Author guidelines for research books with open access

These author guidelines apply to research monographs and edited volumes that will be published with open access. Is your next book going to be open access? Contact one of our editors for research.

Abstract and keywords

All chapters should have an English abstract of 150-250 words. Chapters in Norwegian/Swedish/Danish should have abstracts in both the original language and English. The abstract should be a short summary of the chapter, including its research questions and main findings. Include the abstract between the chapter’s title and introduction.

All chapters should have 4-5 English keywords. Chapters in Norwegian/Swedish/Danish should have keywords in both the original language and English. Keywords should be central concepts within the chapter's theme, theory, or subject field, and chosen strategically for searchability. Include the keywords under the abstract.

For monographs, the author decides whether it is appropriate to have abstracts and keywords per chapter, or one abstract and set of keywords for the entire book.

Scope and style

The total scope of the book is determined by further agreement. Generally, each chapter should be 6000-8000 words.

Use Times New Roman or similar (12 pt., 1.5 line spacing). For emphasis in the main text, use italics, not underline/bold.

Headings

As a general rule, use Word's standard styles for headings with a maximum of three levels (level 1: chapter title, level 2: heading in main text, level 3: subheading in main text).

Headings should generally not be numbered, but the most important thing is to be consistent across all chapters.

A good book or chapter title is short, clearly conveys what it is about, and catches the reader's interest. Headings within the chapter should be descriptive and guide the reader.

Illustrations and figures

The total number of images (illustrations and figures) in the book is determined by further agreement. As a general rule, illustrations and figures should only be included when necessary to demonstrate important points in the text.

• Illustrations and figures should be numbered, e.g. Figure 2.1 (this is the first figure in chapter 2), and given a short descriptive title/text. Figure number and text is placed under the figure (not integrated in the image file). Distinguish between illustrations and figures.

Please mind that when handing in the final manuscript for production:

• All illustrations and figures must be removed from the manuscript and sent as separate high quality image files (minimum 300 dpi). Name the files with the correct figure number. In the manuscript, mark the places where the figures should be included with the figure number and text.

• All illustrations and figures must also have alternative texts ("alt texts"). This is an important element for the book’s accessibility. Alt texts for all chapters should be collected in one file/document titled "alt texts". Use figure numbers to refer to the correct figure. See our guide on how to write alt-texts.

If using any third-party material, it is important that authors have cleared the rights in advance.

Tables

• Tables must be numbered, e.g. Table 2.1 (this is the first table in chapter 2), and given a short descriptive title/text. Table number and text is placed above the table.

• Tables should be set up to be editable in the manuscript.

References

The reference style is chosen by the book's editor (for edited volumes) or author (for monographs). The chosen reference style must be used consistently across all chapters and should therefore be decided upon and cleared with all contributors at an early stage. You’ll find the most common reference styles here: https://www.sokogskriv.no/en/sources-and-referencing/reference-styles.html

Reference lists are sorted alphabetically and included at the end of each chapter. For monographs, the author decides whether it is appropriate to have a reference lists per chapter, or one reference list for the entire book.

Footnotes or endnotes must be numbered (use decimal system).

Publishing and research ethics

All Scandinavian University Press publications should maintain high standards of publishing and research ethics. We expect all authors and editors to follow our publishing and research ethics policy.