Many good studies are rejected before a reviewer ever reads them. Editors at busy journals screen hundreds of submissions and decline a large share at the desk — often for reasons that have nothing to do with the science. The checklist below is the one our editors use when preparing manuscripts for clients aiming at international, peer-reviewed journals.
1. Is the journal the right fit?
Read the journal’s aims and scope and look at five or six recent articles. Ask: does it publish this type of study (clinical trial, review, case report, simulation)? Does it publish in your field at your level of novelty? A perfect manuscript sent to the wrong journal is still a rejection.
2. Have you read the author guidelines line by line?
Word limits, abstract structure, heading order, figure resolution, reference style, data-availability statements and ethics declarations differ between journals. Make a short list of every requirement and tick each one off. Ignoring guidelines signals carelessness to an editor.
3. Does your title say exactly what you found?
A strong title is specific and searchable: it names the population, intervention or method, and the key outcome. Avoid abbreviations and vague openings such as “A study of…”.
4. Can your abstract stand alone?
Many readers — and editors — read only the abstract. It should state the problem, method, main result with numbers, and the conclusion, in the journal’s required structure and word limit.
5. Is the introduction a funnel, not a literature dump?
Move from the broad problem to the specific gap, and end with a clear statement of your objective or hypothesis. Three to five well-chosen paragraphs are usually enough.
6. Could another researcher repeat your methods?
Describe materials, sample size, procedures and statistical tests precisely. Use the past tense consistently, and cite established methods rather than re-describing them in full.
7. Do the results report, and the discussion interpret?
Keep interpretation out of the Results section. In the Discussion, compare your findings with previous work, explain unexpected results, acknowledge limitations honestly and avoid over-claiming.
8. Are figures and tables self-explanatory?
Each should be understandable without the main text: clear axis labels and units, defined abbreviations, and a caption that states what is shown.
9. Is the English clear, consistent and academic?
Reviewers are not meant to judge language, but unclear writing makes them doubt the science. Common problems for non-native authors include tense switching, article (a/the) errors, overlong sentences and literal translations of phrases from the first language. A professional English language edit by an editor in your subject is the most reliable fix.
Tip: ask a colleague outside your sub-field to read the abstract. If they can’t explain your main finding back to you, the writing needs work.
10. Are references complete and in the journal’s style?
Check that every in-text citation appears in the reference list and vice versa, that DOIs are included where required, and that the format (Vancouver, APA, Harvard, etc.) matches the journal. Our journal formatting service handles this for you.
11. Have you completed the ethics and integrity statements?
Include ethics approval numbers, informed consent, conflict-of-interest and funding statements, author contributions and data availability. Run a similarity check to catch unintentional overlap with your previous publications.
12. Does your cover letter make the editor’s job easy?
In under one page: the title, article type, the key finding, why it suits this journal’s readers, and confirmation that the work is original and not under review elsewhere. Suggesting qualified reviewers, if the journal allows it, can speed up handling.
Quick pre-submission checklist
| Item | Done? |
|---|---|
| Journal scope confirmed | ☐ |
| Author guidelines followed | ☐ |
| Title and abstract stand alone | ☐ |
| Methods reproducible | ☐ |
| Professional English edit | ☐ |
| References formatted and complete | ☐ |
| Ethics, funding, COI statements | ☐ |
| Cover letter tailored to the journal | ☐ |
Want a second pair of expert eyes? Upload your manuscript and a PhD or MD editor in your field will polish the language and flag anything a reviewer is likely to question.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common reason for desk rejection?
The most common reasons are a mismatch with the journal’s scope, failure to follow author guidelines, and language that is too unclear for the editor to assess the work.
Should I get my manuscript edited before submission?
Yes, if English is not your first language or reviewers have previously commented on the writing. Editing before submission avoids delays and a possible rejection on language grounds.
How long should a cover letter be?
Usually under one page: three or four short paragraphs stating the article, its main finding, why it fits the journal and the required declarations.
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