No one likes to be rejected. However, the sad truth is that research authors have to deal with their fair share of rejection, some more than others. A discouraging study on submissions from 18 countries revealed that journal rejection rates can range from 22.6% to 73.4%, depending on the journal they submit to.1 In fact, top journals in the scholarly publishing world are known to reject more than 90% of the manuscript submitted, across research fields.2 With such daunting numbers, you may wonder how to avoid desk rejection and, more importantly, how do you find the courage and motivation to continue? America’s greatest inventor Thomas Edison once said, “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is to try just one more time.” This statement is given credence by data that shows at least 62% of manuscripts that are published have been rejected at least once before seeing success.3
When it comes to scholarly publishing, the reasons for desk rejection are more often than not within your control and can be easily avoided with a smart manuscript submission readiness check.Take a look at some of the most common mistakes that lead to rejection, along with expert tips and a smart solution to help authors understand how to avoid desk rejection and maximize chances of publication success.
Understand the key missteps authors to desk rejection with expert tips to maximize your chance for publication success.
Mistake 1: Not ensuring your manuscript is original, novel, and a good match forthe target journal’soverallaims and scope is a sure shot recipe for desk rejection.
Solution for researchers:
Mistake 2: Submitting a manuscript that is poorly presented with often avoidable language, grammar and spelling errors.
Solution for researchers:
Mistake 3: Falling prey to ethical malpractices, such as plagiarism, simultaneous submission, etc.
Solution for researchers:
Mistake 4: Flaws in project research methodology or study design
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Mistake 5: Not checking forinconsistencies and not keeping to the recommended manuscript length
Solution for researchers:
There can be many reasons for desk rejection, but these are just some of the most common mistakes for increased journal rejection rates. It’s important to remember that by putting in time to select the right journal, identifying the basis of your study, polishing the format and content of your manuscript, and following journal guidelines, authors can maximize their chance of acceptance. Think you’ve made all the right moves, but wondering if you can still optimize your paper? Find out today with Paperpal Preflight, the manuscript readiness check you need to submit with confidence.
References:
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