editorial workflow
The editorial workflow of a journal from submission to decision involves two major processes, namely editorial screening and peer-review process. All manuscripts that are submitted to a journal undergoes initial editorial screening and the editors select only those submission which they consider to be suitable for the journal to send for the further peer-reviewing process. Journal editors are busy and usually have to make an initial decision on the suitability of a paper quickly. Here we intend to give a hint on the initial editorial screening process as it is important to know how the editors make their decisions that which submission shall be considered for peer-reviewing.
key elements
Journal editors do tend to look at certain key elements of the submission for a quick initial decision about whether to proceed further with the peer-reviewing process or not. When first faced with a manuscript they usually look at the topic whether the submission is in scope for the journal and of sufficient impact. Next, they look at formatting style, Availability of the author’s complete detail, article structure. Finally, they look at the cover letter, ethical compliance, content flow, and possible plagiarism to judge the suitability. Editors always aim to evaluate the novelty and significance of a paper against the expectations of the readership and the impact of the journal.
Journal editors want to publish high-quality research articles that are of interest to their readers.
Your submission is more likely to be processed for peer-reviewing if it-
- Is original, not plagiarized, and not submitted anywhere else for simultaneous consideration.
- Is within the scope of the journal.
- Contain complete author’s detail (in the manuscript as well as in the online submission system).
- Is properly formatted and structured as per author guidelines.
- Includes appropriate title, abstract, keywords, introduction, Main content, conclusion, figures, tables, and references. Is novel and describes research that advances the field.
- Is novel and describes research that advances the field.
- Is carefully prepared & presented with easy-to-follow sentences.
- Follows ethical standards in research and publications.
- Rely on scholarly contents with proper reference citation.
Before submitting your manuscript, thoroughly check its quality one more time that-
- The manuscript follows the Instructions for Authors.
- All files are in the correct file format and of the appropriate resolution or size.
- All figures & tables have proper numbering with the caption, described in the manuscript by referring to corresponding figure/table number, and inserted at an appropriate place.
- The spelling and grammar are correct.
- You have written a persuasive cover letter.
Editors are responsible for ensuring that an article corresponds with the journal’s style guides and quality expectations for readership. Usually, if all the mentioned aspects meet the satisfaction of the journal editor, your manuscript will be processed further and sent for peer-reviewing. Based on the peer reviewer’s recommendation the editor makes a final decision about the submission.
We hope that this post will give you an idea that What do journal editors want which will help you for preparing your next manuscript in an efficient and effective way.
