Author Guidelines

3) Manuscript Preparation and Formatting

i. General Structure

• Submit manuscripts in Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx) format.
• Use Times New Roman, 12-point font, with single line spacing.
• Word count should be between 4000-7500 words, depending upon the subject matter inclusive of all figures, tables, and references. Short articles are also welcomed. The article must not exceed 8000 words
• Required sections of article are (but not limited to): Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Methodology, Findings/Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Limitations, Implications/Recommendations, Bibliography
• Abstract: 200–250 words (unstructured), clearly presenting the core argument, purpose, finding and conclusion
• Keywords: Provide 5–8 relevant terms or phrases.

Additional Notes

• Spell out abbreviations on first use, unless commonly understood.
• All figures and tables must be introduced in the main text.
• Include conflict of interest and data availability statements before the Bibliography.
• The transliteration should be accurately rendered in accordance with the journal’s approved system or guidelines.

ii. Headings and Hierarchy

• Headings and subheadings must follow the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS, 18^th edition), maintaining consistency and parallel structure throughout the manuscript. Each should begin on a new line without a terminal period and should reflect a clear, logical hierarchy—preferably not exceeding three levels.

• Adequate spacing must be maintained, with more space before subheadings than after.
• Consecutive heading levels may be used without intervening text. All headings should be formatted using a readable font, ideally Times New Roman, size 12.

iii. Subdivision and Numbered Sections

• Authors should divide their manuscripts into clearly defined, numbered sections using a decimal system (e.g., 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 etc.). The abstract should not be numbered.
• Each subsection may carry a brief, descriptive heading and should appear in its own consistent style format. These numbered divisions help maintain structural clarity and enable precise internal referencing.

iv. Direct and Block Quotations

• Short quotations (less than 40 words) should be placed within double quotation marks and smoothly incorporated into the body of the text. Each quotation must be properly cited using either a footnote or an in-text-citation.
• Quotations that extend to (more than 40 words), should be formatted as block quotes. These should be indented 0.5 inches from the left margin, aligned like a standard paragraph, and presented without quotation marks. As per Turabian’s A Manual for Writers, block quotations should be single-spaced. Leave a blank line before and after the block to clearly distinguish it from the surrounding text. A corresponding footnote should follow the block quotation.

v) Tables and Figures

Figures, photographs, and illustrations should be labeled using the abbreviation “Fig.”, while tables should be labeled as “Table,” each accompanied by an Arabic numeral (e.g., Fig. 1, Table 2). The figure or table number and its title should appear above the respective item, with only the first letter of the title capitalized. If a source is cited, it should be placed directly beneath the figure or table. All visual elements—figures, photos, illustrations, and tables—must be centered on the page, aligned between the left and right margins.

4) Referencing Guidelines (CMS 18th Edition– Notes and Bibliography)

Footnotes

• IJCD follows a footnote-based referencing system only. All manuscripts must use footnotes instead of endnotes.
• Footnotes must adhere to the 18th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. The first reference to a source must include the full citation: author’s name, title, place of publication, publisher, and year of publication. For repeated citations, use a shortened form; for consecutive references to the same source, use ibid.
• Footnotes should be formatted in Times New Roman, 10-point font, single-spaced, and numbered consecutively (e.g., 1, 2, 3, etc.).
• Footnotes must be embedded within the document. In Microsoft Word, they can be inserted using the shortcut Alt+Ctrl+F or via the “Insert Footnote” option under the References tab.
• Do not reuse footnote numbers. Instead, re-cite the source using its shortened form (author’s last name, brief title, page number) with new number. Avoid using op. cit. and ibid.
• Include DOIs where available. This is encouraged to enhance traceability and citation accuracy.
• All references must be accurate and verifiable. Citations from unverifiable or fabricated sources will be removed during editorial review.
• Non-English sources must be accompanied by an English translation in parentheses, immediately following the original reference.

Bibliography

• All cited sources must be included in the bibliography. Each entry should correspond to a source cited in the footnotes.
• Arrange all entries alphabetically by the author’s last name. This ensures consistency and easy navigation.
• For works with multiple authors, invert only the first author’s name (e.g., Smith, John; Sarah Ahmed; and David Lee).
• For author names that begin with “Al-” (Arabic definite article), alphabetize based on the significant part of the name, not the prefix. For example, Al-Ghazali should be listed under G, not A.
• Avoid using self-citations and/or citations that does not have any relevance with the subject matter of the manuscript.
• The bibliography should also include:
  • Translations for sources in languages other than English (in parentheses or brackets) along with the original source titles in other languages
  • Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), where applicable
  • Complete URLs for online sources

5) Ethical Standards

Originality and Plagiarism: Articles must be original and unpublished. It is required to include a Turnitin report with the submitted article. (≤ 18%).
Authorship: List orderly only those who contributed meaningfully to the research. Moreover, all authors must approve the submission via author consent form.
Conflicts of Interest: Disclose any financial, personal, or professional interests.
Research Ethics: Mention ethical clearance and consent for studies involving human/animal subjects.
Data Availability: Ensure data transparency and reproducibility.
Simultaneous, Duplicate and More than One Submission: Simultaneous submissions, any submissions which are duplicated, more than one submissions of one author are prohibited.

Note: For detailed guidelines see IJCD Policy Guidelines and Malpractice Statement

6) Optimization for Online Visibility (SEO)

In order to enhance visibility of the article please:

• Use key terms in the title and early in the abstract.
• Repeat keywords throughout the manuscript (appropriately).
• Utilize SEO tools like Google Trends to find effective keywords.
• Share the work on academic (Google Scholar, Internet Archive, Academia, and Scribd) and professional platforms (LinkedIn).

7) Additional Requirements

• Italicize all non-English terms and provide clear explanations or translations where necessary.
• Limit the use of specialized jargon unless it is clearly defined or contextualized within the text.
• Carefully proofread the manuscript to ensure grammatical correctness and linguistic clarity.
• Non-native English speakers must submit a certificate of language editing or proofreading from a qualified source.
• Strict adherence to formatting and citation guidelines is mandatory, as failure to comply may result in rejection during the desk review stage.