General Recommendations
- Use plain language whenever possible, e.g., “use” instead of “utilize”
- Look at recently published articles in your target journal to get an idea of the journal’s topics, as well as style and formatting of papers
- Review articles: sometimes accepted by invitation only, so check journal instructions before submitting unsolicited reviews
- Be aware of page charges, for article submission or publication, or for color figures
- Best practice is to follow journal instructions, even when “your paper, your way” or “format-free” submissions are accepted. Publishing companies have placed more of the burden on authors to submit their papers in proper format and many will swiftly reject papers that don’t conform. Many journals that offer nonformatted or “your paper, your way” for initial submission will ask authors to format the paper per instructions upon acceptance.
- It is to an author’s advantage to format a paper per instructions at initial submission for several reasons: 1) it shows a dedication to that journal; 2) if the paper was clearly formatted for another journal, it may appear to reviewers that it was rejected elsewhere and immediately resubmitted to the current journal, potentially casting doubt about the paper’s usefulness; 3) proper formatting makes papers easier to read for reviewers.
- Most journals painstakingly prepare author instructions, so ignoring those instructions may convey the wrong message to editors and reviewers. Authors should demonstrate respect for the journal and its editors and reviewers by making every attempt to follow instructions. If something is unclear, contact the journal for clarification – they will appreciate your attention to detail.
How to write...
