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Taylor & Francis

Prepare your manuscript for Journal of Maps.

Review the checklist, choose your article type, and turn your draft into a cleaner submission package.

Checked 2026-08-02
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Article types

Review
Letter
Lectio
Editorial
Clinical Trial
Protocol
Systematic Review

Readiness requirements

Review the key details below, or download the complete checklist with every stored source-backed requirement.

Abstract length

  • Provide an author-written abstract of no more than 150 words.
  • Use a unstructured abstract.
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  • Should contain an unstructured abstract of 150 words.
  • There are no strict formatting requirements, but all manuscripts must contain the essential elements needed to evaluate a manuscript: abstract, author affiliation, figures, tables, funder information, and references.

Keywords

  • Provide up to 6 keywords chosen by the author.
  • No more than 6 keywords.

Reference style

  • Articlo formats your supplied references to the journal's stored style and checks that citations match the reference list; source validity is not verified.
  • All bibliographic entries must contain a corresponding in-text citation.
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  • Where applicable, this should include the hyperlink, DOI or other persistent identifier associated with the data set(s).
  • Readers should be able to interpret the table without reference to the text.
  • If you reply yes, you will be required to provide the DOI, pre-registered DOI, hyperlink, or other persistent identifier associated with the data set(s).
  • A declaration must be included within the submission stating: Confirmation the authors take full responsibility for the integrity of the whole content, including accuracy of references.

Figure and table rules

  • Keep every figure and table numbered, captioned, and cited in the manuscript. Keep figures embedded; Articlo also extracts numbered source files for the package.
  • A typical paper for this journal should be between 2,000 and 4,000 words, and should include no more than 8 figures.
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  • Figures should be high quality (1200 dpi for line art, 600 dpi for grayscale and 300 dpi for colour, at the correct size).
  • Figures should be of sufficient resolution to enable refereeing.
  • Figures should be supplied in one of our preferred file formats: PS, JPEG, GIF, or Microsoft Word (DOC or DOCX).
  • Figure captions should be provided in a separate list.
  • Tables should present new information rather than duplicating what is in the text.
  • Visual relationships should be designed to optimise legibility, achieve appropriate visual hierarchy, make clear figure-ground relationships and, where appropriate, depict visual contrast.

Funding statement

  • You should declare only the acquired funds and grants that are directly relevant to the work reported in your article; for example, This work was supported by the [Funding Agency #1] under Grant [number xxxx]; [Funding Agency #2] under Grant [number xxxx]; and [Funding Agency #3] under Grant [number xxxx].

Competing interests

  • Include or confirm the competing interests required by the journal. Articlo checks this item and flags anything that still needs author input.

Data availability statement

  • Add or confirm the author-written Data availability statement; Articlo flags it if author input is still needed.
  • Data availability statements are required on all submissions, even if all the data is included within the text or there is no new data associated with the manuscript.
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  • Please provide a data availability statement after the conclusions.
  • Authors are required to cite any data sets referenced in the article and provide a Data Availability Statement.
  • Articles need to meet the Open Science Badges criteria in order to earn a badge.

Ethics statement

  • Include or confirm the ethics statement required by the journal. Articlo checks this item and flags anything that still needs author input.

Cover letter

  • Copyright Permission to use copyrighted data and third party map materials must be obtained prior to publication.
  • Using Third-Party Material in your Paper You must obtain the necessary permission to reuse third-party material in your article.
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  • The use of short extracts of text and some other types of material is usually permitted, on a limited basis, for the purposes of criticism and review without securing formal permission.
  • If you wish to include any material in your paper for which you do not hold copyright, and which is not covered by this informal agreement, you will need to obtain written permission from the copyright owner prior to submission.

Author contributions

  • Submitting authors should be prepared to submit CRediT roles for themselves and their co-authors (where applicable) as part of the submission process.

Title page and author information

  • Map Title and Authorship The title of the map, author names and affiliations should be included.
  • All authors of a manuscript should include their full name and affiliation on the cover page of the manuscript.
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  • One author will need to be identified as the corresponding author, with their email address normally displayed in the article PDF (depending on the journal) and the online article.

Article structure and word limits

  • In addition to the full quality map(s), an additional preview map ( Key policy highlights (3 to 5 in total) should have approximately 100 words, which set out the main findings of the paper that are of specific relevance to policy makers).
  • Map Extents Maps should be framed (please use a 1cm white page edge) within a suitable border and positional information (latitude/longitude or grid co-ordinates) visible.
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  • It should be a maximum width of 525 pixels.
  • These instructions will ensure we have everything required so your paper can move through peer review, production and publication smoothly.
  • Please remember that the map is the primary focus of the submission: it should be produced to a high cartographic standard and submitted as a stand-alone PDF.
  • This is particularly important for map based data; the use of any copyrighted data should be made clear.
  • Please note that discounts must be applied at the Charges stage of the submission process when the APC quote is confirmed and may not be considered after submission.
  • These key policy highlights should be presented as a bulleted list of concise but complete sentences.
  • Where appropriate, maps should follow conventional symbolisation schemes to aid interpretation (e.g. geological symbols).
  • The map must be submitted as a high resolution PNG, along with a vector-based PDF.
  • Unless dictated by the source data, it must be vector-based.
  • A statement of map accuracy should be included to indicate the quality and completeness of information shown on the map.
  • Map Projection and Grid A statement identifying the projection, spheroid and grid should normally be included.
  • Map Datum National datums used to derive horizontal control co-ordinates and vertical control values should be identified.
  • Grid lines and graticule Where appropriate, grid lines and/or a graticule should be used at a suitable interval.
  • The final map should not be cluttered or ambiguous in content.
  • Names and descriptive notes should be in a size and style relevant to the prominence and/or of the importance of the depicted feature.
  • Lettering should be appropriately designed, normally with a Sans Serif font.
  • Geographical Source Information All information sources should be clearly identified.
  • Map Symbols Map symbols should be designed to connotate the appropriate level of measurement and feature dimensionality.
  • Appropriate visual variables should be employed to depict qualitative and quantitative map features appropriately.
  • Normally, the centre of the symbol should correspond with the centre of the feature.
  • When it is necessary to displace a symbol for clarity, the extent of displacement should be kept to a minimum.
  • Colour and Patterns Colour should be applied judiciously, to increase legibility and improve the portrayal of variation in the data.
  • Text that refers to water features should normally be in blue.
  • Note that, regardless of the file format of the original submission, an editable version of the article must be supplied at the revision stage.
  • Queries Should you have any queries, please visit our Author Services website or contact us here.
  • A declaration must be included within the submission stating: Originality and accuracy of content has been confirmed by the authors.
  • Authors must provide full methodological details and adhere to relevant reporting guidelines where applicable.
  • Authors must retain the original and revised versions which must be shared upon request.
  • The PLSP guidelines for authors must be followed at all times.
  • If you submit a paper to a participating journal, you will then receive an email upon submission with: Details of the badges offered by the journal.
  • If you submit a paper to a participating journal, you will then receive an email upon submission with: Links to additional information.
  • If you submit a paper to a participating journal, you will then receive an email upon submission with: An open practices disclosure form.
  • If you submit a paper to a participating journal, you will then receive an email upon submission with: The journal editor’s email address.
  • The Journal of Maps encourages simplicity in style and design, however maps should be produced to a high standard of draughtsmanship and the implementation of good cartographic design is strongly advised.
  • Additionally, it should be borne in mind that maps are to be viewed as if in a printed form and therefore designed for a printed page rather than display on a computer screen.
  • Three map files should be provided: a high resolution PNG of the map, a vector-based full map PDF, and a low- resolution ( To assist authors in the preparation of their maps, we have produced a guide to common errors).
  • Name placement should follow conventions for general placement, naming curved features, word spacing, direction of labelling, point feature labelling, overprinting of graticule and grid lines, overprinting of symbology, area name placement, area name letter spacing and naming linear features.
  • Masking Masking of map features should be applied uniformly where overprinting between symbols of different colour is undesirable and clashes between features are unavoidable.
  • Text should normally be in black.
  • Paper Size Whilst map size should be a function of their design and content, for subsequent printing purposes please ensure they are submitted to an ISO standard paper size specification.
  • Please use SI units (non-italicized).
  • Please note that data should only be shared if it is ethically correct to do so, where this does not violate the protection of human subjects, or other valid ethical, privacy, or security concerns.
  • Such as: The standards on Data, Materials, and Analytical Code Transparency speak to the items generated over the course of the study and how you should preserve or share them.
  • Please do not embed it in the manuscript file but save it as a separate file, labelled GraphicalAbstract1.
  • Check whether article needs to be submitted with 3-5 key policy highlights (of approximately 100 words), which set out main findings of the paper that are of specific relevance to policy makers.
  • Image descriptions are typically used by systems such as pronouncing screen readers to make images accessible to people that cannot read or see the object due to a visual disability.
  • COS currently offers three badges in its program: The Open Materials badge is earned by making publicly available the components of the research methodology needed to reproduce the reported procedure and analysis.

Reporting guidelines

  • Include or confirm the reporting guidelines required by the journal. Articlo checks this item and flags anything that still needs author input.

Preprints and prior publication

  • If you have shared an earlier version of your Author’s Original Manuscript on a preprint server, please be aware that anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Artificial intelligence disclosure

  • Add or confirm the author-written Artificial intelligence statement; Articlo flags it if author input is still needed.
  • Please include a statement disclosing whether and how generative AI has been used in the research and manuscript preparation process.
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  • Use of AI tools as part of ethical research studies is permitted.
  • A declaration must be included within the submission stating: The name and version number of the AI tool used.
  • Systematic Review: Use of AI tools as part of ethically conducted literature reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analysis and bibliometrics studies is permitted.
  • Use of AI tool assisted plain language summaries (PLS) of authors own work is permitted.
  • Please read our guidance on using AI tools in your research and manuscript preparation to understand scenarios where their use may be permissible, and the required information that must be disclosed.
  • A declaration must be included within the submission stating: Confirmation the authors have checked terms of use for the specific AI tool used, and therefore confirm suitability for publication.

Authorship and originality

  • Article authorship should be identified well in advance of manuscript submission and requires that a significant intellectual contribution has been made to the work; this may involve collecting data, analysis, cartographic design, writing the manuscript or reviewing a final draft.

Article type and manuscript length

  • Preparing Your Paper Structure Your paper should be compiled in the following order: title page; abstract; key policy highlights (if appropriate); keywords; main text introduction, methods, results, discussion/conclusions; software; acknowledgments; declaration of interest statement; references; appendices (as appropriate); table(s) with caption(s) (on individual pages); figures and figure captions.

Manuscript structure

  • The software section should include a brief description (~1 paragraph) of the software used at various stages during the production of the map.
  • Authors must retain full records of the methods undertaken, including full descriptions and records of the prompts used, which must be shared with the journal upon request.

Study reporting guidelines

  • Authors must provide full methodological details and adhere to relevant reporting guidelines where applicable (e.g. CONSORT-AI, STARD-AI, GAMER, TRIPOD-AI, etc).
  • Maps should be designed with care and attention to their page format, layout, data representation, symbolisation, data classification, line weights, colour use and typography.
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What your package checks

Abstract: 150 words
Paper: 4,000 words
Keywords: Up to 6 keywords
Declarations: Data availability, Artificial intelligence

Source transparency

This preparation guide uses published journal-specific author requirements. Journal instructions can change, so authors should complete a final review before submission.

Open official guideline source