Submitting to a Journal: Ensuring Your Manuscripts Have a Stronger Impact
In the world of research, the presentation of data and statistics is crucial, and language plays a significant role in their interpretation. This article offers practical strategies for non-native English speakers to improve the quality of their manuscript submissions to academic journals.
Thorough Preparation and Planning
Authors should meticulously follow the specific submission guidelines of their target journal, including formatting requirements and ethical disclosures. Preparing a clear, well-structured cover letter and ensuring compliance with journal policies signal professionalism and improve editor reception.
Language and Writing Quality Support
Non-native English speakers can benefit significantly from using language support tools and professional editing services. While basic grammar-checking tools are standard, the use of AI or language models to assist with writing should be transparently disclosed upon manuscript submission if they contribute substantively to the manuscript content.
Peer Feedback and Review Before Submission
Engaging colleagues or mentors to review the manuscript can provide insights to improve content, argument structure, and language fluency, reducing avoidable errors and increasing manuscript quality.
Quality Improvement Mindset
Adopting a strategic quality improvement framework that includes assessment, planning, continuous revision, and optimization of the manuscript writing process can foster sustained improvements. This involves integrating feedback systematically, optimizing processes such as data analysis and figure preparation, and continually refining writing skills.
Ethical Transparency and Responsiveness
Disclosing the use of any AI tools as well as conflicts of interest ensures integrity in the submission. Authors should also be prepared to respond constructively to peer review comments during the revision phase.
Preparation for Successful Submissions
A 10-Point Manuscript Checklist can help ensure high-quality journal submissions. These AI services check manuscripts for technical requirements and language, providing suggestions to improve writing instantly. To improve the journal submission experience, researchers should not leave writing to the last minute.
Overcoming Desk Rejections
Researchers from countries where English is not the first language often face desk rejections when submitting to journals due to non-adherence to technical standards and language. To combat this, researchers should become familiar with the academic writing style required by journals and be aware of the journals' instructions for authors, including formatting and submission requirements.
The Importance of Clarity and Accuracy
Clarity and accuracy in writing can reflect positively on the quality of the research. For authors from non-native English-speaking countries, it may be beneficial to consult with a native English speaker or someone proficient in the language. Seeking feedback from peers can help researchers identify errors and improvements in their writing.
The Role of AI in Academic Writing
AI-powered tools are available for proofreading academic manuscripts, making them more efficient and affordable than human editing services. Our platform is an example of an AI-powered service tailored for academic writing across all disciplines.
Challenges in the Editorial Process
Journal editorial offices are finding it difficult to process the influx of manuscripts, resulting in more desk rejections and less time for peer review. Understanding the right audience is crucial in academic writing, and submitting a well-written manuscript can improve the chances of publication and enhance the researcher's professional reputation.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Research
The growth of research in scientific, technical, engineering, and medical (STEM) disciplines has been accelerated by COVID-19, leading to an increase in journal submissions globally. Non-native English speakers can leverage these strategies to navigate this competitive landscape and contribute their valuable research to the academic community.
In the process of academic writing, using AI-powered tools for proofreading can make the manuscripts more efficient and cost-effective compared to human editing services. (The Role of AI in Academic Writing)
Authors from non-native English-speaking countries should become familiar with the writing style required by journals and adhere to submission requirements to avoid desk rejections. (Overcoming Desk Rejections)
Engaging colleagues or mentors to review the manuscript can provide valuable insights to improve content, argument structure, and language fluency, reducing avoidable errors and increasing manuscript quality. (Peer Feedback and Review Before Submission)
