The PubArx LaTeX and Word templates
A two-column layout for research preprints, as a LaTeX class and as a Microsoft Word document. Both place the title, authors and ORCID iDs where Google Scholar expects them. Using a template is optional.
- LaTeX: ZIP archive, 26 KB
- Word: .docx file, 72 KB
- Version 1.0 · 29 October 2026
- Free for any paper (MIT-0)
Features
What the class provides for a typical manuscript.
Two elegant columns
Balanced A4 or US Letter pages set in Libertinus, with generous margins, colour-accented headings and refined captions that read well on screen and in print.
Ready for Google Scholar
Title and authors at the top of page 1, selectable text, embedded fonts and PDF metadata filled in automatically from your title page.
ORCID-linked authors
Superscript affiliations, ORCID icons that link to each profile, the corresponding author’s email and equal-contribution marks.
Abstract and highlights
A tinted, full-width abstract panel with your keywords, and an optional highlights box for the three findings readers should remember.
Maths, theorems and tables
amsmath, theorem and proof environments, booktabs tables and numbered, sorted citations with clickable DOIs.
A review copy in one word
Add review for line numbers and wider spacing, onecolumn for a single column, or nologo for a neutral version to send to a journal.
Quick start
Write in the browser with Overleaf, or on your own computer with any TeX distribution from 2023 or later.
On Overleaf
No installation- Open the template. Use Open in Overleaf (opens in a new tab), or upload the zip with New project › Upload project.
- Check the compiler. Menu › Compiler should say pdfLaTeX, with
main.texas the main document. - Write. Replace the example text in
main.texand press Recompile.
On your computer
TeX Live 2023+- Unzip the template and open
main.texin your editor. - Compile with pdfLaTeX and BibTeX, or run
latexmk -pdf main:pdflatex main bibtex main pdflatex main pdflatex main - Check that the citations and the “Page X of Y” footer are filled in.
In the package
- pubarx.cls The document class 34 KB
- main.tex A complete example paper 21 KB
- references.bib The example bibliography 5 KB
- README.md Every option and command, explained 14 KB
- LICENSE MIT No Attribution licence 1 KB
The Word template
For authors who write in Microsoft Word. It reproduces the LaTeX layout with ordinary Word styles: the band with the identifier and licence, the title block with ORCID links, the abstract and highlights panels, two columns, numbered headings, captions, tables, equations and references.
- .docx file, 72 KB
- Word 2016 or later, Windows or Mac
Writing with the Word template
No LaTeX needed- Open the file and type over the example paper. Its last appendix explains each part of the template; delete it when you are done.
- Use the styles in Home › Styles: Heading 1 for sections, Body Text for paragraphs, Caption, Reference and the others. Headings, captions and references are numbered automatically.
- Fill in the properties. Under File › Info › Properties, enter the title and the authors: they become the PDF metadata.
- Save as PDF with File › Save As (Windows) or File › Export (Mac), and upload the PDF.
The Word version uses Cambria and Calibri, which come with Word, in place of the Libertinus type of the LaTeX version. Google Docs and LibreOffice can open it, but some details, such as equations, may look different there.
The title block
Everything before \maketitle is collected into one full-width block at the top of page 1 and written into the PDF metadata, so the title, authors and keywords that Google Scholar reads always match what readers see.
-
One
\authorper author, in order, each with an optional\orcid. - Affiliations are listed once and referenced by label.
-
Leave out
\pubarxiduntil your paper has its identifier.
\documentclass[a4paper]{pubarx} % add review, onecolumn, nologo ...
\begin{document}
\title[Short running title]{Full Title of Your Paper}
\author[1]{Maryam Rahimi}\orcid{0000-0002-1825-0097}
\corresponding{m.rahimi@northbridge.example}
\author[1,2]{Daniel K. Okafor}\orcid{0000-0000-1234-5672}
\affiliation[1]{Department, University, City, Country}
\affiliation[2]{Institute, City, Country}
\pubarxid{2026.00042} % once PubArx has assigned it
\pubarxlicense{CC BY 4.0}
\received{14 September 2026}
\posted{2 October 2026}
\keywords{first keyword, second keyword, third keyword}
\begin{abstract}
One paragraph: the question, the method and the main result.
\end{abstract}
\maketitleClass options and commands
Combine options with commas, for example \documentclass[letterpaper,review]{pubarx}. The README documents every detail.
| Option | Effect |
|---|---|
a4paper | A4 paper (the default). |
letterpaper | US Letter paper. |
onecolumn | One column with 11 pt text, instead of two columns with 10 pt text. |
review | Line numbers and 1.5 line spacing for reviewers. |
columnrule | A thin rule between the two columns. |
nologo | No PubArx band on page 1, e.g. for a journal submission. |
font=libertinus | Libertinus Serif, Sans and Math (the default). |
font=newtx | Times-like text and maths. |
font=lm | Latin Modern, the classic LaTeX look. |
notheorems | Skips the predefined theorem environments, so you can define your own. |
10pt, 11pt, 12pt | Overrides the size of the body text. |
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
\title[short]{full} | The title. The optional short title is used in the running head. |
\author[1,2]{Name} | One command per author, in order. The labels refer to affiliations. |
\orcid{0000-0002-1825-0097} | A linked ORCID icon after the author’s name. |
\corresponding{email} | Marks the corresponding author and prints the email address. |
\equalcontrib | Marks authors who contributed equally. |
\affiliation[1]{...} | One line per affiliation: department, institution, city, country. |
\keywords{a, b, c} | Keywords under the abstract and in the PDF metadata. |
\pubarxid{2026.00042} | Your PubArx identifier, linked to your paper page. Add it once it has been assigned. |
\pubarxversion{2} | Appends v2 to the identifier. Needs \pubarxid. |
\pubarxstatus{...} | The status in the band. Default: Preprint – not peer reviewed. |
\pubarxlicense{CC BY 4.0} | The licence in the band and the first-page footer. |
\pubarxsubject{...} | A subject line above the title, e.g. your primary PubArx subject. |
\received{...} \posted{...} | Dates under the authors. \revised and \accepted work too. |
\runningauthor{...} | Footer text on every page after the first. |
highlights (environment) | Three to five key findings in a box under the abstract. |
Google Scholar formatting checklist
Google Scholar reads the first page of your PDF and the metadata on your PubArx paper page. The template takes care of most of this; check the rest before you submit.
- Title and all authors at the top of page 1, larger than the body text
- The same title and author names in the PDF as on your submission form
- Real, selectable text: no scanned pages or text flattened into images
- All fonts embedded (pdfLaTeX and Word’s Save as PDF both do this)
- A references section with complete entries and DOIs
- A file under 5 MB: vector plots, JPEG photographs at 300 dpi
- One paper per PDF; supplementary data in a repository
- No password protection, attachments or interactive forms
Frequently asked questions
I write in Word or Google Docs. Can I still submit?
Yes. The Word template gives you the PubArx layout without LaTeX, and Google Docs can open it too. The templates are a recommendation, not a requirement: any PDF with selectable text, the title and all authors at the top of page 1, and a references section is accepted.
How do I keep the PDF small?
Aim for less than 5 MB. Save plots and diagrams as vector PDF, photographs as JPEG at 300 dpi, and avoid embedding images at a higher resolution than they are printed. A two-column paper of 10–15 pages set with the template is usually well under 1 MB without figures.
Which fonts does it use, and are they embedded?
Libertinus by default, a warm, highly readable book face with matching sans-serif and maths fonts. Add font=newtx for a Times-like look or font=lm for Latin Modern. All three are open source, ship with TeX Live and Overleaf, and are embedded by pdfLaTeX as Type 1 fonts, which is what printers and indexers expect.
Can I use another bibliography style, or author–year citations?
Yes. Any natbib-compatible BibTeX style works: unsrtnat numbers references in order of citation, plainnat sorts them alphabetically, and many journals provide their own. For author–year citations add \setcitestyle{authoryear}. biblatex cannot be combined with natbib; if you rely on it, use the standard article class.
I also want to send the paper to a journal. What should I change?
Add nologo to remove the PubArx band, and onecolumn,review if the journal wants a single-column manuscript with line numbers. Most journals accept papers that were posted as preprints, but check your journal’s policy before posting.
I am used to elsarticle. Is it hard to switch?
No. \author[1]{…} and \address[1]{…} work as before. Replace the keyword environment with \keywords{a, b} and \ead with \corresponding, and remove the frontmatter environment: \maketitle builds the title block.
May I change the template?
Of course. Both templates are released under the MIT No Attribution licence: use and adapt them for any paper, with no notice required. The licence covers the templates only; your paper is yours, under the licence you choose when you submit.
Submitting to PubArx
Upload the PDF, add the authors and choose a licence. A moderator screens the submission before it is published with a permanent identifier.