Elsevier Journals

Workflow

1. Identify the exact journal and article type, open its current author guidelines, and fill in the limits table below. Never rely on remembered limits.
2. Check whether a format-free first submission is allowed. If it is, spend effort on content and mandatory statements rather than layout.
3. Restructure the manuscript into the venue's front matter and sections (see below).
4. Prepare the required statements, figures and supplementary files.
5. Run the checklist, then assemble the submission package: manuscript, source files, figures, declarations and cover letter.

Verify first (mandatory)

Each Elsevier journal's Guide for Authors (linked from its ScienceDirect/journal home page) overrides general advice. It sets article types, word limits, the reference style (numbered, author-year, or journal-specific), highlights/graphical abstract rules, and whether the CAS template is expected. LaTeX instructions: https://www.elsevier.com/researcher/author/policies-and-guidelines/latex-instructions.

Many journals follow "Your Paper Your Way": the first submission can be a single PDF in any reasonable format, and strict formatting is only needed at revision. Check before reformatting.