Information For Authors

Interested in submitting to this journal? First we of course recommend that you review the what we have published! Authors need to register with the journal prior to submitting or, if already registered, can simply log in and begin the five-step process.

Accessibility Submission Guidelines

To support accessible publication and to reduce time-consuming remediation at the PDF stage, Contemporary Legend requires authors to submit manuscripts that meet the standards below. Accessibility begins in the source document and will be preserved through editing and publication.

Required File Format

  • Submit your manuscript in an editable source format (Microsoft Word .docx preferred).
  • Do not submit a PDF as the primary manuscript file.
  • If images are included, ensure they are inserted properly in the manuscript and also available as separate files if requested.
  • Please make sure all images are 300DPI and at least 4 inches wide: so at least 1200 DPI wide and however high. (Please do not stretch or upscale a lower-resolution image.)

Headings and Document Structure

Use Word’s built-in styles so the document has real semantic structure (not just visual formatting)—this matters because screen readers rely on headings to navigate a document efficiently.

  • Heading 1: Article title (use only once)
  • Heading 2: Major sections (Introduction, Discussion, Conclusion, References, etc.)
  • Heading 3: Subsections under major sections
  • Do not skip heading levels (Heading 3 should not follow Heading 1 directly).

Lists

  • Create bulleted and numbered lists using Word’s list tools (not manual hyphens, tabs, or typed numbering).
  • Avoid “fake lists” created by spacing/indentation.

Tables

  • Use tables only for data, not for layout.
  • Create tables using Word’s table feature (never use images of tables).
  • Identify header rows/columns (and keep structure simple; avoid merged/split cells when feasible).
  • Provide a table caption and (when the table is complex) a short explanation in the surrounding text describing what the table shows.

Figures, Images, Charts, and Diagrams

All visuals must be accompanied by captions that make them accessible to readers who cannot see the image. (Err on the side of verbosity.) Keep it accurate and concise; do not begin with “image of” or “picture of.” Include any essential text that appears inside the figure (labels, dates, key values).

If a visual contains complex information (charts, graphs, maps, multi-variable diagrams), add a longer description in the caption or in nearby text that communicates the key message, trend, comparison, or takeaway. Alt text alone is not enough for data-heavy figures.

Please do not submit equations as images when possible. Use real equation tools or editable text-based equation formats so assistive technologies can interpret them.

Color and Contrast

The journal’s digital production allows us to include images and illustrations in color, but please do not rely on color alone to communicate meaning (e.g., “required items are in red”). If color is used in a figure, also use patterns, shapes, labels, or direct annotation so the meaning is available without color.

Hyperlinks

Please do not embed hyperlinks into your body text. Please make sure that URLs are as semantic as possible: avoid simply copying and pasting of the URL of a web page without consideration for readers who may not be able to replicate it readily. Avoid pasting raw URLs into paragraphs unless absolutely necessary. URLs should be in the notes or references.

Document Properties and Language

Before submission:

  • Set a descriptive Document Title in the file properties.
  • Set the correct document language so screen readers use proper pronunciation rules.
  • Use meaningful file names (e.g., “AuthorShortTitle_Manuscript.docx”).

Accessibility Check

A quick way to check your work is to run Word’s accessibility check. It’s available under the Review “ribbon” on both Windows and macOS versions of Word and under the Tools menu as well on macOS.

Supplemental Materials

Supplemental files must also be accessible! Audio and video recordings should come with transcriptions or captions respectively. Datasets should have clear headers, labels, and documentation. Images and figures should include captions where the file format supports it or provide a companion text description file

Noncompliance

Submissions that do not meet these requirements may be returned to authors for accessibility revision prior to peer review or prior to final publication.

These submission guidelines are based on WCAG 2.1 Level AA .