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How to write a cover letter for journal submission
Download our cover letter template.
When you submit your article to a journal, you often need to include a cover letter. This is a great opportunity to highlight to the journal editor what makes your research new and important. The cover letter should explain why your work is perfect for their journal and why it will be of interest to the journal’s readers.
When writing for publication, a well-written cover letter can help your paper reach the next stage of the manuscript submission process – being sent out for peer review . So it’s worth spending time thinking about how to write a cover letter to the journal editor, to make sure it’s going to be effective.
To help you, we’ve put together a guide to explain how to write a cover letter for journal article submission. You will receive cover letter instructions of what you should include and what you shouldn’t, and a word template cover letter.
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What should my cover letter include?
Before you start to write, please check the instructions for authors (IFAs) of your chosen journal, as not all journals will require one. You should also check the IFAs for any journal specific information on what to include. This may include a list of relevant articles written by you or your co-authors that have been or are currently being considered for publication in other journals.
Key points to include in your letter to the editor:
Editor’s name (you can usually find this on the journal page on Taylor & Francis Online ).
Your manuscript’s title.
Name of the journal you are submitting to.
Statement that your paper has not been previously published and is not currently under consideration by another journal.
Brief description of the research you are reporting in your paper, why it is important, and why you think the readers of the journal would be interested in it.
Contact information for you and any co-authors .
Confirmation that you have no competing interests to disclose.
Things to avoid:
Don’t copy your abstract into your cover letter, instead explain in your own words the significance of the work, the problem that is being addressed, and why the manuscript belongs in the journal.
Don’t use too much jargon or too many acronyms, keep language straightforward and easy to read.
Avoid too much detail – keep your cover letter to a maximum of one page, as an introduction and brief overview.
Avoid any spelling and grammar errors and ensure your letter is thoroughly proofed before submitting.
Click to enlarge your PDF on key information to include in your cover letter .
Cover letter template
If you need further help to write a cover letter for a journal, you can download and use our sample template as a guide.
You might find that the submission system for your chosen journal requires your cover letter to be submitted into a text box rather than as a separate document, but it is still a good idea to write a draft first to make sure you have included everything.
Always make sure to check the journal’s instructions for authors for any specific additional information to include.
Submission ready
Use our submission checklist to make sure you’ve included everything you need to.
If you need more guidance, take a look at our other information and resources to help you make your submission .
Rapid constructive feedback
Consider the Taylor & Francis Rapid Technical Review service to help you meet your deadline, through peer-review-like comments on your manuscript.
Related resources
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Guide to improve your submission experience
Article submission checklist
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How to Write a Cover Letter for Your Manuscript? Here are the Tips and Examples
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Table of Contents
A cover letter is often the first thing an editor reads when reviewing your submission. As your first pitch to the editor, the cover letter helps them gauge the suitability of your manuscript for publication in their journal. Imagine your work shaping the future of your field, gathering citations, and sparking discussions. A powerful cover letter is thus the first step to making that vision into a reality.
In this article, we will guide you through the process of writing an effective cover letter and explain how you can get it right every time with examples. First, let us get started with the basics!
Getting the Basics Right
When writing a cover letter, it is crucial to address the editor by their correct and complete name¹ . If there are multiple co-editors, you can address your letter to the right person, based on their specialization or designated responsibilities. If unsure, it is okay to go with a more general salutation, such as “Dear Editors”¹ .
Presenting your Research
Provide a clear and concise title for your submission and specify whether it is an article, communication, review, perspective, or a manuscript belonging to some other category. If the journal guideline recommends, consider including a list of all authors in the manuscript.
After covering the preliminary information, briefly explain your paper’s central theme or focus to give the editor an idea of its contents. Ensure this stays a brief outline, without going into too much detail.
Conveying the Importance of Your Work
How you communicate the impact of your work can make or break your cover letter. To make a strong impression on the editor, articulate the significance of your research clearly, emphasizing its relevance to the field. Additionally, show how your work aligns with the journal’s scope and mission.
Including a Formal Declaration
Some journals require a set of declarations from you to ensure that your manuscript adheres to its ethical code and the larger ethical standards of scientific publishing. Here are the required declarations in a cover letter:
- Originality of work:
- Confirm that your work is original and has not been published elsewhere. This tells the editor your research is unique.
- Conflict of interest statement:
- Be clear about any potential conflicts of interest. This includes any personal, financial, or professional connections that might affect your research.
- Funding source (if applicable):
- Tell where your research funding came from, if any. This includes any support or grants from organizations.
Including Personal Suggestions for Reviewers on a Separate Page (optional)
If there is no part of the submission process that collects researcher suggestions for reviewers, and there are special requests from the researcher for reviewers (e.g., recommending the inclusion or suggesting the exclusion of a specific reviewer, etc.), you may also make a note about this in the cover letter.
Combining these five points, here is a good example of a cover letter for researchers’ reference:
(This image is intended to demonstrate the norms of formatting and tone of expression in a cover letter, it is to be used only by the researcher as a reference in writing² .)
Conclusion
A strong cover letter can go a long way in ensuring success for researchers looking to publish their manuscripts! Your cover letter is the opening act, setting the stage for how editors perceive your manuscript. So, look at it not as just another formality but as a crucial opportunity to make a strong impression.
Understanding what to include, what is optional, and what is best left unsaid can be tricky. That is where our team of experts at Elsevier Language Services can step in. We will provide personalized recommendations and expert guidance to help you craft a cover letter that perfectly complements your manuscript. Reach out to us today to make a great first impression and embark on a successful academic journey!
Reference
- Nicholas, D. (2019). How to choose a journal and write a cover letter. Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia, 13(5), 35. https://doi.org/10.4103/sja.sja_691_18
- Loyola University Chicago. (n.d.). JCSHESA Sample Cover Letter. https://ecommons.luc.edu/jcshesa/cover_letter_template.pdf
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Written Samples
15 sample cover letters for journal submission.
Submitting your research paper to a journal can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially when you’re unsure of how to craft a compelling cover letter.
A well-written cover letter can make all the difference in catching the editor’s attention and increasing your chances of publication.
Sample Cover Letters for Journal Submission
In this article, we’ll explore 15 sample cover letters that showcase various strategies for effectively communicating the significance of your research and its potential impact on the field.
These examples will serve as a valuable resource for researchers across disciplines, providing inspiration and guidance for crafting their successful cover letters.
Let’s dive in and discover the key elements that make these cover letters stand out from the crowd.
Cover Letter One
Subject: Submission of Research Article – “The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health”
Dear Editor,
I am writing to submit my research article titled “The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health” for consideration in your esteemed journal. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between social media use and mental health outcomes among adolescents, offering valuable insights for mental health professionals, educators, and policymakers.
The article presents findings from a large-scale survey of 5,000 adolescents aged 13-18, exploring their social media habits and mental health status. The results reveal a significant correlation between excessive social media use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Furthermore, the study identifies specific social media behaviors that contribute to negative mental health outcomes, such as cyberbullying and exposure to unrealistic beauty standards.
I believe that this research makes a substantial contribution to the existing literature on adolescent mental health and social media use. The findings have important implications for developing targeted interventions and educational programs to promote healthy social media habits among young people. The article also highlights the need for further research to understand the long-term effects of social media on mental health and to develop evidence-based guidelines for safe and responsible use.
Thank you for considering my submission. I look forward to the opportunity to share this research with your readers and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on this critical issue.
[Your Name]
[Your Affiliation]
Cover Letter Two
Subject: Submission of Original Research – “Exploring the Potential of Renewable Energy in Developing Countries”
I am pleased to submit my original research article titled “Exploring the Potential of Renewable Energy in Developing Countries” for consideration in your respected journal. This study investigates the challenges and opportunities for implementing renewable energy solutions in developing nations, with a focus on solar and wind power.
The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the current state of renewable energy adoption in five developing countries across Africa and Asia. Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, including surveys, interviews with key stakeholders, and geospatial analysis, the study identifies the major barriers to widespread renewable energy adoption, such as lack of infrastructure, limited access to financing, and inadequate policy support.
However, the research also highlights the significant potential for renewable energy to transform the lives of millions of people in developing countries by providing access to clean, affordable, and reliable electricity. The article presents case studies of successful renewable energy projects in each of the five countries, demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of these solutions.
I believe that this research makes a valuable contribution to the field of sustainable development and energy policy. The findings have important implications for policymakers, investors, and development organizations seeking to promote renewable energy in developing countries. The article also lays the groundwork for further research on the social, economic, and environmental impacts of renewable energy adoption in these contexts.
Thank you for your consideration. I am excited about the opportunity to share this research with your readers and contribute to the global effort to achieve sustainable energy for all.
Cover Letter Three
Subject: Submission of Review Article – “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Opportunities and Challenges”
I am writing to submit my review article titled “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Opportunities and Challenges” for consideration in your distinguished journal. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of AI applications in healthcare, exploring the potential benefits and risks of these technologies for patients, healthcare providers, and health systems.
The article begins by defining AI and its various subfields, such as machine learning and natural language processing, and discussing their relevance to healthcare. It then presents a systematic review of the literature on AI applications in healthcare, covering areas such as medical imaging, drug discovery, personalized medicine, and clinical decision support.
The review identifies several key opportunities for AI to improve healthcare outcomes, such as enhancing diagnostic accuracy, optimizing treatment plans, and reducing healthcare costs. However, it also highlights the significant challenges and risks associated with AI in healthcare, such as data privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, and the need for robust regulatory frameworks.
I believe that this review article makes a timely and important contribution to the ongoing debate about the role of AI in healthcare. As healthcare systems around the world grapple with the challenges of rising costs, aging populations, and the COVID-19 pandemic, AI has emerged as a potentially transformative technology. However, the adoption of AI in healthcare also raises complex ethical, legal, and social questions that require careful consideration.
Thank you for considering my submission. I am confident that this review article will be of interest to a wide range of healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers, and I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the scholarly discourse on this critical topic.
Cover Letter Four
Subject: Submission of Case Study – “Implementing a Successful Remote Work Policy: Lessons from Company X”
I am pleased to submit my case study titled “Implementing a Successful Remote Work Policy: Lessons from Company X” for consideration in your esteemed journal. This study provides a detailed analysis of how one company successfully transitioned to a remote work model during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering valuable insights for organizations seeking to adapt to the changing nature of work.
The case study focuses on Company X, a mid-sized technology firm that implemented a comprehensive remote work policy in response to the pandemic. Through interviews with company leaders, employees, and external stakeholders, as well as an analysis of company documents and performance metrics, the study identifies the key factors that contributed to the success of the remote work transition.
These factors include a clear and consistent communication strategy, the provision of necessary technology and support for remote workers, a focus on maintaining company culture and employee engagement, and a flexible approach to managing work-life balance. The case study also discusses the challenges that Company X faced during the transition, such as managing cybersecurity risks and ensuring equitable access to remote work opportunities.
I believe that this case study makes a valuable contribution to the growing body of research on remote work and organizational resilience. As companies around the world continue to grapple with the impacts of the pandemic and the changing nature of work, there is a pressing need for evidence-based guidance on how to implement successful remote work policies.
Thank you for considering my submission. I am confident that this case study will be of interest to a wide range of organizational leaders, HR professionals, and researchers, and I look forward to the opportunity to share these insights with your readers.
Cover Letter Five
Subject: Submission of Original Research – “The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity: Evidence from a Long-Term Field Study”
I am writing to submit my original research article titled “The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity: Evidence from a Long-Term Field Study” for consideration in your respected journal. This study presents findings from a 20-year field study of the impacts of climate change on biodiversity in a temperate forest ecosystem, offering new insights into the complex relationships between climate, species interactions, and ecosystem functioning.
The study combines long-term monitoring data on temperature, precipitation, and other climate variables with detailed observations of plant and animal populations in a 100-hectare forest reserve. Using advanced statistical modeling techniques, the study identifies significant changes in species composition, phenology, and interactions over the 20 years, with some species showing marked declines while others have adapted or even thrived in the changing climate.
The article discusses the implications of these findings for conservation policy and practice, highlighting the need for adaptive management strategies that take into account the complex and dynamic nature of ecosystems in a changing climate. It also identifies key areas for further research, such as the role of species interactions and ecosystem services in mediating the impacts of climate change on biodiversity.
I believe that this research makes a significant contribution to the growing body of evidence on the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. As the world continues to grapple with the urgent challenges posed by climate change, there is a critical need for long-term, empirical studies that can inform effective conservation and adaptation strategies.
Thank you for considering my submission. I am excited about the opportunity to share this research with your readers and contribute to the ongoing efforts to understand and address the impacts of climate change on the natural world.
Cover Letter Six
Subject: Submission of Meta-Analysis – “The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Chronic Pain Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”
I am pleased to submit my meta-analysis titled “The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Chronic Pain Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” for consideration in your distinguished journal. This study provides a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of the evidence on the use of mindfulness-based interventions for the management of chronic pain, offering valuable insights for healthcare providers, researchers, and patients.
The study follows a rigorous systematic review protocol, including a comprehensive search of multiple electronic databases, a standardized screening and data extraction process, and a detailed assessment of study quality and risk of bias. The meta-analysis includes data from 25 randomized controlled trials, involving a total of 2,500 participants with various types of chronic pain, including low back pain, fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain.
The results of the meta-analysis indicate that mindfulness-based interventions are associated with significant reductions in pain intensity, pain-related disability, and psychological distress, as well as improvements in quality of life and well-being. The study also identifies several moderators of treatment effectiveness, such as the type and duration of the intervention, the characteristics of the patient population, and the presence of co-occurring mental health conditions.
I believe that this meta-analysis makes a valuable contribution to the growing body of research on the use of mindfulness-based interventions for chronic pain management. As the prevalence of chronic pain continues to rise, there is an urgent need for effective, non-pharmacological approaches to pain management that can improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.
Thank you for considering my submission. I am confident that this meta-analysis will be of interest to a wide range of healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers, and I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the evidence base on this important topic.
Cover Letter Seven
Subject: Submission of Qualitative Study – “Exploring the Experiences of Transgender Individuals in the Workplace: A Qualitative Study”
I am writing to submit my qualitative study titled “Exploring the Experiences of Transgender Individuals in the Workplace: A Qualitative Study” for consideration in your esteemed journal. This study provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by transgender individuals in the workplace, offering valuable insights for employers, policymakers, and advocates.
The study uses a qualitative phenomenological approach, consisting of in-depth interviews with 20 transgender individuals from diverse backgrounds and industries. The interviews explore participants’ experiences of transitioning in the workplace, including their interactions with colleagues and supervisors, their experiences of discrimination and support, and their strategies for navigating the challenges of being transgender in the workplace.
The findings of the study highlight the complex and varied experiences of transgender individuals in the workplace, from the difficulties of coming out and transitioning to the importance of inclusive policies and practices. The study also identifies several key themes, such as the role of allies and support networks, the impact of intersectionality on workplace experiences, and the potential for workplace transitions to be a source of personal and professional growth.
I believe that this qualitative study makes a valuable contribution to the growing body of research on the experiences of transgender individuals in the workplace. As more and more companies seek to create inclusive and equitable workplaces, there is a pressing need for in-depth, qualitative research that can inform best practices and policies for supporting transgender employees.
Thank you for considering my submission. I am excited about the opportunity to share this research with your readers and contribute to the ongoing efforts to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces for all individuals, regardless of their gender identity.
Cover Letter Eight
Subject: Submission of Theoretical Article – “Rethinking the Concept of Leadership in the Age of Digital Transformation”
I am pleased to submit my theoretical article titled “Rethinking the Concept of Leadership in the Age of Digital Transformation” for consideration in your distinguished journal. This article provides a novel and thought-provoking perspective on the changing nature of leadership in the context of the digital age, offering valuable insights for scholars, practitioners, and educators.
The article begins by reviewing the traditional theories and models of leadership, from trait-based approaches to transformational and servant leadership. It then argues that these models are increasingly inadequate for understanding and practicing leadership in the context of digital transformation, which is characterized by rapid change, complexity, and uncertainty.
Drawing on recent research and examples from a range of industries and sectors, the article proposes a new framework for conceptualizing leadership in the digital age. This framework emphasizes the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and innovation, as well as the need for leaders to be comfortable with ambiguity and to embrace a more distributed and networked model of leadership.
The article also discusses the implications of this new framework for leadership development and education, arguing for a greater emphasis on experiential learning, design thinking, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. It concludes by identifying several key areas for further research and practice, such as the role of technology in shaping leadership practices and the need for more inclusive and diverse models of leadership.
I believe that this theoretical article makes a significant contribution to the ongoing debate about the future of leadership in the digital age. As organizations around the world grapple with the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation, there is a pressing need for new and innovative approaches to leadership that can help them navigate this complex and rapidly changing landscape.
Thank you for considering my submission. I am confident that this article will be of interest to a wide range of scholars, practitioners, and educators, and I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the scholarly discourse on this important topic.
Cover Letter Nine
Subject: Submission of Empirical Study – “The Relationship Between Social Support and Mental Health Among College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic”
I am writing to submit my empirical study titled “The Relationship Between Social Support and Mental Health Among College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic” for consideration in your respected journal. This study provides a timely and important examination of the impact of social support on the mental health of college students during a period of unprecedented stress and uncertainty.
The study uses a cross-sectional survey design, collecting data from a sample of 500 college students across the United States. The survey includes validated measures of social support, mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety, and stress), and demographic variables. The data are analyzed using a combination of descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression modeling.
The results of the study indicate that higher levels of social support are significantly associated with lower levels of mental health symptoms among college students during the pandemic. The study also identifies several key sources of social support, including family, friends, and faculty/staff, and highlights the importance of both emotional and instrumental support in promoting mental health.
I believe that this empirical study makes a valuable contribution to the growing body of research on the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among college students who have faced significant disruptions to their academic and social lives. The findings have important implications for college administrators, mental health professionals, and policymakers seeking to support the well-being of students during this challenging time.
Thank you for considering my submission. I am confident that this study will be of interest to a wide range of researchers, practitioners, and educators concerned with the mental health and well-being of college students, and I look forward to the opportunity to share these findings with your readers.
Cover Letter Ten
Subject: Submission of Methodological Article – “Advancing the Use of Mixed Methods in Health Services Research: A Guide for Researchers”
I am pleased to submit my methodological article titled “Advancing the Use of Mixed Methods in Health Services Research: A Guide for Researchers” for consideration in your distinguished journal. This article provides a comprehensive and practical guide for researchers interested in using mixed methods approaches to study complex health services research questions.
The article begins by defining mixed methods research and discussing its key principles and benefits, including the ability to triangulate findings, explore both breadth and depth and address multiple research questions within a single study. It then provides a step-by-step guide for designing and conducting mixed methods health services research studies, from developing research questions and sampling strategies to collecting and analyzing data and integrating findings.
The article also discusses several key considerations and challenges in conducting mixed methods research, such as ensuring the quality and rigor of both quantitative and qualitative components, managing large and diverse datasets, and publishing and disseminating findings. It provides practical tips and strategies for addressing these challenges, drawing on examples from successful mixed methods studies in health services research.
I believe that this methodological article makes a valuable contribution to the growing field of mixed methods research in health services. As health systems around the world face increasingly complex and multifaceted challenges, there is a pressing need for innovative and rigorous research approaches that can capture the full range of factors influencing health services delivery and outcomes.
Thank you for considering my submission. I am confident that this article will be of interest to a wide range of health services researchers, from novice to experienced investigators, and I look forward to the opportunity to support the continued growth and development of mixed methods research in this important field.
Cover Letter Eleven
Subject: Submission of Case Report – “Successful Treatment of Refractory Chronic Migraine with Botulinum Toxin Type A: A Case Report”
I am writing to submit my case report titled “Successful Treatment of Refractory Chronic Migraine with Botulinum Toxin Type A: A Case Report” for consideration in your esteemed journal. This report describes the clinical course and successful treatment of a patient with chronic migraine who had failed multiple previous therapies.
The report presents the case of a 45-year-old woman with a 20-year history of chronic migraine, characterized by 15-20 headache days per month and significant disability. Despite trials of several preventive and abortive medications, as well as non-pharmacological therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and acupuncture, the patient’s migraines remained refractory to treatment.
The patient was initiated on treatment with botulinum toxin type A, administered according to the PREEMPT protocol. After two treatment cycles, the patient experienced a significant reduction in headache frequency and intensity, as well as improvements in quality of life and functional status. The report discusses the potential mechanisms of action of botulinum toxin in chronic migraine, as well as the implications for clinical practice.
I believe that this case report makes a valuable contribution to the literature on the management of refractory chronic migraine. As a debilitating and often treatment-resistant condition, chronic migraine poses significant challenges for patients and healthcare providers alike. This report highlights the potential of botulinum toxin as a safe and effective treatment option for carefully selected patients.
Thank you for considering my submission. I am hopeful that this case report will be of interest to neurologists, pain specialists, and other healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with chronic migraine, and I look forward to the opportunity to share this important clinical experience with your readers.
Cover Letter Twelve
Subject: Submission of Commentary – “The Ethics of Gene Editing: Balancing Scientific Progress and Societal Values”
I am pleased to submit my commentary titled “The Ethics of Gene Editing: Balancing Scientific Progress and Societal Values” for consideration in your distinguished journal. This commentary provides a timely and thought-provoking perspective on the ethical implications of recent advances in gene editing technology, offering insights for scientists, policymakers, and the general public.
The commentary begins by discussing the scientific background and potential applications of gene editing, from treating genetic diseases to enhancing human traits. It then explores the ethical considerations raised by these applications, including questions of safety, equity, and the moral status of human embryos.
Drawing on principles of biomedical ethics and recent public debates, the commentary argues for a balanced approach to the regulation and oversight of gene editing research and applications. It emphasizes the importance of public engagement and dialogue, as well as the need for clear and enforceable guidelines to ensure responsible and socially beneficial use of the technology.
The commentary also highlights the global nature of the gene editing debate, discussing the need for international cooperation and governance to address the transnational implications of the technology. It concludes by calling for ongoing ethical reflection and analysis as the science of gene editing continues to evolve.
I believe that this commentary makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing public and scholarly discourse on the ethics of gene editing. As this transformative technology continues to advance, there is an urgent need for informed and nuanced perspectives that can guide its responsible development and use.
Thank you for considering my submission. I am confident that this commentary will be of interest to a wide range of stakeholders, from scientists and bioethicists to policymakers and the general public, and I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation.
Cover Letter Thirteen
Subject: Submission of Systematic Review – “The Effectiveness of School-Based Interventions for Preventing Adolescent Substance Use: A Systematic Review”
I am writing to submit my systematic review titled “The Effectiveness of School-Based Interventions for Preventing Adolescent Substance Use: A Systematic Review” for consideration in your respected journal. This review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of the evidence on school-based prevention programs for adolescent substance use, offering valuable insights for researchers, educators, and policymakers.
The review follows a rigorous protocol, including a pre-specified search strategy, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and data extraction and quality assessment procedures. It includes studies published in peer-reviewed journals over the past 20 years, encompassing a range of school-based interventions, from educational programs to skills training and peer leadership.
The findings of the review indicate that school-based interventions can be effective in reducing adolescent substance use, particularly when they are interactive, skills-based, and implemented over an extended period. However, the review also highlights the limitations of the current evidence base, including the lack of long-term follow-up data and the need for more rigorous evaluation designs.
I believe that this systematic review makes a significant contribution to the field of adolescent substance use prevention. As rates of substance use among adolescents continue to be a major public health concern, there is a critical need for evidence-based interventions that can be implemented in school settings, where young people spend a significant portion of their time.
Thank you for considering my submission. I am confident that this review will be of interest to a wide range of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers concerned with promoting the health and well-being of adolescents, and I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the evidence base on this important topic.
Cover Letter Fourteen
Subject: Submission of Short Communication – “The Potential of Telemedicine for Improving Access to Mental Health Services in Rural Areas”
I am pleased to submit my short communication titled “The Potential of Telemedicine for Improving Access to Mental Health Services in Rural Areas” for consideration in your esteemed journal. This communication provides a concise and focused discussion of the role of telemedicine in addressing the significant disparities in access to mental health care in rural communities.
The communication begins by highlighting the high prevalence of mental health disorders in rural areas, as well as the numerous barriers to accessing care, including shortages of mental health professionals, long travel distances, and stigma. It then discusses the growing evidence base for the effectiveness of telemedicine in delivering mental health services, particularly for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Drawing on examples from recent research and practice, the communication argues that telemedicine has the potential to significantly improve access to mental health care in rural areas, by enabling remote delivery of services, reducing travel burdens, and increasing the flexibility and convenience of care. However, it also acknowledges the challenges and limitations of telemedicine, such as the need for reliable internet connectivity and the importance of maintaining the therapeutic alliance in a virtual setting.
I believe that this short communication makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing discussion about the role of technology in addressing health disparities and improving access to care. As the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of telemedicine across many areas of healthcare, there is a timely opportunity to explore its potential for expanding mental health services in underserved communities.
Thank you for considering my submission. I am hopeful that this communication will be of interest to mental health professionals, rural health researchers, and policymakers concerned with improving access to care, and I look forward to the opportunity to share these insights with your readers.
Cover Letter Fifteen
Subject: Submission of Opinion Piece – “The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education: A Call to Action”
I am writing to submit my opinion piece titled “The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education: A Call to Action” for consideration in your distinguished journal. This piece provides a passionate and persuasive argument for the critical role of diversity and inclusion in promoting educational excellence and social justice in colleges and universities.
The piece begins by discussing the many benefits of diversity in higher education, from enhancing learning outcomes and fostering innovation to preparing students for success in a globalized world. It then highlights the persistent challenges and barriers to achieving true diversity and inclusion in many institutions, including issues of access, equity, and campus climate.
Drawing on a range of examples and personal experiences, the piece argues that diversity and inclusion must be prioritized as core values and strategic imperatives in higher education. It calls on institutional leaders, faculty, staff, and students to take concrete actions to create more inclusive and equitable learning environments, from diversifying curricula and faculty to addressing bias and discrimination.
The piece also emphasizes the importance of accountability and assessment in driving progress toward diversity and inclusion goals and provides specific recommendations for how institutions can measure and report on their efforts. It concludes with a powerful call to action, urging all members of the higher education community to embrace their responsibility to create a more just and inclusive future.
I believe that this opinion piece makes a timely and important contribution to the ongoing national conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. As colleges and universities grapple with the urgent challenges of racial injustice, political polarization, and social inequality, there is a critical need for bold and visionary leadership on these issues.
Thank you for considering my submission. I am confident that this piece will be of interest to a wide range of stakeholders in higher education, from administrators and faculty to students and community partners, and I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to this vital dialogue.
These 15 sample cover letters demonstrate the diverse range of topics, research designs, and perspectives that can be effectively communicated to journal editors.
By highlighting the significance, novelty, and relevance of their work, these cover letters make a compelling case for why the submitted articles deserve to be considered for publication.
Ultimately, a well-crafted cover letter can be a powerful tool for researchers seeking to share their insights and ideas with the wider scientific community.
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Cover letters
A good cover letter can help to “sell” your manuscript to the journal editor. As well as introducing your work to the editor you can also take this opportunity to explain why the manuscript will be of interest to a journal's readers, something which is always as the forefront editors’ mind. As such it is worth spending time writing a coherent and persuasive cover letter.
The following is an example of a poor cover letter:
Dear Editor-in-Chief, I am sending you our manuscript entitled “Large Scale Analysis of Cell Cycle Regulators in bladder cancer” by Researcher et al. We would like to have the manuscript considered for publication in Pathobiology. Please let me know of your decision at your earliest convenience. With my best regards, Sincerely yours, A Researcher, PhD
Instead, check to see whether the journal’s Instructions for Authors have any cover letter requirements (e.g. disclosures, statements, potential reviewers). Then, write a letter that explains why the editor would want to publish your manuscript. The following structure covers all the necessary points that need to be included.
- If known, address the editor who will be assessing your manuscript by their name. Include the date of submission and the journal you are submitting to.
- First paragraph: include the title of your manuscript and the type of manuscript it is (e.g. review, research, case study). Then briefly explain the background to your study, the question you sought out to answer and why.
- Second paragraph: you should concisely explain what was done, the main findings and why they are significant.
- Third paragraph: here you should indicate why the readers of the journal would be interested in the work. Take your cues from the journal’s aims and scope. For example if the journal requires that all work published has broad implications explain how your study fulfils this. It is also a good idea to include a sentence on the importance of the results to the field.
- To conclude state the corresponding author and any journal specific requirements that need to be complied with (e.g. ethical standards).
TIP: All cover letters should contain these sentences:
- We confirm that this manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal.
- All authors have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission to [insert the name of the target journal].
Submission checklist
Before submitting your manuscript, thoroughly check its quality one more time. Evaluate it critically—could anything be done better?
Be sure that:
- The manuscript follows the Instructions for Authors
- All files are in the correct file format and of the appropriate resolution or size
- The spelling and grammar are correct
- You have contact information for all authors
- You have written a persuasive cover letter
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How to Write a Cover Letter for Journal Submission
If you’re looking for solid advice on how to write a strong journal submission cover letter that will convince journal editors to review your research paper, then look no further! We know that cover letters can impact an editor’s decision to consider your research paper further.
This guide aims to explain (1) why you should care about writing a powerful cover letter, (2) what you should include in it, and (3) how you should structure it. The last segment will include a free downloadable submission cover letter template with detailed how-to explanations and some useful phrases. Finally, be sure to get journal manuscript editing , cover letter editing , and other academic editing services by Wordvice’s professional editors to ensure that you convey an academic style and error-free text, along with including all of the most important content.
Why does a good cover letter matter?
While your research paper’s role is to prove the merits of your research, a strong introductory cover letter is your opportunity to highlight the significance of your research and “sell” its concept to journal editors.
While your research paper’s role is to prove the merits of your research, a strong introductory cover letter is your opportunity to highlight the significance of your research and “sell” its concept to journal editors.
Sadly, we must admit that part of the decision-making process of whether to accept a manuscript is based on a business model. Editors must select articles that will interest their readers. In other words, your paper, if published, must make money . When it’s not quite clear how your research paper might generate interest based on its title and content alone (for example, if your paper is too technical for most editors to appreciate), your cover letter is the one opportunity you will get to convince the editors that your work is worth further review.
In addition to economic factors, many editors use the cover letter to screen whether authors can follow basic instructions . For example, if a journal’s guide for authors states that you must include disclosures, potential reviewers, and statements regarding ethical practices, failure to include these items might lead to the automatic rejection of your article, even if your research is the most progressive project on the planet! By failing to follow directions, you raise a red flag that you may be careless, and if you’re not attentive to the details of a cover letter, editors might wonder about the quality and thoroughness of your research. This is not the impression you want to give editors!
What to Include in a Cover Letter for a Journal Submission
We can’t stress this enough: Follow your target journal’s instructions for authors ! No matter what other advice you read in the vast webosphere, make sure you prioritize the information requested by the editors of the journal you are submitting to. As we explained above, failure to include required statements will lead to an automatic “ desk rejection ”.
With that said, below is a list of the most common elements you must include in your cover letter and what information you should NOT include:
Essential information:
- Editor’s name (when known)
- Name of the journal to which you are submitting
- Your manuscript’s title
- Article type (review, research, case study, etc.)
- Submission date
- Brief background of your study and the research question you sought to answer
- Brief overview of methodology used
- Principle findings and significance to scientific community (how your research advances our understanding of a concept)
- Corresponding author contact information
- Statement that your paper has not been previously published and is not currently under consideration by another journal and that all authors have approved of and have agreed to submit the manuscript to this journal
Other commonly requested information:
- Short list of similar articles previously published by the target journal
- List of relevant works by you or your co-authors that have been previously published or are under consideration by other journals. You can include copies of those works.
- Mention of any prior discussions with editor(s) (for example, if you discussed the topic with an editor at a conference)
- Technical specialties required to evaluate your paper
- Potential reviewers and their contact information
- If needed, reviewers to exclude (this information is most likely also requested elsewhere in online submissions forms)
Other disclosures/statements required by the journal (e.g., compliance with ethical standards, conflicts of interest , agreement to terms of submission, copyright sign-over, etc.)
What you should NOT do:
- Don’t use too much jargon or include too many acronyms.
- Don’t over-embellish your findings or their significance. Avoid words such as “novel,” “first ever,” and “paradigm-changing.” These types of statements show bias and will make the editor question your ability to assess your work’s merits objectively.
- Don’t name-drop. Listing people who might endorse your paper and discussing authors’ reputations do not interest editors. They want to know if your content fits their criteria, so focus solely on addressing that point.
- Don’t write a novel. While you want to adequately explain your work and sell its concept to editors, keep your cover letter to a maximum of one page. The letter is only meant to be an introduction and brief overview.
- Avoid humor . As much as we want to grab the editors’ attention, there are too many ways in which humor can go wrong!
How to Structure a Cover Letter
You should use formal language in your cover letter. Since most submissions are delivered electronically, the template below is in a modified e-mail format. However, if you send your cover letter on letterhead (PDF or hard copy by mail), move your contact information to the upper-left corner of the page unless you use pre-printed letterhead, in which case your contact information should be centered at the top of the letter.
ANNOTATED TEMPLATE Journal Submissions Cover Letter
[Journal Editor’s First and Last Name][, Graduate Degree (if any)] TIP: It’s customary to include any graduate degrees in the addressee’s name. e.g., John Smith, MD or Carolyn Daniels, MPH [Title] e.g., Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Co-Editors-in-Chief [Journal Name] [Journal Address] [Submission Date: Month Day, Year]
Dear Dr./Mr./Ms. [Editor’s last name]:
TIP: Where the editor’s name is not known, use the relevant title employed by the journal, such as “Dear Managing Editor:” or “Dear Editor-in-Chief:”. Using a person’s name is best, however.
TIP: Use “Ms.” and never “Mrs.” or “Miss” in formal business letters.
TIP: Never use “Dear Sirs:” or any similar expression. Many editors will find this insulting, especially given that many of them are female!
[Para.1: 2–3 sentences] I am writing to submit our manuscript entitled, [“Title”] for consideration as a [Journal Name][Article Type]. [One to two sentence “pitch” that summarizes the study design, where applicable, your research question, your major findings, and the conclusion.]
e.g., I am writing to submit our manuscript entitled, “X Marks the Spot” for consideration as an Awesome Science Journal research article. We examined the efficacy of using X factors as indicators for depression in Y subjects in Z regions through a 12-month prospective cohort study and can confirm that monitoring the levels of X is critical to identifying the onset of depression, regardless of geographical influences.
TIP: Useful phrases to discuss your findings and conclusion include:
- Our findings confirm that…
- We have determined that…
- Our results suggest…
- We found that…
- We illustrate…
- Our findings reveal…
- Our study clarifies…
- Our research corroborates…
- Our results establish…
- Our work substantiates…
[Para. 2: 2–5 sentences] Given that [context that prompted your research], we believe that the findings presented in our paper will appeal to the [Reader Profile] who subscribe to [Journal Name]. Our findings will allow your readers to [identify the aspects of the journal’s Aim and Scope that align with your paper].
TIP: Identify the journal’s typical audience and how those people can utilize your research to expand their understanding of a topic. For example, if many of your target journal’s readers are interested in the public policy implications of various research studies, you may wish to discuss how your conclusions can help your peers to develop stronger policies that more effectively address public concerns.
TIP: Include context about why this research question had to be addressed.
e.g., “Given the struggle policymakers have had to define proper criteria to diagnose the onset of depression in teenagers, we felt compelled to identify a cost-effective and universal methodology that local school administrators can use to screen students.”
TIP: If your paper was prompted by prior research, state this. For example, “After initially researching X, Y approached us to conduct a follow-up study that examined Z. While pursuing this project, we discovered [some new understanding that made you decide the information needed to be shared with your peers via publication.]”
e.g., Given the alarming increase in depression rates among teenagers and the lack of any uniform practical tests for screening students, we believe that the findings presented in our paper will appeal to education policymakers who subscribe to The Journal of Education . Although prior research has identified a few methods that could be used in depression screening, such as X and Y, the applications developed from those findings have been cost-prohibitive and difficult to administer on a national level. Thus, our findings will allow your readers to understand the factors involved in identifying the onset of depression in teenagers better and develop more cost-effective screening procedures that can be employed nationally. In so doing, we hope that our research advances the toolset needed to combat the concerns preoccupying the minds of many school administrators.
[Para 3: Similar works] “This manuscript expands on the prior research conducted and published by [Authors] in [Journal Name]” or “This paper [examines a different aspect of]/ [takes a different approach to] the issues explored in the following papers also published by [Journal Name].”
TIP: You should mention similar studies recently published by your target journal, if any, but list no more than five. If you only want to mention one article, replace the preceding sentence with “This paper [examines a different aspect of]/ [takes a different approach to] the issues explored by [Authors] in [Article Title], also published by [Journal Name] on [DATE].”
[Para. 4: Additional statements often required] Each of the authors confirms that this manuscript has not been previously published and is not currently under consideration by any other journal. Additionally, all of the authors have approved the contents of this paper and have agreed to the [Journal Name]’s submission policies.
TIP: If you have previously publicly shared some form or part of your research elsewhere, state so. For example, you can say, “We have presented a subset of our findings [at Event]/ [as a Type of Publication Medium] in [Location] in [Year].”
e.g., We have since expanded the scope of our research to contemplate international feasibility and acquired additional data that has helped us to develop a new understanding of geographical influences.
[Para. 5: Potential Reviewers] Should you select our manuscript for peer review, we would like to suggest the following potential reviewers/referees because they would have the requisite background to evaluate our findings and interpretation objectively.
- [Name, institution, email, expertise]
To the best of our knowledge, none of the above-suggested persons have any conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.
TIP: Include 3–5 reviewers since it is likely that the journal will use at least one of your suggestions.
TIP: Use whichever term (“reviewer” or “referee”) your target journal uses. Paying close attention to a journal’s terminology is a sign that you have properly researched the journal and have prepared!
[Para. 6: Frequently requested additional information] Each named author has substantially contributed to conducting the underlying research and drafting this manuscript. Additionally, to the best of our knowledge, the named authors have no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.
[Your Name]
Corresponding Author Institution Title Institution/Affiliation Name [Institution Address] [Your e-mail address] [Tel: (include relevant country/area code)] [Fax: (include relevant country/area code)]
Additional Contact [should the corresponding author not be available] Institution Title Institution/Affiliation Name [Institution Address] [Your e-mail address] [Tel: (include relevant country/area code)] [Fax: (include relevant country/area code)]
Quick Cover Letter Checklist Before Submission
- Set the font to Arial or Times New Roman, size 12 point.
- Single-space all text.
- Use one line space between body paragraphs.
- Do not indent paragraphs.
- Keep all text left justified.
- Use spelling and grammar check software. If needed, use a proofreading service or cover letter editing service such as Wordvice to review your letter for clarity and concision.
- Double-check the editor’s name. Call the journal to confirm if necessary.
Write A Cover Letter For Research Paper Example: For Journal Submission
Trying to get your article submitted to a journal can be daunting, but a well-constructed cover letter is key to making a strong first impression. This guide is designed to help you craft an effective cover letter for your research paper, ensuring it stands out to journal editors.
From articulating the essence of your work to adhering to specific submission guidelines, we’ll walk you through the essential components and insider tips to elevate your manuscript’s chance for review and publication.
What Is A Cover Letter?
A cover letter for journal submission is a critical document that accompanies your research manuscript when you submit it to a scholarly journal.
It serves as your first point of contact with the journal editor and provides a brief introduction to your study.
The cover letter highlights:
- the significance of your research,
- its relevance to the journal’s scope, and
- why it would interest the journal’s readers.
It also asserts that your manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by any other publication, ensuring the originality of your work.
The cover letter should include a concise overview of your research question, methodology, major findings, and the potential impact of your study within the field. It’s also the place to suggest potential peer reviewers for your manuscript and disclose any conflicts of interest.
Why Write A Cover Letter For Research Paper Submission?
Writing a cover letter for your research paper submission is more than a formality; it’s a strategic tool that can boost your manuscript’s chances of being published. Here’s why it’s crucial:
Introduces Your Work To The Editor
A cover letter introduces your work to the journal editor. It’s your chance to “sell” your research, explaining why it’s a good fit for the journal.
By highlighting the key findings and their relevance to the journal’s readers, you draw attention to the value your research brings.
This brief overview helps editors quickly grasp the significance of your work, even before delving into the manuscript.
You Can Suggest Potential Reviewers
This letter allows you to suggest potential reviewers who are familiar with your research area. This insider tip can be invaluable.
By recommending experts who understand the nuances of your work, you increase the likelihood of a fair and informed peer review process.
Remember, a well-conducted review is pivotal for your manuscript’s acceptance.
Clarify Authenticity And Exclusivity
Lastly, the cover letter is where you clarify that your manuscript has not been previously published and is not under consideration by another journal.
This statement upholds ethical standards and reassures the editor about the originality of your work.
It’s also the place to mention any conflicts of interest, ensuring transparency and integrity in the publication process.
In essence, a well-crafted cover letter is your first step towards engaging the editor and peer reviewers, making it a critical component of your submission package.
How To Write A Good Cover Letter For Research Article Submission?
Writing a good cover letter for your research article submission is akin to laying a strong foundation before building a house.
It sets the stage for your manuscript’s review and potential publication. Here’s how to craft one that catches the eye of the journal editor.
- Get The Basics Right: Use the journal’s letterhead if available, or include your contact information at the top. Address the letter to the editor by name if possible, ensuring a personal touch right from the start.
- Go Straight To The Point: The opening line should clearly state the title of your manuscript and your intention to submit it for review.
- Give An Brief Overview: In the heart of the cover letter, provide a brief overview of your research. Here, you’re not just repeating the abstract. Instead, you’re framing your study within the larger conversation of your field.
- Show Novelty: Highlight the novel aspects of your research, its relevance to the target journal’s scope, and why it would interest the journal’s readership. This section is your chance to “sell” your manuscript, so make every word count.
- Suggest Potential Reviewers: Don’t shy away from suggesting potential reviewers. This shows you’re engaged with the community and understand the field’s landscape. Be sure to exclude anyone with a potential conflict of interest.
- Confirm Ethical Standards: Assure the editor that your research adheres to standards and that all co-authors have consented to the submission. If your manuscript builds on previous work, this is the place to reference it and explain how your study advances their work.
- Be Clear About Exclusivity: A statement confirming that your manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal is crucial. This transparency fosters trust with the editorial team.
- Thank The Editor: Conclude with a respectful note thanking the editor for considering your work, perhaps mentioning that you’re happy to provide additional materials or information if needed. This shows your willingness to collaborate and ensures a positive tone.
Keep your cover letter concise, ideally to a maximum of one page. Every sentence should serve a purpose, whether it’s establishing the significance of your research, demonstrating its fit with the journal, or ensuring ethical compliance.
Remember, a well-written cover letter can make a significant difference in how your manuscript is perceived. It’s worth investing the time to get it right.
Research Paper Cover Letter Template For A Journal Submission
Sometimes, combining every tips into a letter can be difficult. In this case, you may find a template useful. Here’s one for you to consider:
[Your Name] [Your Institutional Affiliation] [Your Department] [Your University/Institute Address] [Your Email Address] [Today’s Date]
[Editor’s Name] [Title] [Journal Name] [Journal Address]
Dear [Editor’s Name],
I am writing to submit our manuscript entitled “[Your Manuscript Title]” for consideration as a [Research Article/Case Study/Review Article, etc.] in [Journal Name]. This manuscript has not been published and is not under review elsewhere.
Our research examines [briefly describe your research question or thesis and the gap in the literature your work addresses]. We have found [describe your major findings briefly, and why they are significant].
Given the scope of [Journal Name], we believe our findings will be of interest to your readership as they [explain how your findings add value to the field and align with the journal’s themes].
We suggest the following experts as potential reviewers for our manuscript due to their expertise in [briefly outline the areas of expertise]: [Reviewer 1 Name, Affiliation], [Reviewer 2 Name, Affiliation], and [Reviewer 3 Name, Affiliation].
We have ensured that there are no conflicts of interest with these suggestions.
All authors have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission to [Journal Name]. We confirm that this work is original and has been conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of [your field/your institution].
Additionally, any supporting data or materials required for the review process are available upon request.
Thank you for considering our manuscript for publication in [Journal Name]. We look forward to the opportunity to contribute to your journal.
[Your Full Name] [Your Job Title/Position, if applicable] [Your Institutional Affiliation]
[Co-Author Name(s) and Affiliation(s), if applicable]
Cover Letter For A Journal Editor: Keep It Simple
A well-crafted cover letter is your first opportunity to engage journal editors and advocate for your research paper’s publication.
By succinctly summarising your study’s significance, ensuring compliance with journal requirements, and maintaining ethical standards, your cover letter can significantly influence the editorial process.
Remember, a compelling cover letter not only showcases your research but also demonstrates your professionalism and attention to detail, enhancing your manuscript’s chance of a favourable review.
Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.
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How to Write an Effective Cover Letter for Journal Submission
Craft your cover letter for journal submission the right way with our expert tips! Learn how to grab editors’ attention and stand it out.
When it comes to submitting a manuscript for publication in a journal, many authors focus solely on the quality of their research and the clarity of their writing. While these are important factors, it’s easy to overlook the role that a well-crafted cover letter can play in the submission process. A cover letter can be the key to getting your manuscript noticed by the editor and ultimately accepted for publication. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of a cover letter for journal submissions and provide tips for crafting an effective one.
What is a Cover Letter for Journal Submission?
A cover letter for journal submission is a document that accompanies a manuscript when it is submitted for publication in an academic or scientific journal. The purpose of the cover letter is to introduce the author and their work to the editor of the journal and to provide any additional information that may be relevant to the manuscript or the submission process. Furthermore, its purpose is to introduce the manuscript to the editor and provide additional information about the research and its significance. The cover letter should be concise and focused, typically no more than one page.
What Should be Included in the Cover Letter?
A cover letter should include several key elements to effectively introduce your manuscript. It’s important to personalize the letter for the specific journal, use a professional tone, and proofread carefully for errors. To make sure your cover letter is effective, there are several key elements that you should include:
Addressee’s Information and Date of Submission
Your cover letter should start with the date of submission, followed by the name and address of the editor or editorial staff who will be reviewing your manuscript. This information should be current and accurate to ensure your submission is directed to the right person.
Opening Salutation
The opening salutation of your cover letter should be professional and courteous, addressing the editor or editorial staff by name, starting with “Dear…”. Don´t forget to include the title and position of the editor you are addressing.
Purpose Statement and Administrative Information
Your cover letter should have a clear statement of the purpose of your research and the journal to which you are submitting your manuscript. You should also include any administrative information required by the journal, such as the type of manuscript (e.g. original research, review article, case report) and the number of words or pages.
Summary of Main Research Findings and Implications
One of the most important elements of your cover letter is a summary of the main findings and implications of your research. This summary should be concise and focused, highlighting the most important aspects of your research and why it is significant to the field.
Statements or Information Required by the Journal
Many journals require specific statements or information to be included in the cover letter. This may include a statement that the manuscript has not been previously published or is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, or a list of potential conflicts of interest or funding sources that may have influenced the research.
Previous Contact with the Journal
If you have had previous contact with the journal, such as submitting a previous manuscript or attending a conference sponsored by the journal, it is important to mention this in your cover letter. This information can help establish a connection between you and the editor, which may increase the chances of your manuscript being accepted.
Conflict of Interests and Financial Disclosures
It is important to disclose any potential conflicts of interest or financial disclosures that may have influenced the research. This information can help ensure transparency and maintain the integrity of the research.
Your cover letter should include a statement indicating that all authors have read and approved the manuscript and that the work is original and not plagiarized. This information can help establish the credibility of the research and the integrity of the authorship.
Suggested Reviewers
Suggested Reviewers are generally considered a best practice and are often recommended by journals. Providing a list of suggested reviewers can help to ensure that the manuscript is reviewed by individuals who have the appropriate expertise and background to evaluate the work, and can help to speed up the review process by reducing the time needed for the editor to identify potential reviewers. This can help expedite the review process and increase the likelihood of your manuscript being accepted.
Concurrent/Duplicate Submissions
An important consideration when submitting a manuscript for publication is concurrent or duplicate submissions. Concurrent submissions occur when a manuscript is submitted to more than one journal at the same time. Duplicate submissions occur when a manuscript is submitted to the same journal more than once.
In the cover letter, you should clearly state whether the manuscript has been submitted elsewhere or whether it has been previously published. If the manuscript is under consideration elsewhere, you should provide the name of the journal and the date of submission. If the manuscript has been previously published, you should provide the citation for the publication.
Closing Salutation
When closing a cover letter for journal submission, it’s important to maintain a professional and courteous tone. A common closing salutation is “Sincerely,” followed by your name. However, some alternatives that are also appropriate include “Best regards,” “Thank you for your time and consideration,” or “Respectfully.” Whichever salutation you choose, make sure it matches the tone of your letter and conveys your appreciation for the editor’s consideration.
Request to Exclude Reviewers
A request to exclude reviewers is a common feature of a cover letter for journal submission, particularly in cases where the author has concerns about potential conflicts of interest or bias that could affect the review process.
When making a request to exclude reviewers, the author should provide a clear and concise explanation of the reasons for the request and should provide specific details about any potential conflicts of interest or concerns that they may have. It is also important to note that some journals may have specific guidelines or policies regarding requests to exclude reviewers, and authors should familiarize themselves with these guidelines before making a request.
In general, it is recommended that authors provide a minimum of three to five potential reviewers who are not affiliated with the author or their institution, in order to provide a broad range of expertise and perspectives. When making a request to exclude reviewers, it is also important to provide alternative suggestions for potential reviewers who could be considered in their place.
Tips for Writing a Journal Submission Cover Letter
A well-crafted cover letter can help your manuscript stand out and increase your chances of being accepted for publication. Here are some tips for writing an effective journal submission cover letter.
One of the most important tips for writing a journal submission cover letter is to proofread it carefully. Typos, spelling errors, and grammatical mistakes can detract from the professional image you want to project. Make sure to read the letter multiple times and have someone else read it over as well to catch any errors you may have missed.
Keep the Cover Letter Brief
Another important tip is to keep the cover letter brief and to the point. The cover letter should provide a brief introduction of the manuscript and the key findings, as well as any other information that is necessary for the editor to understand the importance and relevance of the manuscript. The letter should be no more than one page in length.
Review Examples of Cover Letters
It can be helpful to review examples of cover letters for journal submissions to get an idea of the style, tone, and content that is appropriate. You can search for examples online or ask colleagues who have submitted manuscripts for publication for their advice. When reviewing examples, pay attention to the language used, the level of detail provided, and the overall organization and structure of the letter. This can help you craft a cover letter that is professional, informative, and effective.
Cover Letter Template for a Journal Article Submission
A cover letter is an important component of manuscript submission for publication in a journal. Using a template can help ensure that your cover letter includes all the necessary information and follows the proper format. Here is a guide to creating a cover letter template for a journal article submission.
The header should include your contact information, including your name, affiliation, and contact details (address, phone number, and email address), the date of submission, and the name and address of the journal.
Opening Paragraph
The opening paragraph should provide a brief introduction to the manuscript and its key findings. This paragraph should also mention the purpose of the manuscript and why it is relevant to the journal’s readership. You may also want to mention any previous correspondence or contact with the journal.
Body Paragraphs
The body of the cover letter should include several paragraphs that provide more detail about the manuscript. This may include a summary of the methods used, key results and findings, and implications for future research. You may also want to mention any notable limitations or challenges encountered during the research process.
It is also important to address any specific requirements or requests from the journal, such as a particular format for tables or figures, or specific information to be included in the manuscript. You should also mention any funding sources or conflicts of interest that may be relevant.
Closing Paragraph
The closing paragraph should reiterate the significance of the manuscript and its contribution to the field. You may also want to mention any potential reviewers for the manuscript or suggest reviewers who would be appropriate. Finally, you should include a polite and professional closing, such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards”, followed by your name and signature.
Common Expressions for Cover Letters
When writing a cover letter for journal submission, it’s important to use appropriate and professional language. Here are some common expressions that can be used in cover letters:
“We are pleased to submit our manuscript…”
“The research reported in this manuscript addresses a significant gap in the literature…”
“We believe this manuscript will be of interest to your readership because…”
“Our findings have important implications for future research in this field.”
“We would like to thank the reviewers and editors for their time and consideration.”
“We look forward to hearing from you regarding the status of our manuscript.”
“Thank you for your time and consideration.”
These expressions can be used to convey important information in a professional and concise manner. When using these expressions, it’s important to tailor them to the specific journal and to make sure they are appropriate for the content of your cover letter.
Journal Submission Tips and Hacks from the Experts
Submitting a journal article can be a challenging and sometimes frustrating process. However, by following some tips and hacks from the experts, you can increase your chances of success. Here are some tips and hacks to help you submit your article to a journal:
Choose the Right Journal
Before submitting your article, make sure you choose the right journal. Consider factors such as the journal’s scope, readership, and impact factor. Make sure your article fits with the journal’s focus and aims.
Read the Guidelines
Read the journal’s submission guidelines carefully and follow them closely. Pay attention to formatting, length, and other requirements. Failure to follow the guidelines could result in your article being rejected without review.
Get Feedback
Before submitting your article, get feedback from colleagues or mentors. Ask them to read your manuscript and provide constructive criticism. This can help you identify potential weaknesses and improve the quality of your article.
Write a Strong Abstract
Your abstract is often the first thing that editors and reviewers will read. Make sure it is clear, concise, and provides a compelling summary of your article. Highlight the key findings and implications of your research.
Use Clear and Concise Language
Use clear and concise language when writing your article. Avoid jargon, technical terms, and complex language that could be difficult for readers to understand. Write in a way that is accessible to a broad audience.
Address Reviewer Comments
If your article is rejected or requires revisions, make sure you carefully address all reviewer comments. Be thorough and professional in your responses. This can increase your chances of acceptance in future rounds of review.
Keep Records
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Writing a Cover Letter for Journal Submission [Free Template]
- Research Process
- Peer Review
Journal cover letters are your chance to lobby on behalf of your manuscript. This AJE Journal Cover Letter Guide offers some useful tips for getting them right. It also includes a free journal cover letter template.
Updated on September 20, 2018
The cover letter accompanying your journal submission is your chance to lobby on behalf of your manuscript. The letter is far from just a formality and should be written with the same care as your manuscript's text (if not more). Ultimately, your cover letter is designed to influence the decision of the editor to send your manuscript out for peer review. The letter will argue that your manuscript is a good fit for the journal you are submitting it to and highlight your most important findings. Let us help you produce the most effective cover letter possible.
Getting ready to submit your manuscript? Download our comprehensive Free Journal Cover Letter Writing Guide with Template .
A cover letter should be written like a standard business letter :
Address the editor formally by name, if known. Include your contact information, as well. This information is probably available through the journal's online submission system, but it is proper to provide it in the cover letter, too.
Begin your cover letter with a paragraph that states the name of the manuscript and the names of the authors. You can also describe what type of manuscript your submission is (research article, review, case report, etc.). In this first paragraph and the next, describe the rationale behind your study and the major findings from your research. You can refer to prior work that you have published if it is directly related.
Next, write a short paragraph that explains why your manuscript would be a good fit for the journal. Do not simply state that your manuscript is “of interest to the field” or “novel.” Address specific aspects of the journal's Aims & Scope statement. If the journal expresses interest in research with a clinical application, be sure to highlight the importance of your work in terms of clinical implications. If the journal mentions that it focuses on nanostructured materials, explain how your work involved such materials. Even if your work is not a perfect fit for the journal, be sure to address some of the Aims & Scope statement, and explain why your manuscript would be of interest to the journal's readers.
Finally, close with a brief paragraph indicating the following:
- The manuscript is original (i.e., you wrote it, not copied it)
- No part of the manuscript has been published before, nor is any part of it under consideration for publication at another journal
- There are no conflicts of interest to disclose
- A list of potential reviewers (only if requested by the journal)
- Any researchers who should NOT review your manuscript
Together, this information provides assurance to the editor that your manuscript merits consideration for publication in their journal and that you are interested specifically in their journal. Sometimes great science will be reviewed regardless of the cover letter, but a well written cover letter is useful for the vast majority of scientists who want to make their research stand out.
Best of luck with your research! If you have any questions about your cover letter, write us anytime.
Ben Mudrak, PhD
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Cover Letter for Journal Submission Templates
Download a Microsoft Word template for a standard journal cover letter (also available with instructions in Chinese , Japanese , Korean , Portuguese , and Spanish ).
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The cover letter gives you the opportunity to present an overview of your manuscript to the editor.
Your cover letter should include
- The objective and approach of your research
- Any novel contributions reported
- Why your manuscript should be published in this journal
- Any special considerations about your submission
- Related papers by you and/or your fellow authors (published or under consideration)
- Previous reviews of your submission
- Previous submissions of your manuscript to that journal
- Previous communication you’ve had with journal staff
You’re encouraged to submit previous communications as they can help expedite the review process. If you have any of the following, you can submit them as ‘Supplementary file for editors only’:
- Copies of related papers
- Previous editors’ comments and your responses
- Previous reviewers’ comments and your responses
NIH Employees
If you or any of your co-authors are NIH employees, you will have to submit a completed and signed NIH Publishing Agreement and Manuscript Cover Sheet according to NIH’s Employee Procedures .
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Scientific Publishing in Biomedicine: How to Write a Cover Letter?
Zahra bahadoran.
1 Nutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Parvin Mirmiran
Khosrow kashfi.
2 Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, School of Medicine, City University of New York, New York, USA
Asghar Ghasemi
3 Endocrine Physiology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
A cover (covering) letter is a brief business letter introducing the scientific work alongside the submission process of a manuscript and is required by most scientific peer-review journals. A typical cover letter includes the name of the editor and the journal, date of submission, the characteristics of the manuscript, the importance of the work and its relevance to prospective audiences, declarations such as author agreements, conflicts of interest statement, funding source (s), and ethical statements. The letter also includes the contact information of the corresponding author (s) and may also include suggestions of potential reviewers. Spending enough time to draft an informative, comprehensive, and concise cover letter is quite worthwhile; a poorly drafted one would not persuade the editor that the submitted work is fit for publication and may lead to immediate rejection. Here, we provide a practical guide to draft a well-written, concise, and professional cover letter for a scientific medical paper.
The Cambridge dictionary defines a cover letter as “a letter that contains information about the thing it is sent with”. The cover letter is commonly known as a motivation letter submitted along with the curriculum vitae (CV) or a job application for employment ( 1 ) or academic position ( 2 ), and it is not clear why and how it was introduced into the scientific field ( 3 ). In scientific writing and publishing, a cover/covering letter is a letter to the editor’s target journal ( 4 ).
Providing a cover letter alongside the submission process is now required by most scientific journals. In fact, some high-quality and prestigious journals pay specific attention to the cover letter ( 3 ). Amongst the different steps of the publication process, the cover letter is the last step and is often overlooked ( 5 ). One of the most common complaints voiced by editors regarding submitted manuscripts is that the authors neglect to write a well-written cover letter, including a statement justifying the importance of their work ( 6 ). Missing this opportunity may have unintentional consequences, rejection without further consideration instead of being sent for external peer-review ( 5 , 6 ). Contrary to this view, some believe that the cover letter’s content overlaps with the manuscript’s abstract and gives mostly redundant information already found within the online submission system ( 3 ). The cover letter may also be a “misleading commercial advertisement” where it would not represent the content of the manuscript ( 3 ).
Although many editors may not read or seriously consider the cover letters of the submitted manuscripts ( 3 , 4 ), neglecting the importance of the cover letter may be a risk for the authors. Therefore, spending an adequate amount of time to write a coherent and persuasive cover letter is worth it. Following our previous publication on choosing a journal in a new series entitled Scientific Publishing in Biomedicine ( 7 ), here, we provided a practical guide to draft a well-written, professional, and concise cover letter needed to be accompanied by an original scientific paper, either with the initial submission or subsequently at revision/resubmitting stage. Since there are subtle differences in writing a cover letter for an original research paper versus a review article or an opinion, some points for drafting a cover letter for such papers are also discussed.
2. The Function of the Cover Letter
A cover letter is “a brief business letter”, which introduces the submitted manuscript to a prospective editor (s) ( 8 ). There are essentially two types of letters; the first is the one that is initially submitted with the manuscript (cover letter), and the second is when a revision is being submitted (revised letter). The first letter introduces the work at the initial manuscript submission ( 9 ), while the second one is needed following an invitation to revise and resubmit the manuscript. Here, the authors respond to the suggestions/criticisms of the reviewers ( 10 ). In this paper, “cover letter” and “second letter” refer to the first/submit letter and the revised letter, respectively.
A well-written cover letter is an effective tool for authors to sell their work to the journal editor and make a “good first impression”. A cover letter is a summary that highlights the main points, emphasizes the novelty, and communicates the potential implications of the submitted work ( 3 ). A cover letter allows the authors to persuade the editors regarding the novelty/originality and significance of the research in a less formal manner than in the manuscript itself ( 6 ). A well-written and informative cover letter helps the journal’s editor to be informed about the work and its significance. Regardless of the novelty and significance of the submitted manuscript, editors may miss those points without providing insights in a cover letter ( 5 ).
3. The Content of a Cover Letter
3.1. first cover letter (submit letter).
One point of view is that the cover letter’s content should be covered in the manuscript’s abstract ( 3 ). A typical cover letter includes the name of editor (s) and the journal, date of submission, the characteristics of the manuscript (i.e., title, type of the manuscript, e.g., review, original, case report), the importance of the work and its relevance to the readership of the journal, verification of the originality of the work, the authors’ confirmation that the manuscript is currently submitted only to this journal, declarations and ethical statements, suggested potential reviewers, and contact information of the corresponding author of the submitted work ( 5 , 6 ). Other manuscript characteristics, including the length and number of tables and figures, can also be indicated. If the manuscript belongs to a special issue or is being submitted upon an official invitation from the journal’s editorial office, it should also be addressed. The main contents of the first cover letter are described in Table 1 .
Variables | Values |
---|---|
Editor (s)’ name and position (in bold print); Date of submission (MM-DD-YYYY) | |
First paragraph (manuscript’s characteristics) | Title of the manuscript (in bold print); Type of the manuscript, Name of the journal; Address if the manuscript belongs to a special issue or is being submitted upon an invitation; The length of the manuscript, the number of tables and figures |
Second paragraph | The line of research presented in the manuscript; Novelty/significance/implication statement (s) (i.e., brief explanation regarding the research background of the study, the question answered in the study, the importance of study findings, and the take-home-message); Address to potential readers (i.e., indicating why the journal’s readers would be interested in this study) |
Third paragraph (declarations/obligatory statements) | Author agreement statement; Conflict of interest statement; Funding source declaration; Ethical standards or other statements required by the journal; Permission statement (if the manuscript contains previously published materials); Statement regarding English native editing (if applicable); Potential reviewers |
“Sincerely,” or “Best regards,” or …; Sign of corresponding author (s) (with full name and academic position); Contact information of corresponding author and co-authors (if required by the journal) (i.e., affiliation, postal address, email address) |
The most critical element of a cover letter is a “statement of novelty/significance/implication.” The authors are advised to carefully write a brief and concise description of their work’s impact toward communicating its significance ( 6 ). The authors are strongly advised not to copy the abstract into the cover letter and instead explain in their own words the significance of the work and the reason for submitting it to the journal ( 11 ). If this information is lacking, the editors may rely on the reviewers who may not appreciate the significance of the work and just focus on the technical issues rather than the scientific value of the work ( 5 ). Providing a clear and robust statement of novelty and significance would be more critical for editors and potential reviewers with diverse and interdisciplinary backgrounds ( 6 ).
The statements are expected to answer the following questions: (1) why is the work important? (e.g., emphasizing a new measurement, a new diagnostic method or criterion, a newly discovered biological process); and (2) how does the work advance current knowledge in the field? The best approach to answer this question is by describing the current state of knowledge in the field and clarifying how the work provides an added value by answering a previously unanswered question, finding the solution to a problem, or improving existing methods ( 5 ). Checking the recently published papers on similar topics in the journal provides new insights for the authors to clarify in the cover letter as to how the manuscript follows the publication trends of the journal and will add something new that would be relevant to the trend ( 12 ).
The cover letter is also expected to emphasize why the manuscript will attract the journal’s readers ( 5 ). The authors also need to consider the journal’s Aims and Scope to underscore how the manuscript would fit within the journal’s scope and attract potential readers ( 13 ). Instead of stating simply that the manuscript is “of interest to the field” or “novel,” the authors should address specific aspects of the journal’s Aims and Scope statement, e.g., “We believe that this manuscript is appropriate for publication by [journal name] since it… [reference to the journal’s aims and scope] ( 11 ).
For a review, opinion, or a trends paper, emphasizing the timeline and novelty is needed, as stated by Sacristán, the editor of trends in molecular medicine: “The synthesis and conceptual advance should be particularly stated in terms of what is new and has been trending in the field for the last one to five years”. She also recommends that the authors need to provide a future perspective beyond the main take-home message of the manuscript for a trends paper and take a strong and novel stance on a hypothesis or idea for a cover letter of an opinion manuscript ( 14 ).
The cover letter must contain some predefined statements, including the “author agreement” statement ( 13 ). An “author agreement” is a statement to confirm that “all authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript being submitted” ( 8 ). Furthermore, “the authors warrant that the manuscript is their original work, has not received prior publication and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere” ( 8 ). Some journals may request the corresponding author to confirm that he/she will take responsibility for informing co-authors of editorial decisions, reviews received, and any changes or revisions made; additionally, the editor (s) should be informed about any closely related manuscript (s) simultaneously submitted for consideration to the same or another journal ( 15 ). The authors also should declare if any part of the submitted work has been previously published elsewhere, even as an abstract ( 16 ); e.g., “there is some overlap in the content of the introduction section, which we have noted in the text”.
Depending on the journal’s policy, other statements, including “conflict of interest statement”, “funding source declarations”, and “permission note”, may also be required to be included in the cover letter ( 8 , 11 ). As indicated by Elsevier, a conflict of interest statement, known as a disclosure statement, is a declaration from the author that “there is no financial/personal interest or belief that could affect their objectivity”. The publisher emphasizes that the authors should declare and state the potential conflict’s source and nature in cases where a conflict of interest exists. A funding source declaration is defined by the publisher as “a declaration of any funding or research grants (and their sources) received in the course of study, research or assembly of the manuscript”. Elsevier also defines the permission note as a statement that declares that “permission has been received to use any material in the manuscript such as a figure, which is not original content” ( 8 , 17 ). Other statements like “Statement of English native editing” may also be added.
Furthermore, informing the editor (s) regarding any information that will support the submission (e.g., original or confirmatory data, supplementary materials, relevance, topicality) can be helpful ( 8 ). Other operational information, typically provided within checkboxes of the journal’s submission system, is not required to be included in the cover letter ( 5 ).
3.2. Second Cover Letter
The second cover letter, which accompanies the revised version of the manuscript, must be a model of clarity and must address every issue posed by the editor and reviewers ( 10 ). If the revised manuscript is sent for the second round of peer-review, the reviewer (s) will see the letter. The content of the header and footer sections of the revised letter is similar to that of the submitted cover letter. The letter should be directed to the editor as addressed in the first letter unless the authors are informed that a new editor will process the revised version ( 10 ). The first paragraph should start with an “expression of polite gratitude”, e.g., “we would like to thank you for the opportunity to revise and resubmit our manuscript.” The “manuscript ID” or “identification number,” usually assigned by the journal in the first submission, should be addressed in the first paragraph ( 10 ).
The second paragraph usually “signals attention to the reviewers’ comments” by providing an explicit reference to the comments made by the reviewers and the editor. Furthermore, it may contain a positive statement regarding the results, methodology, conclusions, etc., in which case the authors need to acknowledge reviews’ insights ( 10 , 18 ). For example, “We sincerely appreciate all the valuable comments and suggestions made, which helped us improve the revised version of our manuscript” or “we found the reviewers’ comments helpful in guiding us to revise the manuscript.” Such statements will help the authors in creating a polite, formal tone throughout the letter. The paragraph should be followed by providing the editor with a roadmap or a summary of the revisions, addressing “the response to comments attachment.” A point-by-point response to the specific comments of the reviewers must be provided. If the authors disagree with a point raised by a reviewer, a rebuttal or counterstatement may be in order. A scientific and polite approach should spell out why the authors disagree, never losing sight of the reviewer’s opinion ( 19 ).
The footer section (closing salutation) of the letter returns to polite formalities, using statements like “we hope that the revised version of our manuscript is now acceptable to the reviewers, and suitable for publication in the [name of journal], we look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience” ( 10 ).
4. Organization
Although it is not a rule, the cover letter’s content can be organized within a cover letter header (opening salutation), three main paragraphs (the body of cover letter), and a cover letter footer (closing salutation), as described in Table 1 .
The cover letter should be initiated by addressing the editor (s) and the target journal; however, the author’s affiliation and contact information may also be included at the top of page ( 4 ). The name of the editor (s) can be easily found on the journal’s information page. If it is known, the authors must address the editor who will receive the manuscript and handle the peer-review process ( 13 ). If there are several co-editors, the person the author feels has the most appropriate background, and specialty of the topic should be addressed. In cases where such information is lacking, authors can mention all editors by name or address the letter to “dear editors” ( 12 ); however, it has been recommended to avoid writing “dear editor” ( 16 ). Also, the submission date and the journal’s name where the manuscript will be submitted are required ( 13 ).
In the first paragraph of the cover letter body, to introduce the submitted work, the title and the type of manuscript, authors’ name, journal name, and manuscript length are presented ( 4 ). In addition, it is mentioned that whether the manuscript is submitted upon an invitation or belongs to a special issue. The importance of the study, including novelty, potential implications, and its take-home message, are addressed in the second paragraph of the cover letter body. In addition, it is explained why the work would be attractive for journal readers. The third paragraph of the cover letter body includes some statements including authorship agreement, conflicts of interest, funding source, and ethical considerations. If required, potential reviewers are also suggested here.
Within the closing salutation, the authors can appreciate the editor for taking the time to read the cover letter and considering the submitted work for potential publication.
5. Some Practical Tips: The Length, and Dos and Don’ts
The authors need to spend plenty of time crafting their cover letters. They are advised to avoid too many details and keep it within one page (less than 200 words), like an introduction or a brief overview ( 4 , 11 ). The authors should check the guide for authors and cover letter suggestions provided by the journal, including all the requirements, e.g., specific disclosures, statements, and potential reviewers. Some publishers (e.g., Springer, https://www.springer.com/gp/authors-editors/journal-author/cover-letters/1398, Taylor & Francis, https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/publishing-your-research/making-your submission/writing-a-journal-article-cover-letter/) provide sample cover letters that the authors can use. Figure 1 provides a sample for a cover letter.
If the authors address previously published papers in the cover letter, then appropriate citation should be considered. The authors should carefully check the letter for any spelling and grammatical errors ( 11 , 20 ). They should make sure that they correctly spell the name of the journal’s editor (s) ( 4 ). Being careless regarding the editor’s name or the change of a journal’s name in a cover letter of a resubmitted manuscript, can be embarrassing and make a bad impression ( 4 ). It is suggested that the cover letter be written on the authors’ institutional letterhead to display professionalism and reliability ( 20 , 21 ).
5.2. Don’ts
When authors suggest a number of potential reviewers, they should avoid suggesting their friends and colleagues, as this would be viewed as a conflict of interest. Collaborators whom the authors have published with in the past five years should not be suggested either; an editor may easily be informed of such associations by a quick search of PubMed or other databases ( 22 ). The authors should avoid using complex sentence structures, jargon, and acronyms and keep the text straightforward and easy to read ( 11 , 20 ). The authors should also avoid including unrelated personal information or glorifying their past research papers or any of their academic accolades ( 20 ). They must not be rude towards the editors or complement the editor’s accomplishments ( 4 ). The novelty statement should not exaggerate or overstate the findings of the work; furthermore, any conclusion stated should be completely supported by the data provided in the manuscript ( 23 ). Finally, authors are recommended not to write a generic cover letter that could be used for any manuscript and could be sent to any journal ( 21 ).
6. Conclusion
In summary, a cover letter should highlight the novelty, importance, take-home message, and goodness-of-fit of the manuscript to the journal. These are critical information that can persuade an editor that the submitted work merits publication consideration in the journal. The cover letter should not be general but should be custom-written for the target journal. Although the submitted manuscript may usually pass through the peer-review process and get published regardless of the cover letter, a well-written, informative, and concise cover letter increases the chance of gaining acceptance.
Authors' Contribution: Study concept and design, Zahra Bahadoran and Asghar Ghasemi; Drafting of the manuscript, Zahra Bahadoran, Parvin Mirmiran, and Asghar Ghasemi; Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, Khosrow Kashfi and Parvin Mirmiran.
Conflict of Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest.
Funding/Support: This study was supported by the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (grant number 28127).
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Submitting your manuscript: Write the right cover letter
It may seem obvious, but a journal editor's first serious impression of a submitted manuscript lies not only with the article title but also, rather simply, with the cover letter . The cover letter is your first "formal" interaction with a journal, and it embodies a request, so to speak, to consider your article for publication. But it also provides you with an excellent opportunity to present the significance of your scientific contribution.
I've worked as an editor for primary research and review manuscripts alike, and despite their many similarities, there are distinctions to writing the cover letter for each. Here are some helpful tips for writing a suitable cover letter for Cell Press scientific journals.
Cover letter basics: What do we look for?
1. Let's start with content. We look for letters that start by succinctly explaining what was previously known in a given field and then state the authors' motivation for wishing to publish. Following that, the conceptual advance , timeliness, and novelty should be immediately conveyed. What sets apart this scientific contribution? What is the significance of the work, and where does the article lead us? Will this research be of interest to a broad readership?
2. Get to the point. We want a concise letter that quickly gets to the main point and the take-home message; this sets the stage for your manuscript. Succinctly explain the topic of discussion, and quickly convey the key conclusions. Do not submit a long dissertation. Generally, one page suffices and is preferred.
3. Do not rehash the abstract of the paper. Copying and pasting the abstract into your cover letter verbatim is a big no-no. Instead, we seek a synthesis of the key points—possibly, and depending on style, the summary might resemble a brief story pitch in an elevator! But importantly, you need to venture beyond the summary: write a sentence that takes you further than the obvious conclusions. How does the content move the field forward? Are the implications far-reaching?
4. Get excited! Authors' excitement about their scientific contributions can undoubtedly inspire the editor who's reading the cover letter. Overall, the sentiment of "you're gonna love reading this paper!" should seep through—make that happen!
5. Include a wish list of reviewers. Relevant information on potential reviewers (including their field of expertise) can be included and is definitely a plus, as it can be quite helpful to the editor. By contrast, please don't provide a long list of excluded reviewers (three maximum), and most certainly do not suggest excluding authors from entire continents on the map! Also, save the editor some time by specifying which author should be the lead contact , and indicate their affiliation.
6. Keep it simple ... and humble. In terms of style, consider sincerity and simplicity . The letter should be humble and forthcoming; don't be ostentatious or florid. Claims of priority, if not fully supported, tend to be a turnoff. In addition, statements indicating that the article or related findings have been presented at X number of conferences and are "tremendously" well received by the scientific community—or otherwise—do not add much to the cover letter. They might instead suggest right off the bat that a lot of cooing and convincing of the journal editor will be required. So let the "science" speak for itself. Also, a statement declaring that the article is original and isn't being considered elsewhere can only add to your cause!
7. Proofread your letter by checking the spelling, grammar, and syntax. A well-written letter indicates that you take your submission seriously and that you are an author who pays attention to detail.
8. Check every detail. Avoid mistakes such as directing the cover letter to the editor(s) of a different journal, or to a different journal altogether. This might suggest that you've submitted your article elsewhere, that it might have been poorly received, and perhaps that the Cell Press journal you're submitting to isn't your first choice. It could also suggest that you don't pay sufficient attention to detail. Sadly, these sorts of errors continue to surprise me and happen more often than I would like.
The cover letter: Primary research or Trends reviews?
There are subtle differences in writing a cover letter for a primary research journal versus a reviews journal, such as the Trends journals at Cell Press.
Many different article formats exist within both the primary research journals and the Trends journals. Make sure it's very clear which type of format you're submitting. As the Editor of Trends in Molecular Medicine , I find that this detail is not always specified by the author(s) in the cover letter. Knowing what type of manuscript you are submitting can help you fully nail down the cover letter in terms of the intent, scope, and take-home message of the article. It also recapitulates your prior agreement with the editor regarding article format: is it a review or an opinion piece?
Along these lines, the content of your cover letter will differ for a review or opinion piece as opposed to an original research contribution. For both, the timeliness and novelty need to strongly come across. However, for a research article, the specific advance relative to previous experimental findings needs to be clearly indicated. For a Trends article, the synthesis and conceptual advance should be particularly stated in terms of what is new and has been trending in the field for the last one to five years. For an opinion piece, take a strong and novel stance on a hypothesis or idea. Projecting into the future, beyond the main take-home message of the paper, is also a strong consideration for Trends articles.
I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the journal that you are submitting to—browse through the journal website and do your homework on author guidelines and the scope of the journal prior to submission! In the case of Trends journals, know who the editor is. Each Trends journal is run by a single editor, so beginning your cover letter with "Dear Madam" when the editor is male, or "Dear Sir" when the editor is female, may not create a favorable impression. While such mistakes are usually overruled by the content and quality of the science, it certainly helps to have your cover letter completely in order!
Keep on writing—we love hearing from you and receiving your submissions! For more tips on writing cover letters for scientific manuscripts, check out this page . Also read more from Cell Press Editor in Chief Emilie Marcus on when—and when not—to submit your paper .
Posted by Catarina Sacristán Catarina is the Editor of Trends in Molecular Medicine . She received her PhD in immunology from Tufts University, followed by postdoctoral research in Mexico and at NYU. She also did a stint in cardiovascular research at a biomedical engineering firm. She enjoys thinking about immunology, genetics, signaling, imaging, virology, metabolism, neuroscience, cancer, therapeutics, and more. She came to Cell Press from The Journal of Experimental Medicine . A movie buff, she also loves to read, write, ski, horseback ride. and dance.
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What a Cover Letter for Journal Submission Should Include
When you have been editing, re-editing and proof-reading your manuscript multiple times, it’s easy to forget that there is another thing you should do before you submit it: writing a cover letter. A question that my clients often ask me is: What should cover letters for journal submissions include and what do journal editors absolutely not see in there?
To answer these common questions, I chatted about cover letters with a friend of mine, Dr. Paul Woods. He is an editor with the journal Nature Astronomy and receives cover letters every day.
Paul, why are cover letters for journals so important?
Cover letters are a place for direct communication to the editor dealing with your paper, and they are not seen by reviewers, so they’re a perfect place for frank and open communication.
That sounds like an opportunity one shouldn’t miss out on. What mistakes do authors make in their cover letters?
There are no really critical mistakes, but, for instance, I don’t need to see the abstract, I can read it in the manuscript. Same holds for an author list with their list of affiliations (unless the authors have opted for double-blind peer review). Never ever just copy-paste the entire paper in the cover letter… Yes, some people do this.
How to write a cover letter for journal submission
It’s good to know what not to do. So, how can authors do it right and use the space in a cover letter in the best way?
I would like to see a concise summary of the work that has been performed. One or two paragraphs are ideal. In Nature Astronomy, the author is also required to indicate how the work or the results make an improvement over previous work, that is, other refereed papers in the literature. More specialist journals might not have this strict requirement. The authors can be explicit here – I appreciate things like “Our results are more robust than XXX et al. because they didn’t do any completeness tests, whereas we perform these in a couple of ways (see Methods section).”
Why do you recommend to point this out?
Knowing these things not only helps me to assess the impact of the work, but also to spot whether the reviewers have fully appreciated the level of advance that the current paper makes.
Is there anything else authors should write in their cover letter?
I like to see suggestions for good referees who will appreciate the topic and importance of the work. But don’t give a list of colleagues and collaborators… Editors do check! On this note, I also welcome suggestions for referees to avoid because of some professional conflict.
The cover letter is also the right place to communicate relevant information of organisational nature. For example, if there are time pressures or restrictions on the publication of the manuscript. Do mention if there is a companion manuscript with which publication has to be synchronised. Nature Astronomy doesn’t do series, but if your manuscript is part of one, it might be useful to tell the editor in the cover letter.
Thank you very much for all these insights, Paul.
For more tips to increase your chances to get accepted in a high-impact journal, click here .
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Writing a persuasive cover letter for your manuscript
Anthony Newman
Lora Heisler
About this video
Submitting your manuscript without a cover letter or an incomplete one can impact the outcome of your submission. Strong cover letters efficiently introduce your work to the editor, but also communicates why your paper is of interest to the journal audience and contributory to overall science.
In this Researcher Academy module, experts Anthony Newman and Lora Heisler give you important insights about writing strong and persuasive cover letters. This webinar will give an exhaustive check list on writing an effective cover letter which brings attention to your paper and helps it get published.
You will come away with the knowledge of what cover letters are, how they support your manuscript and how you can write an airtight cover letter, covering your research scope, objectives and goals.
About the presenters
Senior Publisher, Life Sciences, Elsevier
Anthony Newman is a Senior Publisher with Elsevier and is based in Amsterdam. Each year he presents numerous Author Workshops and other similar trainings worldwide. He is currently responsible for fifteen biochemistry and laboratory medicine journals, he joined Elsevier over thirty years ago and has been Publisher for more than twenty of those years. Before then he was the marketing communications manager for the biochemistry journals of Elsevier. By training he is a polymer chemist and was active in the surface coating industry before leaving London and moving to Amsterdam in 1987 to join Elsevier.
Chair in Human Nutrition, The Rowett Institute, The Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen.
Lora Heisler, Ph.D. is Chair in Human Nutrition at the Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, where she is Head of the Obesity and Food Choice research theme. Professor Heisler has enjoyed being an active member of various journal editorial boards for more than a decade. She was appointed as Deputy Editor of Elsevier’s journal Molecular Metabolism in 2018. Professor Heisler received her B.A. from Boston University, M.Sc. from London School of Economics and Political Sciences and Ph.D. from Tufts University. She undertook postdoctoral fellowships at the University of California at San Francisco and Beth Israel Deaconess/Harvard Medical School. Professor Heisler began her independent research group at Harvard Medical School and then relocated to the University of Cambridge in the UK. Her active research group moved to the Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen in 2013 where they investigate the neurobiology of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
What should be included in a cover letter?
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Three Cover Letter Templates to Journal Editors
Posted by Rene Tetzner | Aug 26, 2021 | How To Get Published | 0 |
Three Cover Letter Templates to Journal Editors Each cover letter is unique, and those addressed to journal editors by scientists and academics when they submit their writing for publication are no exception. As an opportunity to present original research in the best possible light, a cover letter is indispensible for persuading a busy editor that a manuscript is worthy of peer review. A letter can only achieve this goal, however, if it is well written, contains everything the particular journal’s author instructions request for cover letters and offers specific and detailed information about why the research reported and the paper itself are perfect for the journal and of special interest to its readers. The originality that should characterise an excellent cover letter therefore prevents the wholesale use of a universal template without significant alterations, but the three sample letters that appear below may prove helpful for scholars who are planning, formatting and drafting a professional cover letter to a journal editor.
The content of the three sample letters is entirely fictional, with the dates, names, titles and situations invented. The specifics pertinent to your own research, your manuscript and the journal you are targeting will give you the raw material to emulate these templates. The format of a traditional business letter has been observed, so contact information for the authors and editors has been provided as complete mailing addresses. This formality may not be strictly necessary when communicating with a journal editor via email, where such details are often truncated, but the complete forms are always acceptable, and proper names and titles are a necessity. If possible, the official letterhead of the university, department or other research body with which you are affiliated should be used along with your name, phone number and professional email address.
Descriptions of the research and manuscript in each of the three examples have been kept simple so that the meaning will be clear to readers of all specialisations, but there are certainly successful cover letters that delve into a good deal more detail. Letter 2 below, for instance, might productively say more about the specific lights used and tomato plants grown and provide numbers and percentages as well. Do keep in mind, however, that the clarity and accessibility offered by a short and simple approach is also valuable, particularly when writing to an editor who may not share your precise specialisation.
Letter 1 adopts the perspective of a doctoral candidate who has rewritten the literature review chapter of his thesis as a bibliographical study and is seeking publication for the first time. Letter 2 introduces a research paper written by several authors and demonstrates how to act as the corresponding author when submitting a multi-author manuscript. Letter 3 posits that the author met the journal editor at a recent conference where an earlier version of the paper now being submitted for a theme issue of the journal was presented.
Download –> Letter 1: A Doctoral Candidate Seeking His First Publication
Joe Student Department of English University of the Western Shore San Francisco, CA, USA 98765 777-999-8888 [email protected]
Dr. Brian Editing Editor-in-Chief Journal of Analytical Middle English Bibliography New York, NY, USA 12345 [email protected]
November 8, 2017
Dear Dr. Editing,
I am writing to submit my article entitled ‘A Bibliography of Hoccleve Studies from the Fifteenth Century to 2017: Patterns of Readership and Response’ for publication in the Journal of Analytical Middle English Bibliography . This manuscript is based on a chapter of my doctoral thesis, supervised by Dr Hoccleve Specialist, and has not been published or submitted elsewhere for consideration.
I believe this manuscript is appropriate for the Journal of Analytical Middle English Bibliography because it combines a complete list and critical summary of previous studies with an in-depth analysis of not only individual contributions, but also the larger patterns of scholarship and their possible significance through the centuries. As I argue in the paper, the autobiographical nature of Hoccleve’s writing and the bouts of madness he claims to have experienced are topics upon which perspectives and approaches swing on a particularly long pendulum. Shifts in opinion regarding the literary quality of Hoccleve’s poetry are similarly striking. Current trends and the annotated Hoccleve bibliography will likely prove of special interest to many of your readers, enabling future research and encouraging scholarly self-awareness.
If you decide to consider the manuscript for publication, I suggest the following two experts as qualified reviewers:
Dr. Medieval Scholarship Professor of English, Southern University [email protected]
Dr. Manuscript Expert Director of Medieval Studies, Northern University [email protected]
Many thanks for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.
Joe Student
Joe Student Ph.D. Candidate and Teaching Assistant Department of English University of the Western Shore
Download –> Letter 2: A Corresponding Author Submitting an Article Written by Several Researchers
Jane Researcher Private Plant Research Institute 9201 Pink Greenhouse Place Coquitlam, BC, Canada, V0V 1A1 604-604-6044 [email protected]
Dr Samuel Botanist Managing Editor Growing Our Greenhouse: A Journal of Current Research 2020 Glass Hill Colorado Springs, CO, USA, 59678 [email protected]
November 22, 2017
Dear Dr Botanist,
I am delighted to submit an original research article entitled ‘LED Lights Increase Vitamin C Content in Greenhouse Cherry Tomatoes’ for publication in Growing Our Greenhouse: A Journal of Current Research . My colleagues and I at the Private Plant Research Institute in Coquitlam conducted the research and coauthored the manuscript; a full list of the names and affiliations of all ten coauthors is attached. We have all approved the manuscript for submission to Growing Our Greenhouse , and I have been chosen as the corresponding author.
The article is particularly appropriate for the journal’s section dedicated to the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. It is, in fact, a continuation of the research presented in our article ‘Can LED Lights Really Replace the Sun for Tomatoes?’ which was published in that section of Growing Our Greenhouse two years ago. Then we were analysing the results of our first two seasons of growing tomatoes under LED lights. One of the unexpected discoveries we made as we determined which plants and lights produced the best results was that vitamin C content appeared to increase when the ripening fruit was exposed to LED light.
The research reported in the manuscript I am submitting today was designed to investigate further the apparent increases in vitamin C. Its methodology is similar to that of our earlier study, but we used only those cherry tomato plants that we had already shown could thrive under LED lights. We also established a larger number of experimental groups to explore the effects of variables such as light colour, light intensity, hours of exposure, ambient temperature and presence or absence of sunlight. Our findings were convincing to say the least, with vitamin C content doubling and sometimes trebling in fruit exposed to additional LED light. Even fruit given only LED lighting and deprived of all natural sunlight far exceeded the vitamin C content of those tomatoes exposed to natural sunlight alone.
We trust that your readers will find our hands-on empirical method as effective as they have in the past and benefit from our practices and discoveries as they grow and experiment in their own greenhouses.
Thank you for your continuing interest and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Jane Researcher
Jane Researcher Research Director, Private Plant Research Institute
Download –> Letter 3: A Conference Participant Submitting a Paper to the Journal Editor She Met
Sheila Presenter Chair, School of Business Management Yorkshire University 2121 University Road York, North Yorkshire, UK, YO33 7EE 01904 323232 [email protected]
Dr Margaret Publisher Editor-in-Chief Journal of Innovative Business Studies 178B West Central Avenue London, UK, EC9M 6BB [email protected]
25 November 2017
Dear Dr Publisher,
It was a pleasure meeting you and discussing our similar interests at the Business Management conference in London a couple of weeks ago. As promised, I have revised my presentation and am submitting it for your consideration for the upcoming issue of the Journal of Innovative Business Studies dedicated to management innovations. The new title of the manuscript is ‘Empathy as a Management Strategy Yields Significant Increases in Efficiency and Productivity.’
You might recall that we discussed the challenges of reshaping my presentation, which was designed to generate in conference attendees the emotional responses it discusses, to conform to the structural requirements of the Journal of Innovative Business Studies . The journal’s author instructions were actually very helpful, and I believe the overall argument of the paper is now clearer as a result of the rearrangement. I also took a look at the recent Journal of Innovative Business Studies articles by Sally Scholar and John Researcher that you recommended. The former was particularly helpful and I have cited it more than once in my closing discussion. That discussion has benefited significantly from our long talk at the conference and I hope you do not object to my acknowledgement of your insight.
As you know, the research presented in the manuscript is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere. My methods comply with the journal’s ethical standards, I have no conflicts of interest to disclose and I have removed all traces of my identity in preparation for blind review. I would respectfully request that Stephen Harsh not review the manuscript, however. His knowledge in this area is extensive, but you may remember from his comments at the conference that he does not share my approach to management or view my recent research with a positive eye. I believe the following two experts would serve as more appropriate reviewers of my paper:
Frederick Newapproach CEO, Management Innovations UK Inc. [email protected] Samantha Kindheart Chair, Department of Business Management University of the Wolds [email protected]
I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming conference in Leeds. In the meantime, let me take this opportunity to thank you for your interest and consideration.
Best regards,
Sheila Presenter
Sheila Presenter Chair, School of Business Management Yorkshire University
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Writing effective cover letters for journal submissions: Tips and a Word template
When you need to submit a cover letter with your manuscript, you'll probably write it just before submission. Like many other authors, you may find yourself wondering what to write and taking longer than you expected, causing last-minute delays and stress.
To help you write effective cover letters—and to write them quickly and easily—in this article we offer some tips on layout and appropriate wording. Also, you can download our template cover letter (Word file) to help you save time writing and help you remember to include standard author statements and other information commonly required by journals.
If you are submitting a revised paper to the same journal, note that the response letter to the reviewers is different from the cover letter used at initial submission. You can find tips and a template on writing effective response letters to the reviewers in our previous article .
Many journals require a cover letter and state this in their guidelines for authors (alternatively known as author guidelines, information for authors, guide for authors, guidelines for papers, submission guide, etc.). For some journals, a cover letter is optional or may not be not required, but it's probably a good idea to include one.
Why do some journals ask for cover letters?
Cover letters can be helpful to journal staff in the following ways.
1. Cover letters that include standard statements required by the journal allow the journal staff to quickly confirm that the authors have (or say they have) followed certain ethical research and publishing practices.
These statements assert that the authors followed standard practices, which may include (i) adhering to ethical guidelines for research involving humans ( Declaration of Helsinki ), involving animals ( ARRIVE guidelines ), or falling under institutional guidelines; (ii) obtaining ethics approval from institutional review boards or ethics committees; (iii) obtaining informed consent or assent from participants; (iv) complying with authorship criteria (e.g., ICMJE criteria ); (v) confirming no duplicate submissions have been made; and (vi) recommending reviewers for your paper, which may include specifying peers that you prefer not be contacted.
2. Cover letters can summarize your manuscript quickly for the journal editor, highlighting your most important findings and their implications to show why your manuscript would be of interest.
Some journals, such as Nature, state that while a cover letter is optional, it provides "an excellent opportunity to briefly discuss the importance of the submitted work and why it is appropriate for the journal." Some publishers, such as Springer , recommend that you write a cover letter to help "sell" your manuscript to the journal editor.
3. Cover letters that contain all of the information required by the journal (as stated in the guideline for authors) can indicate that you have spent time carefully formatting the manuscript to fit the journal's style. This creates a good first impression. Addressing the letter to a named editor at the journal also shows that you took the time to write your letter (and by extension, your manuscript) with care and considered the fit with the journal beyond just impact factor.
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What makes an effective cover letter?
Cover letters should be short—preferably no more than 1 page—and they often use single line spacing. The content can be broadly divided into six sections:
- Addressee's information and date of submission
- Opening salutation
- Purpose statement and administrative information
- Summary of main research findings and implications
- Statements or information required by the journal
- Closing salutation and your contact information
Let's look at some tips for each section. And don't forget to download the template , which shows these tips already in place.
1. Addressee's information and date of submission
- Check the journal's website for the name of the editor who handles submissions; this could be the Managing Editor or an editor assigned to your geographical region. If no handling editor is named, address your cover letter to the Editor-in-Chief. Some journals ask that you identify a specific editor for your specialty.
- Write the name of the addressee in the top left corner of the page.
- Write the date beneath. To minimize the number of line breaks used in your cover letter (and help keep it to one page of text), you can put the date to the right if you wish.
- Note that dates written as numerals only can be confusing: 02/03/2017 can be read "2 March 2017" in British and "3 February 2017" in American English. Using the format "3 February 2017" or "February 3, 2017" is clear.
2. Opening salutation
- Write the title and last name of the addressee (exclude the first name); for example, "Professor Brown" or "Dr. Baker" (British English: "Dr Baker").
- If you can't find a named editor on the journal website, then you can use the opening salutation "Dear Editor".
- At the end of the opening salutation, you can use a comma or a colon; that is, "Dear Dr. Baker," or "Dear Dr. Baker:" (British English uses the comma; American English uses either, but the colon is considered more formal).
3. Purpose statement and administrative information
- Clearly state the purpose of your letter (that you are submitting a manuscript) and then state your manuscript title, author names (or first author "Brown et al."), and article type (e.g., original paper).
- Be sure to use the journal's own terminology to refer to the article type; for example, some journals use the term "Regular Articles" for a full research paper, whereas others use "Original Submissions", "Full Papers", "Original Articles", among others.
- See the downloadable Word template for an example sentence that presents this information clearly and concisely.
- If your submission consists of many files, consider summarizing them in one short sentence so that the journal editor is sure all of the files have been received; for example, "There are 8 files in all: 1 main manuscript file, 1 highlights file, 3 figure files, 1 table file, 1 supplementary data file, and 1 supplementary figures file".
4. Summary of main research findings and implications
- In a new paragraph, summarize the purpose of your research (the research gap or problem it addresses), the main findings, and finally the implications of these findings. This is your main chance to highlight the value of your work to the journal editor, so keep this short and focused. (Journal editors may receive thousands of submissions annually, and many fulfill editing duties on top of their own research and teaching schedule, so you should strive to make their jobs easier by providing as concise a summary as possible.)
- Be sure to tailor your statements so that they're in line with the readership of the journal. For example, if you are submitting to a more general journal that has a diverse readership, underscore the possible impact your findings could have in multiple fields. Conversely, if you are submitting to a publication with narrow scope, you can write about your findings in highly focused terms.
- Avoid simply reproducing sentences verbatim from the abstract—which the journal editor will likely read next. Instead, if you take sentences from your abstract as a base to work from, then try to craft a much shorter summary that clearly fits the journal's focus and that highlights the implications of your work for the journal's readers. In fact, Nature guidelines state specifically to "avoid repeating information that is already present in the abstract and introduction."
- When stating that you think your work is a good fit for the journal, be sure not to use exaggerated flattery. Avoid using words like "esteemed" and "prestigious" to describe the journal: "We believe that these findings will be of interest to the readers of your esteemed/prestigious journal."
- It's helpful to the journal editor to state if your work directly relates to a paper published by another author in the same journal. Also, mention if your study closely relates to or extends your previously published work, so it is clear why your submitted manuscript is novel or important enough to publish.
Common phrases in this paragraph:
Summarizing the purpose of your research
- This study presents/summarizes/examines…
- X remains a problem for (engineers/software developers/local government). In this study, we (examined/investigated/developed and tested)…
Presenting your main results
- Our main findings/results were that…
- The most interesting/important findings were that…
- Most importantly, our findings can improve/reduce/help…
Highlighting the relevance of your findings
- These findings should enable (engineers/doctors/local government) to…
- We believe that these findings will be of interest to the readers of your journal.
5. Statements or information required by the journal
- In this new paragraph, provide any statements that the journal requires be included in your cover letter. Be sure to review the journal's guidelines to know what information you should provide.
- Some journals or publishers have very specific requirements. For example, PLOS requires that authors describe any prior interactions with the journal in the cover letter, as well as suggest appropriate Academic Editors from the journal's editorial board to handle the submission.
- Some journals require that sentences are provided verbatim in the cover letter. The guidelines will tell you to copy and paste the sentence provided in quotation marks into the cover letter. For example, Springer states that cover letters should contain two specific sentences: "We confirm that this manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal" and "All authors have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission to [insert the name of the target journal]."
- Several statements pertaining to research and publication ethics are commonly required by journals across a broad range of fields. These are given in our downloadable Word template . When using the template, you can retain the statements in full, revise them slightly as appropriate to your circumstances, replace them with any similar wording required by the journal, or delete them if they do not fit your specific situation.
Previous contact with the journal
- We state that we have had no previous contact with the journal regarding this submission.
- We previously contacted the journal to inquire about/to check whether…
Conflict of interests and financial disclosures
- The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
- X.Y. advises Company A and has received lecture fees from Company B.
- This study was supported by a grant from Z.
- No financial support was received for this study/work.
- A.B. conceived the study, analyzed the data, and drafted the manuscript; C.D. analyzed the data…
- All authors have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission to the journal.
- All authors approved the final version of the manuscript and agree to be accountable for all aspects of this work.
Suggested reviewers
- Potential reviewers for our manuscript are:
- We believe that the following individual(s) would be well suited to reviewing our manuscript.
Request to exclude reviewers
- We request that the following individual(s) not be approached to review our manuscript (because…).
Concurrent/duplicate submissions
- We declare that this manuscript has not been published before, in whole or in part, and is not currently being considered for publication elsewhere.
- This study was presented in part at…
- This study was previously published in Japanese (citation) and…
6. Closing salutation and your contact information
- Briefly thank the journal editor for considering the manuscript and follow this with the full contact information of the corresponding author (name, academic degrees or professional qualifications; affiliation and postal address; telephone (and fax); email).
- Be sure to maintain a collegial tone to leave the journal editor with the best impression as he or she finishes reading your cover letter and moves on to evaluate your manuscript.
- Avoid statements that could be construed as presuming to give instructions to the editor. For example, "we look forward to your review of our manuscript" implicitly directs the editor to review your paper. Also, we look forward to hearing from you "at your earliest convenience/as soon as possible" implicitly directs the editor to communicate with you quickly; instead, simply use a neutral but polite phrase such as "we look forward to hearing from you" or "we look forward to hearing from you in due course".
- A suitable closing salutation is "Sincerely," or "Yours sincerely,"
Although the cover letter is not, strictly speaking, a part of your manuscript, it can affect how your submission is perceived by the journal editor. A cover letter that is tailored to the journal, introduces your work persuasively, and is free from spelling and grammatical errors can help prime the editor to view your submission positively before he or she even looks over your manuscript.
We hope our tips and Word template can help you create professional, complete cover letters in a time-effective way. Our specialist editors, translators, and writers are available to help create or revise the content to be error-free and, as part of our additional comprehensive Guidelines for Authors service , we can ensure the cover letter includes all of the statements required by the journal.
Lastly, just as a reminder for members of ThinkSCIENCE's free annual rewards program , remember to claim your reward of free editing or translation of one cover letter alongside editing or translation of a full paper before the end of the March!
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When writing for publication, a well-written cover letter can help your paper reach the next stage of the manuscript submission process - being sent out for peer review. So it's worth spending time thinking about how to write a cover letter to the journal editor, to make sure it's going to be effective.
A cover letter is often the first thing an editor reads when reviewing your submission. As your first pitch to the editor, the cover letter helps them gauge the suitability of your manuscript for publication in their journal. ... briefly explain your paper's central theme or focus to give the editor an idea of its contents. Ensure this stays ...
These 15 sample cover letters demonstrate the diverse range of topics, research designs, and perspectives that can be effectively communicated to journal editors. By highlighting the significance, novelty, and relevance of their work, these cover letters make a compelling case for why the submitted articles deserve to be considered for ...
Here are nine steps to help you compose a cover letter when submitting your research paper to a professional journal: 1. Set up the formatting. Set up your word processor to format your cover letter correctly. Formatting standards for research paper cover letters usually include: Using single spacing between each line.
The following is an example of a poor cover letter: Dear Editor-in-Chief, I am sending you our manuscript entitled "Large Scale Analysis of Cell Cycle Regulators in bladder cancer" by Researcher et al. We would like to have the manuscript considered for publication in Pathobiology. Please let me know of your decision at your earliest ...
Keep all text left justified. Use spelling and grammar check software. If needed, use a proofreading service or cover letter editing service such as Wordvice to review your letter for clarity and concision. Double-check the editor's name. Call the journal to confirm if necessary.
Keep your cover letter concise, ideally to a maximum of one page. Every sentence should serve a purpose, whether it's establishing the significance of your research, demonstrating its fit with the journal, or ensuring ethical compliance. Remember, a well-written cover letter can make a significant difference in how your manuscript is perceived.
When closing a cover letter for journal submission, it's important to maintain a professional and courteous tone. A common closing salutation is "Sincerely," followed by your name. However, some alternatives that are also appropriate include "Best regards," "Thank you for your time and consideration," or "Respectfully.".
A cover letter should be written like a standard business letter: Address the editor formally by name, if known. Include your contact information, as well. This information is probably available through the journal's online submission system, but it is proper to provide it in the cover letter, too. Begin your cover letter with a paragraph that ...
Creating a cover letter that withstands the scrutiny of journal editors and reviewers requires insight and finesse. Here are expert tips to fortify your cover letter against potential revisions: Tailor Your Message. Customize your effective cover letter for each journal submission.
A compelling cover letter should convince the editor that your findings are novel and significant to your field of study and that your study is appropriate for their journal. A cover letter mentioning just the basic information—title of the paper, journal name, and contact details of the corresponding author—adds little value to submission.
Why you need a cover letter for manuscript submission. To compel: Like writing a professional cover letter when applying for a job, a manuscript cover letter should be written persuasively to help point out all the noteworthy qualities of the manuscript. A well-written cover letter can help your paper reach the next stage following the ...
3. Motivation for submitting to the journal: After the short summary, add a sentence regarding the suitability of your study for the journal.Write about how it matches the journal scope and why the readers will find it interesting. 4. Ethical approval: The cover letter for your research paper should mention whether the study was approved by the institutional review board, in case of any ...
Authors usually must include a cover letter when they first submit their manuscript to a journal for publication.The cover letter is typically uploaded as a separate file into the online submission portal for the journal (for more information on using an online submission portal, see Section 12.10 of the Publication Manual).. The cover letter should be addressed to the journal editor; any ...
Writing a cover letter. The cover letter gives you the opportunity to present an overview of your manuscript to the editor. Your cover letter should include. The objective and approach of your research. Any novel contributions reported. Why your manuscript should be published in this journal. Any special considerations about your submission.
Cover Letter for Journal Submission Checklist. Add your contact information, degree, name of the institution. List the editor's name, the name of the journal, address, and submission date. Greet the editor by name: Dear Mr./Mrs. XYZ. Say the title of your manuscript.
Dear Dr. Simpson, I am enclosing a submission to the Journal of Poetry and Psychology entitled "Poetry and the Cognitive Psychology of Metrical Constructs.". The manuscript is 40 pages long and includes four tables and two figures. I wish for the manuscript to be given a masked review. I request that my ex-partner [name blocked out] not be ...
3.1. First Cover Letter (Submit Letter) One point of view is that the cover letter's content should be covered in the manuscript's abstract ().A typical cover letter includes the name of editor (s) and the journal, date of submission, the characteristics of the manuscript (i.e., title, type of the manuscript, e.g., review, original, case report), the importance of the work and its ...
Proofread your letter by checking the spelling, grammar, and syntax. A well-written letter indicates that you take your submission seriously and that you are an author who pays attention to detail. 8. Check every detail. Avoid mistakes such as directing the cover letter to the editor (s) of a different journal, or to a different journal altogether.
The cover letter is also the right place to communicate relevant information of organisational nature. For example, if there are time pressures or restrictions on the publication of the manuscript. Do mention if there is a companion manuscript with which publication has to be synchronised. Nature Astronomy doesn't do series, but if your ...
Submitting your manuscript without a cover letter or an incomplete one can impact the outcome of your submission. Strong cover letters efficiently introduce your work to the editor, but also communicates why your paper is of interest to the journal audience and contributory to overall science. In this Researcher Academy module, experts Anthony Newman and Lora Heisler give you important ...
Jane Researcher. Research Director, Private Plant Research Institute. Download -> Letter 3: A Conference Participant Submitting a Paper to the Journal Editor She Met. Sheila Presenter. Chair, School of Business Management. Yorkshire University. 2121 University Road. York, North Yorkshire, UK, YO33 7EE. 01904 323232.
Use a professional letter format (i.e., address the correct audience, state your purpose, and be signed by the author(s) of the manuscript) for your cover letter. Use a professional tone (i.e., use polite wording throughout the cover letter and response to reviewers, including when making your case for choosing not to follow a reviewer's ...
Cover letters can be submitted as normal text files, such as Word, or input directly in a field in the journal's online submission system. Let's look at some tips for each section. And don't forget to download the template, which shows these tips already in place. 1. Addressee's information and date of submission.