognize practices such as open data, open materials, and preregistration.

For details on eligibility and how to apply, see our Open Science Badges page.

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File Types and Naming

• Manuscript: DOCX preferred (no identifying information in the file or metadata).
• Figures: TIFF, PNG, EPS, or PDF (vector). Name files by figure number (for example, Fig1.png).
• Tables: DOCX or CSV. Name files by table number (for example, Table1.docx).
• Media: MP4, MOV, or WAV with clear labeling (for example, Video1.mp4).
• Supplementary: ZIP allowed for multiple assets.

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After Acceptance (production layout)

Accepted manuscripts are sent to professional layout. The production team applies journal formatting, typography, figure/table placement, and accessibility adjustments. Authors will receive proofs to review for accuracy.

• Do not supply journal templates or try to typeset pages; focus on content quality and clarity.
• Respond promptly to proof queries and check references, figures, and tables carefully.

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Contact

Questions about manuscript preparation? Contact the Editor-in-Chief.