Writing Rules

These guidelines ensure that manuscripts submitted to JAUD meet the journal’s formatting and style requirements. Authors are strongly encouraged to follow these instructions carefully to facilitate efficient peer review, production, and publication.

1. General Guidelines

1.1. Language and Spelling

Use American English spelling consistently throughout the manuscript. A notable distinction is the preference for "-ize" over "-ise" as a suffix (e.g., "organize" rather than "organise").

1.2. Quotations

• Use double quotation marks (“ ”) for direct quotes. Use single quotation marks (‘ ’) only for quotes within quotes.
• Long quotations (40 words or more) should be formatted as indented block paragraphs without quotation marks.
• Use curly (typographic) quotation marks (“ ”) rather than straight quotes (" ").
• Place punctuation inside quotation marks. For example: “Less is more.” (not “Less is more”.)

1.3. Double-Blind Review

JAUD employs a double-blind peer review process. Authors must ensure that the main document does not contain any identifying information. Self-referencing that would reveal the author’s identity should be excluded from the manuscript body. Author details should appear only on the separate Title Page.

2. Manuscript Format

Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word (.docx) format. Submissions consist of two separate files:

2.1. Title Page Document

1. File designation: "Title Page."
2. Title and running head (short title).
3. Names, addresses, and positions of all authors, plus the email address of the corresponding author.
4. Author biographies (150 words maximum per author).

2.2. Main Document

1. File designation: "Main Document – Anonymous."
2. Title (no more than 20 words).
3. Article category.
4.  
5. Abstract (approximately 300 words).
6. Keywords (4–6).
7. Main body with appropriate sections and headings.
8. Declarations/Acknowledgments: disclose any conflicts of interest at the end of the text before the references. This includes ownership of shares, consultancy, speaker’s honoraria, or research grants from commercial companies or professional or governmental organizations with an interest in the topic. If in doubt, disclose.
9. References (Chicago Manual of Style, CMOS).
10. Appendices (as appropriate).
11. Tables – in tabulated text format. Do not embed tables in the manuscript body.
12. Figure legends – in a list following the references. Figures must be uploaded as individual graphic files. Do not embed figures in the manuscript body.

3. Author Information

3.1. Author Names

Author names should be fully spelled out in the format "Firstname Lastname" (e.g., "John Smith"). Middle names may be abbreviated with a period following the initial (e.g., "John A. Smith"). Normal spacing should be present between initials (e.g., "John A. C. Smith"). The naming format should be consistent throughout the manuscript.

3.2. Affiliations

Affiliations must clearly identify the institution where the work was conducted, formatted as "Department, Institution, City, Country" (from specific to general).

3.3. Corresponding Author

Clearly designate the corresponding author and provide their full name and email address on the Title Page.

3.4. ORCID

If any authors have an ORCID account, please provide the corresponding ORCID iD link.

3.5. Authorship and Author Contributions

Every author’s contribution must be recognized in the published article. Individuals who have not made a substantive intellectual contribution to the work should not be listed as authors. JAUD requires all authors to clarify their specific roles and contributions (e.g., conceptualization, methodology, data collection, analysis, writing, review, supervision).

4. Abstract

The abstract should summarize the entire manuscript in a single paragraph of approximately 300 words. The abstract may not contain images, tables, separate headings, website links, equations, or any graphic elements. Authors should provide 4–6 keywords below the abstract.

5. Titles and Headings

The manuscript title should not exceed 20 words. Up to three levels of headings may be used within the body. Chapter titles are numbered as follows: first-level headings as 1.; second-level headings as 1.2.; and third-level headings as 1.2.3. Lower-level sub-headings may utilize letters (A, B, C).

6. Abbreviations

Abbreviations should be spelled out in full on first use, with the abbreviation provided in parentheses. Each section (abstract, main text, figures/tables) handles abbreviations separately; the same abbreviation may need to be defined in each section.

Acceptable Latin abbreviations: etc. (et cetera), i.e. (id est, meaning “that is”), and e.g. (exempli gratia, meaning “for example”). Note: do not use “e.g.” and “etc.” in the same list. Both “e.g.” and “i.e.” should be followed by a comma and should not be italicized.

7. Punctuation

A space should follow the period at the end of sentences. Four types of dashes are used:

• Hyphen (-): Connects two words into one concept (e.g., well-known).
• En dash (–): Indicates a connection or range between two concepts (e.g., 2010–2025).
• Em dash (—): Introduces phrases or sections for clarification.
• Minus sign (−): Used in equations or to represent negative numbers.

8. Figures and Tables

All figures, tables, and supplementary materials must be cited in the body of the text. Use full terms: “Table 1” and “Figure 2” (do not abbreviate as “Tab.” or “Fig.”). Referenced objects should appear after the citation, at the end of the paragraph or section.

Figure names and table names should be concise and follow title case.

8.1. Source Attribution

• Author-created: “Drawn by [Author Names].”
• Reprinted: “Reprinted with permission from [Author Names] ([Year]). Copyright [Year] [Copyright Owner].”
• Adapted: “Adapted from [Author Names] ([Year]).” Copyright permission must be obtained.

8.2. Figure Specifications

• Submit figures as individual graphic files in JPEG format at the highest resolution possible. Do not embed figures in the manuscript body.
• Recommended resolutions: 300 dpi (color photographs), 600 dpi (grayscale/combination figures), 1200 dpi (line art).
• Do not include captions or titles within figure files. Provide captions separately in the figure legends list within the manuscript text.
• Name files sequentially: Figure 1, Figure 2, etc. For multi-part figures: Figure 1(a), Figure 1(b).
• Figures should not contain layers, transparent objects, or unnecessary blank space.

8.3. Tables

Tables should be provided in tabulated text format and not embedded in the manuscript body. Each table must have a descriptive title placed above it.

9. Statements

The following sections are mandatory:

• Author Contributions: Describe the specific contributions of each author.
• Conflict of Interest: Declare any conflicts of interest, or state "The authors declare no conflict of interest."
• Funding: Acknowledge funding sources, or state "Not Applicable."
• Acknowledgments: Acknowledge contributors, or state "Not Applicable."

9.1. Author Biographies

Provide a brief biography for each author (maximum 150 words), outlining their research interests, professional background, and relevant qualifications. Biographies appear on the Title Page only.

10. References

JAUD uses the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) bibliography format for all references. Research articles should include no fewer than 20 references; review articles should include at least 30 references.

10.1. General Requirements

• All references must be genuine, verifiable sources. Authors must be able to provide the original text or an official, traceable source when required.
• References should be numbered in the order of first appearance in the manuscript, with in-text citations following the same sequence.
• All references must conform to the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS).
• Online links must be fully functional at the time of submission and include an access date.
• For non-English sources, indicate the original language in the reference list (e.g., "[in Chinese]").
• References that fail to meet formatting requirements or cannot be authenticated will result in the manuscript being returned for revision.

10.2. Journal and Conference Papers

• Publications with a DOI must include the complete DOI link beginning with "https://doi.org/".
• Papers without a DOI must provide an official, accessible source page (e.g., journal website, conference proceedings, arXiv, SSRN, or institutional repository). Personal cloud storage, commercial download sites, and unofficial mirror pages are not permitted.

10.3. Webpages, Reports, and News Sources

• All webpage-based citations must include a complete URL linking directly to the original content.
• Citations must include a precise access date (e.g., "Accessed December 5, 2025").
• Shortened URLs, homepage links, or pages where cited content cannot be verified are not acceptable.

10.4. Books

Books do not require URLs, but all available publication details must be provided following Chicago style: author name(s), book title, city of publication, publisher, year of publication, edition (if not the first), and specific page range referenced.

10.5. Reference Verification Policy

JAUD implements a strict Reference Authenticity Verification Policy. The editorial office may conduct random checks of 3–5 references at any stage of review or production. Authors must provide the corresponding original materials within 48 hours, including PDFs of journal articles, scanned copies of relevant book pages, or archived screenshots of webpages. If a reference cannot be verified, the manuscript may be rejected immediately.

10.6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Why must references follow the Chicago Manual of Style?

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) is one of the most widely used and stable academic citation standards. It ensures consistent formatting, allows the editorial team to accurately verify sources, and significantly reduces citation errors. A unified format improves review efficiency and helps prevent unnecessary revision or rejection due to formatting issues.

Q2. Can Google Scholar links be used as reference links?

Google Scholar links may be included as supplementary links only. Authors must provide the authoritative source, such as a valid DOI or the publisher’s official webpage. Google Scholar is not a formal publishing source, and its indexing paths change over time. All verification is based on DOIs or publisher-provided pages.

Q3. What if a book has no page numbers?

Authors should provide specific page numbers whenever possible. If an ebook or special edition lacks pagination, authors must cite chapters, sections, paragraph numbers, or other traceable locators and note that the edition has no page numbers (e.g., "The cited edition provides no page numbers; citation follows chapter/section identifiers."). Missing both page numbers and alternative locators will be treated as an unclear citation and returned for correction.

Q4. What if a cited webpage becomes inaccessible after submission?

Links must be functional at the time of submission. If a page becomes inaccessible later, authors must supply verifiable evidence during verification, such as submission-day screenshots, PDF archives, or a traceable archived version. If no verifiable materials can be provided, the citation may be deemed insufficient.

Q5. May uploaded PDFs or scanned pages contain watermarks?

Yes. Watermarks do not affect authenticity verification, provided the content remains clear and readable.

Q6. Why must authors respond within 48 hours during verification?

The 48-hour window is a standard academic integrity practice. It ensures that authors possess the cited materials, reduces processing delays, and effectively detects fabricated references or missing originals.

Q7. What should authors note when citing non-English sources?

For any non-English reference, authors must indicate the language of the original work (e.g., "[in Chinese]" or "[in German]"). Missing language labels will be treated as incomplete citations and may require revision.

11. Ethics and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

This journal does not accept manuscripts in which core scholarly content—such as research argumentation, analysis, data interpretation, or visual representation—is wholly or substantially generated by artificial intelligence (AI) tools without meaningful human intellectual contribution.

When AI tools are used for language editing, formatting, or other forms of preliminary assistance, authors must ensure that:

• All data, analyses, and interpretations are developed, critically examined, and validated by the human authors;
• Any use of AI-assisted tools in the preparation of figures, tables, or illustrations is clearly and transparently disclosed in the manuscript;
• Authors retain full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and academic integrity of the submitted work.

The journal reserves the right to reject submissions in cases where AI-generated content replaces substantive scholarly work, or where disclosure of AI usage is incomplete, unclear, or misleading.