Submitting a research paper, getting it published, and disseminating your work to a varied audience is a critical part of the research journey. While researchers spend months and years on their research, over 75% authors see the process of preparing and submitting a research paper and ensuring journal article submission readiness as a big challenge.1
It is no longer enough to write the plain facts when you submit papers for publication, your research paper should follow the author guidelines and be well-written, logically structured, clear, and engaging for both academic experts and non-academic audiences.
Getting published in reputed journals not only increases the credibility of the research, but having a permanent, searchable, and accessible publication record also bolsters the researcher’s credibility and reputation. However, submitting a research paper for journal publication is not an easy task.
Researchers must follow certain key steps and conduct some critical manuscript submission readiness checks to meet the high-quality and publication standards set by top journals.
Here are the top five steps and checks that all researchers must do before paper submission for journal publication.
Key points and critical checks before submitting a research paper
1. Choosing the right journal
One of the most important checks before submitting a research paper is making sure you’ve found the right home for your research. And it’s best to choose your journal early in the research journey, so you can shape your writing accordingly. But with thousands of journals and publications covering a wide range of subject areas, this is not an easy task. In fact, one of main reason for manuscript rejection is a mismatch with the journal’s aims and scope!
Some journals and publications restrict submissions based on the area of expertise or article format, others focus on specific areas or themes like medicine, political science, or gender studies, while broad-based journals invite submissions on a range of issues or interdisciplinary research. However, researchers must do their due diligence and check if their topic of research aligns with the journal’s goals before submitting a research paper. This makes it critical to understand the journal selection process, including how to identify predatory publishers, and follow the recommended guidelines to ensure submission readiness and boost the chance of journal publication.
2. Paper structure and format
When submitting a research paper to a journal for publication, you cannot overlook the importance of manuscript structure and formatting checks. Poorly structured and formatted papers can diminish the overall quality and impact of the research paper, even if the content itself is significant. Hence, submission readiness checks for paper structure and format are essential before submitting a research paper to a journal. Make sure there is a logical flow of ideas across the introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections that allows readers to quickly understand the research’s significance.
Research manuscripts should adhere to journal guidelines on formatting, including font styles, margins, word counts, line-spacing, figures and tables, etc. to avoid potential rejection due to non-compliance. Be sure to check that all citations and references are included and formatted correctly in your paper submission for journals to avoid plagiarism.
3. Highest-quality academic writing and language
Poor language and grammar is one of the most common reasons for desk rejection,2 because it makes a paper hard to read and understand. Hence, researchers are not only expected to follow a logical structure and format, but they are also expected to deliver high-quality writing, devoid of any language and grammar errors, when submitting a research paper for publication. Well-constructed sentences and paragraphs, appropriate language, and flawless grammar are all critical indicators of the manuscript’s quality, the author’s credibility, and the research’s significance.
It reflects the researcher’s ability to convey their ideas clearly and concisely, which in turn increases the likelihood of acceptance. So when preparing a paper submission for journals, researchers should invest time and effort in carefully reviewing and editing their papers and even proofreading the final version before submitting a research paper to achieve the high standards expected by most top journals. Those with English as a second language may benefit from getting their papers reviewed by professional academic editors or choose online AI writing tools tailored for academic writing.
4. Technical checks for submission readiness
Apart from language, journals often mandate other technical aspects be checked before submitting a research paper for publication. Technical checks include critical elements such as including conflicts of interest statements and ethical approvals, verifying the accuracy and validity of data, ensuring proper citation and referencing of sources, confirming adherence to journal-specific formatting and style guidelines, and providing complete and accurate author information.
Failure to comply with these basic technical checks can result in desk rejection or delays in the publication process. Therefore, it is important for researchers to be aware of and meticulously review and adhere to all the technical requirements of the target journal before submitting a research paper to increase the chances of successful publication.
5. Submission completeness check
Once you are ready with the polished final version of your paper for journal submission, do a detailed check to verify that all the necessary components are included. Ensuring the manuscript submission package is complete with all the required elements, such as a good cover letter, mandatory approvals and declarations, supplementary materials, and other relevant documents, is crucial when submitting a research paper for publication. The cover letter serves as an introduction to the manuscript and can provide valuable context and information to the editors regarding the research.
The ethical approvals signify that the research complies with all ethical guidelines and regulations. Researchers can include supplementary materials, such as datasets, figures, and appendices, to enhance the readers’ understanding of the research and support its findings. However, make sure that these materials are properly formatted, labelled, and included as per the journal’s guidelines. Thoroughly checking and verifying the completeness of the manuscript submission package before submitting a research paper can help avoid delays or potential rejection.
References:
- Joy and Stress Triggers: A global survey on mental health among researchers. CACTUS Foundation, 2020. Available at https://foundation.cactusglobal.com/mental-health-survey/index.php
- George, E. Top 5 desk rejection reasons and how you can fix them. Researcher.Life Blog, 2020. Available at https://researcher.life/blog/article/fix-desk-rejection-problems/
