Readership

The Journal of Research in English Language education (RELEJ) is an internationally recognized journal with subscribers worldwide. Our readers are educators who teach English as a Foreign Language (EFL), English as a Second Language (ESL), English for Academic Purposes (EAP), and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in diverse local contexts. They work in primary and secondary schools, colleges, and universities, and in both state and private sectors. Our readers include teacher trainers and teachers in training, as well as professionals who manage English language programs and projects.

General Information for Submissions

We have implemented a web-based online submission system for articles, features, and reviews, and we only accept submissions through this platform. Full details on how to make online submissions can be found on the Manuscript Submission webpage.

Authors should avoid submitting the same article to multiple journals at the same time. We encourage you to write specifically for the readership of the Journal of Research in English Language education. Please do not submit your article to other journals until you have received a response from us. 

Only one submission per author is allowed at a time, and RELEJ will only publish one article per author in each volume of the printed journal.

• All submissions undergo a blind review by two experts: one from our Editorial Advisory Panel and another who is an external practitioner or academic. To maintain anonymity during the review process, please avoid mentioning your name in references to your own work. Instead, use ‘Author.’
• Before submitting, please familiarize yourself with the Journal of Research in English Language Education and the types of articles we publish. If you do not have access to recent copies, you may view a sample issue on our website.

Submissions Categories (Manuscript Types): 

Articles

We welcome articles based on new methods, techniques, materials, syllabuses, assessment approaches, teacher training, and other areas of professional interest. Articles on the English language (e.g., grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation) are also welcome, provided they do not require specialist knowledge of linguistics and focus on practical applications.

We are also interested in articles detailing well-planned experiments or research that provides new insights on relevant topics, as well as articles discussing issues in English language teaching, such as the impact of educational policy, management aspects, project development, evaluation procedures, and cultural considerations.

When writing articles, please consider the following:Articles should be relevant and of interest to the readers of RELEJ.

• Manuscripts must be clearly written, using accessible language and a coherent structure.
• RELEJ is not a primary research journal; submissions should maintain a balanced integration of theory and practice.
• Articles focused on specific contexts should emphasize broader implications to engage a wider audience.
• Manuscripts must demonstrate familiarity with existing research in the field through appropriate literature engagement.
• Data presentation should be understandable with only basic statistical knowledge. 

Preparing Your Article

Required Files for Submission

Authors must upload the following five essential files through the manuscript submission system:

3. Main Manuscript File: The manuscript should be prepared according to the specified template and must not include the names of the authors to ensure a blinded review process.
4. Title Page: This should be formatted as per the journal’s prescribed format.Download here: Title Page
5. Authorship Form: This form must include the article title, the full names of all authors, and must be signed by all contributing authors. Download here: Authorship Form
6. Conflicts of Interest Form: This form must be signed by the Corresponding Author and uploaded along with the manuscript files. Download here: Conflicts of Interest Form
7. Cover Letter: A formal cover letter addressed to the editorial board.Download here: Cover Letter

Article Format

Please refer to the separate file, RELEJ Template, for detailed instructions on formatting your article according to the journal’s required layout. While formatting is not mandatory for initial submissions, authors are encouraged to use this template when preparing their manuscripts to facilitate compliance with submission guidelines.

→  Download here: RELEJ Template 2026 ←

→  Download here: RELEJ Template 2026 ←

Using the journal’s official template helps ensure that your manuscript meets the formatting standards, thereby enhancing readability and streamlining the review process.

Title

The title should summarize the main idea of the paper. The title of paper should:

• Describe the contents of the paper accurately
• Report the subject of the research rather than the results
• The paper title should be bold and centered. If the title is longer than one line, the main title and the subtitle can be separated on double-spaced lines.
• Use title case (capitalize major words).
• The manuscript title must be set in 14-point font size.

Author(s) Name(s)

The recommended presentation of an author’s name is to use the given name, middle initial(s), and surname. Exclude any professional designations (such as Dr., Professor) as well as academic credentials or certifications (like PhD, EdD, MD, MA, RN, and MSW). Place the byline directly beneath the manuscript title, leaving a single blank double-spaced line in between.

• For a sole author, center the name using a regular font style (not bold or italicized).
• Provide the complete names of every contributor to the work.
• List each individual’s first name, middle initial(s), and last name (e.g., John A. Smith).
• Omit any honorifics or academic distinctions.
• Position the author information centrally below the title.
• When multiple contributors are listed, separate each with commas; insert an ampersand (&) before the final name if the manuscript is intended for journal submission.
• Avoid using italics, boldface, or any special characters for the names in the byline.
• The author(s) name(s) should be formatted in 12-point Times New Roman

Author(s) Affiliation(s)

Academic affiliations should include the name of any department or division and the name of the institution, separated by a comma. Place different affiliations on their own lines. Do not add blank lines between affiliations or between the byline and the first affiliation. If the paper has one author with one affiliation, or if all authors of a multiauthored paper share one affiliation, include the affiliation centered and in standard font on its own line, beginning one line below the byline.

• Do not include a superscript numeral only if all authors share the same affiliation.
• If authors have different affiliations, use superscript numbers to match each author to their respective affiliation.
• List the institutional affiliation(s) of each author directly below their names.
• Include the department (if applicable) and the institution name (e.g., Department of Psychology, University of Example).
• Center the affiliations below the author names.
• Write affiliations in plain text (no bold or italics).
• Include the corresponding author’s contact information in the affiliation section, clearly marked as "Corresponding Author."

Corresponding Author

• Do not mark the corresponding author in the author byline or affiliations with an asterisk. Instead, include the corresponding author’s contact information in the affiliation part as it will appear in the manuscript template.
• Example:
• Title:
• Exploring the Impact of Task-Based Language Teaching on Iranian EFL Learners’ Speaking Skills
• Authors:
• Ali Beikian¹, Sahar Esmailnia², & Amir Derakhshan³
• Affiliations:
• ¹ Corresponding Author: Department of English Language and Literature, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
• ² Department of English Language Teaching, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
• ³ Department of English Language and Literature, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

Font and Size Guidelines (Using Times New Roman)

• Font: Times New Roman
• Font Size: 12-point
• Title: Bold, centered, title case
• Author Names, Affiliations and E-mail(s): Regular (not bold or italic), centered
• Spacing:5 line spacing throughout the title page

Table 1Formatting Specifications for Manuscript Elements

Abstract

The abstract correctly reflects the purpose and content of the paper. It is limited to 200 to 250 words. Write the section label “Abstract” in bold title case, centered at the top of the page, and place the abstract below the label. Write the abstract as a single paragraph without indentation of the first line. Introduction, objective(s), method, results, discussion and conclusions of your research should be provided. The Abstract should not contain:

• Abbreviations or acronyms
• References to tables or figures in the paper
• Literature citations
• The abstract heading is bold and in title case
• The abstract text should be formatted in 11-point Times New Roman font and single-spaced.               

Keywords

Keywords are words, phrases, or acronyms that describe the most important aspects of the paper.  Provide five keywords describing the content. Write the label “Keywords:” (in italic) one line below the abstract, indented 0.9 cm. like a regular paragraph, followed by the keywords in lowercase (but capitalize proper nouns), separated by commas. The keywords can be listed in the alphabetic or importance order. Do not use a period or other punctuation after the last keyword. If the keywords run onto a second line, the second line is not indented. RELEJ recommends using 11-point Times New Roman for the font and size of the abstract. The word "Keywords" and the keywords themselves should also be in 12 &11-point Times New Roman respectively.

Introduction

The introduction addresses the importance of the problem, including theoretical or practical implications. It defines the nature and extent of the problems studied, relates the research to previous work (usually by a brief review of the literature clearly relevant to the problem), explains the objectives of investigation, and defines any specialized terms or abbreviations to be used in what follows. The Introduction heading should be bold and aligned to the left margin. The body text must be left-aligned with single-spaced paragraphs. Each paragraph should have its first line indented by 0.9 cm.

In RELEJ, research questions are typically presented in the Introduction section of a paper.

• The research question(s) usually come(s) near the end of the Introduction, after outlining the problem, gaps in knowledge, or rationale for the study.
• It can be stated explicitly as a question or framed as a hypothesis, depending on the nature of the study.
• The Introduction constitutes the first main section of the manuscript and is designated as section 1. The heading “1. Introduction” is formatted using Times New Roman font, size 13, and is aligned flush left.

Review of Literature

The literature review serves to state the problem by summarizing and critically evaluating previous research and theories related to the specific topic, which is why it is called a review rather than a report. This involves identifying areas of controversy, contested claims, and gaps in the existing research, often culminating in research questions introduced at the end of the Introduction.

In RELEJ, the literature review is typically a distinct section that establishes the foundation and context for the study through a clear and structured approach. It is commonly organized thematically, chronologically, or methodologically-grouping studies by key themes, tracing the evolution of theories over time, or categorizing based on research methods.

• In RELEJ, the Literature Review is designated as section 2. The heading “2. Literature Review” is formatted using Times New Roman font, size 13, and is aligned flush left.

Theoretical Framework

The theoretical framework is a crucial part of a research study, providing a foundation grounded in established theories and models relevant to the research topic. It integrates multiple perspectives to offer a comprehensive view, highlighting key concepts and their relationships, and critically assessing the strengths and limitations of the theories used. In the context of RELEJ, the theoretical framework justifies the research approach, guides data interpretation, and connects the study to broader scholarly discussions on language teaching and learning. Its placement in RELEJ is flexible, either as a separate section or integrated within the literature review, but it must be clearly presented to support the study’s rationale and design.

• In RELEJ, the Theoretical Framework is designated as section 3. The heading “3. Theoretical Framework” is formatted using Times New Roman font, size 13, and is aligned flush left.

Method

The Method section succinctly details what was done, when, and how data were analyzed and presented, providing sufficient information for others to assess or replicate the study. It is typically organized chronologically with precise detail, and its headings should be bolded and left-aligned.

Research Design: Specify the research paradigm, design, and time and place directly.

Participant Characteristics: Detail the major demographic characteristics of the sample, such as age; sex; ethnic and/or racial group; level of education; socioeconomic, generational, or immigrant status; disability status; gender identity; and language preference, as well as important topic-specific characteristics (e.g., achievement level in studies of educational interventions).

Sampling Procedures: Describe the procedures for selecting participants, including the sampling method and its size.

Measures: Provide information on instruments used.

Data Collection Procedure: Describe the methods used to collect data (e.g., written questionnaires, interviews, observations).

Data Analysis: Describe the statistical and mathematical procedures used to analyze and summarize the data.

• In RELEJ, the Method section is designated as section 4. The heading “4. Method” is formatted in Times New Roman, font size 13, and aligned flush left. Its subparts (e.g., Research Design, Participants, and Sampling, …..) are formatted in Times New Roman, font size 12, and also aligned flush left.

Results

The Results section is the core of the paper, presenting the new knowledge gained. It builds on the Introduction and Methods, which explain why and how the study was conducted. The value of the paper depends on clear, concise presentation of results, aligned with the objectives stated in the Introduction. When reporting inferential statistics, enough detail should be provided to help readers understand the analyses and consider alternative explanations

• The Results heading should be in Times New Roman font, size 13, while its subheadings must be bolded, also in Times New Roman but size 12, and aligned flush left.

Discussion

After presenting your results, the Discussion section provides the opportunity to evaluate, examine, interpret, and qualify your findings. Here, you should draw inferences and conclusions, particularly in relation to your original hypotheses. Highlight any theoretical or practical implications of your results. Use similarities and differences between your findings and previous studies to contextualize, confirm, and clarify your conclusions. Each statement should enhance your interpretation and deepen the reader’s understanding of the research problem. Conclude the Discussion with a reasoned and well-supported commentary on the significance of your findings.

The discussion should:

• Avoid repeating information already covered in the literature review.
• Relate your results directly to the research questions outlined in the Introduction.
• Clearly indicate the significance of your findings.
• Focus exclusively on the results reported in your study without expanding beyond them.
• Do not introduce new literature or references in this section.

Conclusion

Conclusion section should state outcomes of the study and briefly suggest future lines of research in the area based on findings reported in the paper. Provide the Conclusion as a subheading of the discussion, bold and left- flush.

Reference List

Provide full bibliographic details for all references, listed alphabetically by the first author’s surname. For journal articles, include the full page range (e.g., RELEJ, 63(1), 25–29). Page ranges are not required for books. Arrange the reference list on a new page after the text and before any appendices. Label the list References, flushed left and bold. Use single line spacing throughout. Apply a hanging indent of 0.9 cm for all references (the first line flush left, subsequent lines indented).

Book:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book: Subtitle if any (Edition, if not first). Publisher. https://doi.org/xxxxx (if available)

Hymes, D. (1971). Pidginization and creolization of language (2^nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.

In APA 7th edition, there are two main types of in-text citations:

• Parenthetical citation: The author’s name and the publication year appear together in parentheses at the end of the sentence or clause.Example: (Hymes, 1971)
• Narrative citation: The author’s name is part of the sentence, and the publication year follows in parentheses immediately after the name.Example: Hymes (1971) discusses the process of pidginization.

Both forms include the year of publication, and if quoting directly, a page number is added. For example:

• Parenthetical direct quote: (Hymes, 1971, p. 45)
• Narrative direct quote: Hymes (1971, p. 45) states that...

Journal article without a DOI:

• The article title is in sentence case (only the first word and proper nouns capitalized).
• The journal name and volume number are italicized.
• No DOI or URL is included, as per APA 7th guidelines for articles without a DOI.

Format:

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article in sentence case. Title of Journal in Italic Title Case, volume number(issue number), page range.

Example:

Bertram, R., & Hyönä, J. (2003). The length of a complex word modifies the role of morphological structure: Evidence from eye movements when reading short and long Finnish compounds. Journal of Memory and Language, 48(3), 615–634.

Journal article with a DOI:

Key points:

• The article title is in sentence case (only the first word and proper nouns capitalized).
• The journal name and volume number are italicized; the issue number is in parentheses but not italicized.
• The DOI is formatted as a URL, beginning with "https://doi.org/"
• No period at the end of the DOI.

Format:

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article in sentence case. Title of Journal in Italic Title Case, volume number(issue number), page range. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Example:

Chalak, A., & Derakhshan, A. (2021). Response to compliments given by Iranian EFL learners on the social network of Instagram. Iranian Journal of Sociolinguistics, 4(2), 35–49. https://doi.org/10.30473/il.2021.55826.1415

In APA 7, when citing journal articles, you should include both the volume number and the page range of the article in the reference list if available. The volume number is italicized, the issue number (if present) is in parentheses but not italicized, and the page numbers follow without italics.

Example format:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), first page–last page. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Here is a description of the table formatted according to APA 7 guidelines:

Table 2Inclusion of Journal Article Elements in APA 7 References

Magazines

Key Points

• Author’s last name and initials
• Year, month (and day if available) in parentheses
• Article title in sentence case (capitalize only the first word and proper nouns)
• Magazine title in italics and title case
• Volume number in italics, issue number in parentheses (not italicized)
• Page number(s)
• No DOI or URL for print magazines; include a URL only for online magazines if available

Format

Author, A. A. (Year, Month). Title of the article. Title of Magazine, volume number(issue number), page range.

Example

Weir, K. (2017, January). Forgiveness can improve mental and physical health. Monitor on Psychology, 48(1), 30.

Newspaper article

Key Points

• Author: Last name, initials. Use an ampersand (&) for two authors.
• Date: Year, Month Day in parentheses.
• Title: Article title in sentence case (capitalize only the first word and proper nouns).
• Newspaper Title: Italicized and in title case.
• Page Number: Include for print; omit for online articles.
• URL: Include if the article is from an online source.
• No period after the URL.

Format

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of the article: Subtitle if any. Title of Newspaper. URL

Example

Guarino, B. (2017, December 4). How will humanity react to alien life? Psychologists have some predictions. The Washington Post.

The newspaper article with the URL

 Example

Guarino, B. (2017, December 4). How will humanity react to alien life? Psychologists have some predictions. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/12/04/how-will-humanity-react-to-alien-life-psychologists-have-some-predictions/

Paper published in conference proceedings, book form:

Key Points

• Treat as a chapter in an edited book when the proceedings are published as a book.
• List the author of the paper, year, title of the paper (sentence case, not italicized).
• Use "In" followed by the editors (initials first), "(Eds.),"
• Italicize the title of the proceedings/book.
• Include page range in parentheses after the book title.
• End with the publisher.
• Use a hanging indent.

Format

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of paper. In E. E. Editor & F. F. Editor (Eds.), Title of proceedings/book (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.

Example

Cismas, S. C. (2010). Educating academic writing skills in engineering. In P. Dondon & O. Martin (Eds.), Latest trends on engineering education (pp. 225–247). WSEAS Press.

Paper published in conference proceedings, journal form:

Key Points

• Follow the journal article format: Conference proceedings published as a journal use the same format as regular journal articles.
• Include volume and issue numbers: These are required, just like any journal article.
• Italicize the journal/proceedings title and volume number.
• No editors or publisher: Unlike book form, you do not list editors or a publisher.
• Include page range: Show the full page range of the article.
• Add DOI if available: Use a DOI or URL if the article has one; otherwise, omit.
• Use a hanging indent: First line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches.

Format

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the paper. Title of Journal/Proceedings, volume(issue), page range. https://doi.org/xxxxx (if available)

Example

Chaudhuri, S., & Biswas, A. (2017). External terms-of-trade and labor market imperfections in developing countries: Theory and evidence. Proceedings of the Academy of Economics and Economic Education, 20(1), 11–16.

Edited book chapter:

Key Points

• Start with the chapter author (surname, initials).
• Year of publication in parentheses.
• Chapter title in sentence case (not italicized).
• Write "In" followed by editor(s) (initials first, then surname), and (Ed.) or (Eds.).
• Book title is italicized and in sentence case.
• Include page range in parentheses after the book title.
• Do not include publisher location.
• End with the publisher.
• Use a hanging indent in your reference list.

Format

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of chapter. In E. E. Editor & F. F. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.

Example

Booij, G. (1988). The relation between inheritance and argument linking: Deverbal nouns in Dutch. In M. Everaert, A. Evers, R. Huybregts, & M. Trommelen (Eds.), Morphology and modularity (pp. 143–160). Foris.

Doctoral dissertation:

Key Points

• Author: Last name, initials.
• Year: In parentheses after the author.
• Title: Italicized and in sentence case (only the first word and proper nouns capitalized).
• Description: In square brackets, specify [Doctoral dissertation, Name of Institution].
• Source: If unpublished, list the institution only. If published online or in a database, add the database or URL if available.
• No location: Do not include city/country unless required for clarity in rare cases.

Format

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of dissertation [Doctoral dissertation, Name of Institution].

Example

Ghonchepour, M. (2014). Verbal compounding in Persian [Doctoral dissertation, Allame Tabataba'i University].

• Verbal compounding in Persian should be italicized.
• If the dissertation is unpublished and has no online access, end with the institution.
• If you have a URL or database, add it after the institution.

In-Text Citations

When citing other publications in your text, use the author’s surname and the year of publication, separated by a comma. For example: (Karimi Garmsiri, 1993). If you are quoting directly or referring to a specific point, include the page number preceded by “p.” or “pp.” inside the parentheses (e.g., Karimi Garmsiri, 1993, p. 35). For general ideas, the page number may be omitted.

• If you cite the same source multiple times within one paragraph, include the author’s surname and year the first time (e.g., Karimi Garmsiri, 1993). In subsequent mentions within the same paragraph, you may omit the year if the source is clear. RELEJ, like APA style, does not use “ibid.” or “op. cit.”; instead, repeat citations as needed to avoid confusion.
• To prevent overcitation, limit the number of references supporting a single point. To maintain anonymity during peer review, do not identify yourself when citing your own work; use “Author” instead of your name in both the text and the reference list.
• For works with two authors, include both names every time you cite the source (e.g., Smith & Jones, 2020). For works with three or more authors, list only the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” from the first citation onward (e.g., Smith et al., 2019). This differs from APA 6, where “et al.” was used only after the first citation.
• If a publication has two or more authors or editors, list all names in the reference list and in the first in-text citation; use “et al.” thereafter. When citing multiple sources in the same parentheses list them alphabetically by the first author’s surname and separate them with semicolons. For example: (Seedhouse, 2004; Waters, 1998).
• Each work cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and each work in the reference list must be cited in the text.
• In parenthetical citations, use an ampersand (&) between names for a work with two authors or before the last author when all names must be included to avoid ambiguity. In narrative citations, spell out the word “and” instead of using an ampersand.

Examples:

• Parenthetical: (Joreskog & Sorbom, 2007)
• Narrative: Eifert and Yildiz (2018)
• When multiple references have identical authors and publication years, include a lowercase letter after the year to differentiate them.

Examples:

• (Judge & Kammeyer-Mueller, 2012a)
• Judge and Kammeyer-Mueller (2012b)

If the first authors of multiple references share the same surname but have different initials, include the initials in all in-text citations, even if the year differs.

Example:

• (J. M. Taylor & Neimeyer, 2015; T. Taylor, 2014)
• For group authors (e.g., organizations, government agencies), use the full name in the first citation and an abbreviation in subsequent citations if the abbreviation is well-known or defined initially.

Example:

• (American Psychological Association [APA], 2020) first citation, then (APA, 2020) thereafter.
• When quoting directly, include the page number or other location information in the citation.

Example:

• (Smith, 2021, p. 45)

Appendix

Key Points

• Placement: Appendices appear after the reference list and any tables or figures, each starting on a separate page.
• Labeling:
  • If there is only one appendix, label it “Appendix”.
  • If there are multiple, label each with a capital letter: “Appendix A,” “Appendix B,” etc.
  • Labels are centered and bolded at the top of the page.
• Title: On the line below the label, include a descriptive title that is also centered and bolded, using title case.
• Content:
  • Include material that supplements but is not essential to the main text (e.g., interview transcripts, questionnaires, detailed data, equipment descriptions).
  • The appendix content is left-aligned, single- spaced, and follows general APA formatting.
  • The first paragraph is not indented; subsequent paragraphs are indented as usual.
• Referencing:
  • Refer to each appendix at least once in the main text (e.g., “see Appendix A”).
  • If you refer to tables or figures within appendices, label them with the appendix letter and number (e.g., Table A1, Figure B2).
  • If an appendix contains only one table or figure, you may refer to it simply as “Appendix C.”
• Citations: You may include citations in appendices; these should follow APA in-text citation rules and be included in the main reference list.
• Content length: Appendices should be relatively brief and easily presented in print format.
• Copyright: If you include copyrighted material not created by you, include a copyright attribution note below the item.

Format for Appendix

Appendix [A] 

Title of Appendix

 [Appendix content starts here, left-aligned, double-spaced. First paragraph flush left, subsequent paragraphs indented.]

• The “Appendix” label and title are centered and bolded.
• Use title case for the title.
• Start each appendix on a new page.

Example

Appendix AInterview Questions

Below is the structured interview questions used in the study. Participants were asked to respond verbally to each item.

1. Can you describe your experience with…
2. How did you feel about…
3. [Further questions follow…]

Line Spacing

• The entire paper is single-spaced, including the title, abstract, main text, headings, block quotations, reference list, table and figure numbers, titles, notes, and appendices.
• The table body (cells) and text within the image portion of a figure should also be single-spaced, consistent with the rest of the paper.
• Additionally, footnotes at the bottom of the page where they are referenced should be single-spaced.

Additional Notes

• Ensure no extra spacing is added before or after paragraphs or headings.
• Use one space after:
  • Periods or other punctuation marks at the end of a sentence.
  • Commas, colons, and semicolons.
  • Periods that separate parts of a reference list entry.
  • Periods following initials in names (e.g., M. P. Clark).
• Do not insert a space:
  • After internal periods in abbreviations (e.g., a.m., i.e., U.S.).
  • Around colons in ratios (e.g., 1:4).
• When using quotation marks, brackets, or other punctuation:
  • Do not insert a space between the punctuation and the quotation marks or parentheses.
  • Insert one space after the punctuation if it ends a sentence.

Table 3

Summary of Spacing after Punctuation

Tables and Figures in RELEJ

RELEJ uses single spacing for tables and figures, which differs from the official APA 7 guidelines that recommend double spacing for most elements. Below are the key points, formatting rules, and examples for both tables and figures, adapted for RELEJ's single-spacing requirement.

Key Points for Tables

• Number: Each table is numbered in bold (e.g., Table 1), above the table.
• Title: Place a brief, italicized, and title case title below the table number.
• The table itself appears below the title.
• Spacing: In RELEJ, the entire table, including the title and body, is single-spaced.
• Alignment: Table number and title are left-aligned; data is usually centered or left-aligned for clarity.
• Borders: Use horizontal lines only where necessary; no vertical lines.
• Notes: Place any notes below the table, single-spaced, and starting with Note in italics if needed.
• Font: Use the same font as the main text.

Key Points for Figures

• Number: Each figure is numbered in bold (e.g., Figure 1), above the figure.
• Title: Provide a brief, italicized, and title case title below the figure number.
• Image/Text: The figure itself (chart, diagram, photo, etc.) follows the title, with any labels or legends integrated.
• The figure itself appears below the title.
• Spacing: In RELEJ, figure captions, titles, and notes are single-spaced.
• Alignment: Number, title, and image are left-aligned.
• Notes: Place any explanatory notes below the figure, single-spaced, and starting with Note in italics if needed.
• Font: Use the same font as the main text for all text elements in the figure.

Placement and Referencing

• Place tables and figures close to where they are first mentioned in the text (check RELEJ's preference).
• Refer to each table or figure by number in the text (e.g., "see Table 1" or "as shown in Figure 2").
• Do not repeat the same table or figure; refer to it by its number if needed again.

RELEJ follows the APA 7th edition guidelines for presenting information in tables and figures. Notes that describe tables or figures are placed immediately below them and provide additional information needed to understand the content without referring back to the main text. There are three types of notes:

• General notes come first and begin with the italicized word Note. followed by a period. These explain information that applies to the entire table or figure, such as clarifications, definitions of abbreviations, or source citations if the table or figure is adapted from another work.
• Specific notes address particular elements within the table or figure. They are indicated by superscript lowercase letters (a, b, c, etc.) both in the table or figure and at the start of the corresponding note, clarifying specific data points or terms.
• Probability notes provide information about statistical significance, usually linked to symbols like asterisks (*) in the table or figure, indicating p-values or other probability measures.

Notes should be concise and included only when necessary for understanding the table or figure. Each type of note appears in a separate paragraph below the table or figure.

Example Table (RELEJ Single-Spaced Format)

Table 4Student Performance by Grade Level

Note. Data collected from three elementary schools in 2024.

Example Figure (RELEJ Single-Spaced Format)

Figure 1Distribution of Student Performance by Grade

Note. The figure illustrates the comparative performance of students across three grades.

Additional Tips

• Tables and figures are numbered separately (Table 1, Table 2, Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.) in the order they appear.
• If adapted from another source, include a citation in the note below the table or figure and list the source in the reference list.

Margins

• Margins should be set to 3 cm from on all sides (Top, Bottom, Left and Right).

Paragraph Alignment

• Align the text to the left. Do not manually divide words at the end of a line, and do not use the hyphenation function to break words at the ends of lines.

Paragraph Indentation

• Indent all paragraphs by 0.9 cm. The exceptions are:
• The first paragraph immediately under a heading (no indent).
• The title (in bold), byline, and affiliations on the title page that should be centered.
• The first line of the abstract should be flush left (not indented).
• Table and figure numbers, titles and notes should be flush left.
• Reference list entries should have a hanging indent of 0.9 cm.
• Appendix labels and titles should be flushed left (and bold).

Paper Length

• The paper should not exceed 7000 words.

Principles of Organization

• The main text starts on a new page following the title and abstract.
• Paper size is A4 (8.27 × 11.7 inches or 21.0 x 29.7 cm). Margins should be set to 3 cm from on all sides (Top, Bottom, Left and Right).
• The paper length is 3500-7000 words including the abstract and references.
• Manuscripts should be checked for content and style (correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar; accuracy and consistency in the citation of figures, tables, and references; stylistic uniformity of entries in the References section, etc.).
• All text, including the abstract and references, must be single-spaced and fully justified. This deviates from APA 7th edition due to RELEJ’s publication requirements.
• All content, including references and appendix introductions, should be formatted in Times New Roman, 12-point font.
• Paragraph Spacing is – 0 pt before paragraph and – 6 pt after paragraph.
• The first line of every paragraph should not be indented.
• Use a consistent 0.9 cm indent throughout the paper for readability and uniformity.
• Block quotations (40 words or more) are indented 0.9 cm from the left margin, and if spanning multiple paragraphs, the first lines of subsequent paragraphs in the quote are indented an additional 0.9 cm (total 1.8 cm).

While APA 7th edition relies on formatting-such as bold, italics, and alignment-to distinguish heading levels without numbering, RELEJ adopts a numbering system for its headings and subheadings (e.g., 1. Introduction, 2. Literature Review, 3. Methods, 3.1 Participants) to provide clear organization and facilitate cross-referencing within the article. This difference reflects RELEJ’s editorial preference for enhanced clarity and navigation, especially in detailed research papers, even though its citation and reference formatting follows APA guidelines.

• Four levels of heading are accepted for submitted manuscripts and all topics of equal importance should have the same level of heading.
• Avoid having only one subsection heading within a section; use at least two subsection headings within a section, or use none. Do not use more than four levels of heading. Use the following format for the four Levels of Heading:

RELEJ is aware that APA 7 employs five heading levels, with major (Level 1) headings centered and bolded, while subsequent levels are flush left or indented according to the style. However, due to certain shortcomings of this approach, RELEJ adopts a consistent flush left alignment for all heading levels primarily because it enhances readability and maintains a clean, consistent visual structure throughout the article. Flush left headings align with the natural left-to-right reading pattern of English and many other languages, allowing readers to quickly locate section titles without the distraction of varying alignment positions. This alignment creates a straight left margin, which helps guide the eye smoothly down the page, improving navigation and comprehension. Additionally, flush left headings integrate well with the body text, which is typically left-aligned or justified, fostering a cohesive and professional appearance.

Below are the key points that guide the organization of headings in RELEJ:

• Title: 14 pt Times New Roman, bold, centered. It is written in title case (all major words are capitalized).Spacing: 2 empty lines after the title.
• Abstract: 12 pt Times New Roman, bold for the heading, regular for the text, centered.
• Spacing: 1 empty line after the heading, 1 empty line after the abstract.
• Keywords: 12 pt Times New Roman, regular, flush left. It is italicized, Spacing: 1 empty line after keywords.
• Main Section Headings (e.g., Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion): 13 pt Times New Roman, bold, flush left.Spacing: 1 empty line before and after each main heading.
• Subheadings (Level 2): 12 pt Times New Roman, bold, flush left.Spacing: 1 empty line before and after each subheading.
• Level 3 Headings: 11 pt Times New Roman, bold, flush left.Spacing: 1 empty line before and after each Level 3 heading.
• Body Text: 12-point Times New Roman, regular font, justified alignment, with a 0.9 cm first-line indent-except for the first line immediately following headings, which is not indented. No extra line between paragraphs; use a first-line indent instead.

      Spacing: Single line spacing within paragraphs.

Sample Format of Headings in RELEJ

 [Empty line]

3. MethodsText of the Methods section starts here.

[Empty line]

3-1. Research DesignText of the Research Design subsection starts here.

[Empty line]

3-2. Data CollectionText of the Data Collection subsection starts here.

[Empty line]

3-3. Data AnalysisText of the Data Analysis subsection starts here.

[Empty line]

3-3.1 Statistical AnalysisText of the Statistical Analysis sub-subsection starts here.

Sample Format for Article Parts

Title of the Article

• 14 pt, Times New Roman, Bold, centered
• [2 empty lines]

Abstract

• 12 pt, Times New Roman, Bold (heading), 11 pt Regular (text), flush-left
• The abstract text goes here. It summarizes the main points of the article.
• [1 empty line]

Keywords: teaching, assessment, English

• 11 pt, Times New Roman, Regular
• [1 empty line]

1. Introduction

• 13 pt, Times New Roman, Bold, Flush Left
• Body text begins here (12 pt, Times New Roman, regular, justified).
• There is no blank line between a heading and the paragraph that follows it. However, a blank line should appear above each heading.
• [1 empty line]

2. Literature Review

• 13 pt, Times New Roman, Bold, Flush Left
• [1 empty line]

3. Theoretical Framework

• 11 pt, Times New Roman, Bold, Flush Left
• [1 empty line]
• Body text continues...
• [1 empty line]

4. Method

• 13 pt, Times New Roman, Bold, Flush Left
• [1 empty line]

5. Results

• 13 pt, Times New Roman, Bold, Flush Left
• [1 empty line]

6. Discussion

• 13 pt, Times New Roman, Bold, Flush Left
• [1 empty line]

7. Conclusion

• 13 pt, Times New Roman, Bold, Flush Left
• [1 empty line]

References

• 13 pt, Times New Roman, Bold, Flush Left

Appendix (Appendices)

• 13 pt, Times New Roman, Bold, Flush Left

Spelling The spelling of words in RELEJ follows Standard American English conventions.  Where American English has alternative spellings of words such as "recognize"/"recognize," please use the "z" form, e.g., "summarize." But note that in American English, "analyze" is spelled with a "z." Please use "for example" in the text and "e.g." in lists of tables/figures. There should be no comma after "e.g." or "i.e."

Numbers One to ten (in words), 11, 12, and so on in figures, unless these appear at the beginning of a sentence or when both a small and large number appear in the same sentence, e.g., “5 classes of 28 …” When using thousands, please use a comma separator, e.g., 2,500. Fractions should be written in words and hyphenated. Percentages in the text are normally given as whole numbers, e.g., 27 percent, but can be given with decimal points in tables/figures where necessary.

First-level lists (numbered)

Use Arabic numerals followed by a period (e.g., 1., 2., 3.).

Capitalize the first word of each item.

If the item is a complete sentence, end it with a period.

Indent the list properly.

Second-level lists (alphabetized)

Use lowercase letters followed by a right parenthesis (e.g., a), b), c)).

Capitalize the first word if the item is a complete sentence.

End with a period if the item is a complete sentence.

Indent the second-level list under the first-level item.

No brackets or full stops before the number or letter - but periods or parentheses after the number/letter are required.

Bulleted Lists

If list items are complete sentences:

Each item must begin with a capital letter and end with a period.

Example:

Houses were green.

Buildings were blue.

Garages were red.

If list items are fragments, single words, or phrases (not complete sentences):

No punctuation is needed at the end of each item, including the last one.

Capitalization depends on whether the first word is a proper noun or normally capitalized word.

Example:

Houses

Buildings

Garages

Commonly used abbreviations 

Common abbreviations such as EAP, EFL, ESP, ELT, ESOL, TESOL, NS, NNS, IATEFL, L1, L2, IT, CELTA can be used without spelling out if they are well known to your audience or defined on first use in your paper.

Countries and organizations:

The United States of America is abbreviated as USA or US (for descriptive purposes), and the United Kingdom as UK.

According to APA 7, do not use periods in these abbreviations (i.e., use US, not U.S., except when used as an adjective like “U.S. President”).

Spell out the full name on first mention if the audience might be unfamiliar, then use the abbreviation consistently.

General rules for abbreviations:

Spell out the full term on first use followed by the abbreviation in parentheses, then use only the abbreviation thereafter.

Use abbreviations sparingly and only if they improve clarity and conciseness.

Abbreviations that appear as words in the dictionary (e.g., IQ, HIV) do not need to be defined.

Do not use periods in abbreviations of all capital letters unless it is a proper name or a Latin abbreviation.

For group authors, spell out the full name on first use followed by the abbreviation in brackets in narrative or parenthetical citations.

Foreign Characters and Words

Foreign characters most commonly appear in names or specialized terms. Ensure that all diacritical marks (e.g., accents, tildes, umlauts) are included correctly in the text.

Foreign words or phrases that are not in Standard English dictionaries should be italicized. Do not use quotation marks around these words.

Example: The word plátano means "banana" in English.

Direct translations or definitions of foreign words should appear in quotation marks immediately after the italicized word.

Example: The Spanish word amigo means "friend."

Common foreign words and phrases that appear in standard English dictionaries (e.g., "et al.," "a priori," "vice versa") are not italicized (APA, 2020, p. 170).

Footnotes

In RELEJ, footnotes should be used sparingly and only when necessary. Short explanatory notes can be included within the text in parentheses. Longer notes should be placed together at the end of the manuscript under a separate heading titled “Footnotes.” Footnotes must be numbered consecutively using superscript Arabic numerals placed in the text at the appropriate points. Avoid including more footnotes than necessary to keep the text clear and concise.

In-text example:

The study showed significant results¹ that supported the hypothesis.

Corresponding footnote at the end of the manuscript:

Footnotes

1. These results were consistent across all experimental groups and time points.

Acknowledgments

The Acknowledgments section in RELEJ is optional. Authors may use this section to thank colleagues, advisors, or students who contributed to the work but do not meet authorship criteria. It is also appropriate to acknowledge funding sources and institutional support. Authors should ensure that all individuals named have given their permission to be acknowledged.

Reusing Copyrighted Material

Authors publishing with RELEJ must obtain permission to reuse any copyrighted material in their manuscripts for which they are not the rights holders. This includes quotations, tables, figures, images, or any other third-party content.

For published materials, permission requests should be directed to the publisher. For unpublished materials, authors should contact the original creator. Authors must provide copies of all permission grants to the RELEJ editorial office upon submission.

Permission agreements should specify the following rights:

• Nonexclusive rights to reproduce the material in RELEJ.
• Rights for use in both print and electronic formats, preferably extending to all media.
• Lifetime rights to use the material.
• Worldwide English-language rights.

Authors should ensure they identify the original rights holder for each item and avoid using images or materials from sources such as Google Images or Wikimedia Commons unless a clear credit line identifies the rights holder and permission has been secured.

For detailed guidance on copyright and permissions, please refer to the RELEJ Copyright and License policy provided by Farhangian University.

Copyright Attribution Statements in Manuscripts

When including copyrighted material, authors must provide a copyright attribution statement in the figure or table note, or in a footnote for reproduced text or test materials. This statement should include:

• Whether the material is reprinted or adapted.
• The title of the original work (italicized if a book or journal).
• Author(s) or group author.
• Year of publication.
• Source information (journal name, volume, pages, DOI or URL).
• Copyright holder and year.
• A statement confirming permission (e.g., “Reprinted with permission,” “Adapted with permission”).

Examples

Figure 1

Trends in Language Acquisition

Note. From Language Learning Journal, by A. Smith, 2022, 15(3), p. 45. Copyright 2022 by Language Press. Reprinted with permission.

Table 2Participant Demographics

Note. Adapted from Survey of Language Learners, by J. Lee, 2020, Journal of Applied Linguistics, 12(4), pp. 123–130. Copyright 2020 by Linguistics Publishing. Adapted with permission.

Authors should plan ahead to secure all necessary permissions before submission, as publication cannot proceed without documented rights clearance.

Biographical Note

Including biographical details is not required for the initial manuscript submission.

Data Collection Materials

RELEJ encourages authors to enhance transparency and reproducibility by uploading their data collection materials to recognized repositories such as the IRIS database, an online archive for instruments used in second language research. These materials may include interview and observation schedules, language tests, questionnaires, pictures, software scripts, URL links, word lists, teaching intervention activities, and other tools used to elicit data.

Authors should provide a clear description of their data collection instruments in the manuscript’s Method section and may include links or references to deposited materials. For more information or to upload materials, please visit the IRIS webpage. Questions can be directed to iris@iris-database.org.

Similarity Check Requirement

A similarity check is a mandatory requirement for all submissions to the Journal of Research in English Language Education (RELEJ). Authors must provide a certification of similarity analysis obtained from the Hamanandjoo system, accessible via https://tik.irandoc.ac.ir/User/Login or https://iranithenticate.ir. The manuscript submitted should have an overall similarity index not exceeding 15%, encompassing all text, tables, figures, and other content. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold may be returned to authors for revision or rejected outright. Authors bear full responsibility for ensuring proper citation of all sources and that their manuscript reflects original scholarly contributions. To facilitate timely processing and peer review, the similarity check certification must be submitted alongside the manuscript at the time of submission. This policy aligns with RELEJ’s commitment to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and publication ethics.

Similarity Check Requirement

A similarity check is a mandatory requirement for all submissions to the Journal of Research in English Language Education (RELEJ). Authors must provide a certification of similarity analysis obtained from the Hamanandjoo system, accessible via https://tik.irandoc.ac.ir/User/Login or https://iranithenticate.ir. The manuscript submitted should have an overall similarity index not exceeding 15%, encompassing all text, tables, figures, and other content. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold may be returned to authors for revision or rejected outright. Authors bear full responsibility for ensuring proper citation of all sources and that their manuscript reflects original scholarly contributions. To facilitate timely processing and peer review, the similarity check certification must be submitted alongside the manuscript at the time of submission. This policy aligns with RELEJ’s commitment to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and publication ethics.