A journal cover letter usually accompanies the manuscript that you submit to your target journal. The journal cover letter is typically submitted through the journal’s online submission system.
It is usually written by the corresponding author, that is the author who is in charge of all correspondence associated with the manuscript. This includes correspondence with:
the journal editor before and after publication,
peer reviewers during the peer review process,
and interested readers who have questions after publication.
A cover letter includes the following information:
The type of submission: that is, a scientific paper or review article
Declarations that the work is original
Declarations that the work is not being considered by other journals
Confirmation that all the listed authors qualify to be listed
Declaration of no conflicts of interest on the part of authors
You should also make it known whether or not the scientific paper has appeared previously in other journal publications. This also includes other forms of publication such as gray literature. For example, a conference paper or thesis.
On some occasions, you may even mention a preferred peer reviewer for your paper or even suggest who you don’t want reviewing your paper. More importantly, you should provide a brief explanation as to why you think your scientific paper or research results are worthy of publication in the journal.
You should do so by considering both the scope of the journal and the importance of your research results.
Below is an example of a sample journal cover letter:
Example of journal cover letter |
Dear Dr. ______.
We have submitted this manuscript by Jack C. Lantern and Mary B. Francisco titled “Comparing the Fatty Acid Profile of Milk from Cows Fed on Natural Grasses vs Those Fed on Corn” for consideration to be published in the Journal of Nutrition Science.
This manuscript is new, is not being presently considered by any other journal, and reports and extends on findings that were previously published in the Journal of Animal Science. We strongly believe that this article falls within the scope of the Journal of Nutrition Science and contributes significantly to questions relating to how animal feed can indirectly affect human health.
In particular, it provides definite outcomes concerning the question of whether or not so-called "organic foods," defined here as dairy products from cows fed on natural pasture, are healthier than "non-organic foods," defined as dairy products from cows fed on commercial grains. We would be happy to see this manuscript published in the pages of your esteemed journal.
Sincerely,
Jack C. Lantern
How EminentEdit helps in publishing your journal paper
EminentEdit provides premium academic editing services to ensure that your journal paper is given the best possible chance to get published. We first begin with a clear communication process to ensure that we are on the same page. Take a look at our editing SOP below.
Our services don't just start with proofreading the final manuscript or document. It also includes helping you choose the appropriate journal and writing both letters to the journal and editor and responses to reviewers.
Peer review and response to the reviewers can be one of the most challenging aspects of reviewing a paper. It involves:
Responding with politeness even if you think reviewers are unfair
Repeating yourself to more than one reviewer
Defending your position or views in the face of objections
Our small team of editors have extensive experience as peer reviewers and as academics who have published several papers. Our editing and proofreading services include:
Proofreading and editing according to reviewer feedback
Help in answering peer reviewers
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Help with editing according to academic style guides such as APA, MLA, etc.
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We would be happy to help you go through all the stages of getting your journal paper published. For assistance, get in touch through our contact page here: CONTACT US AT EMINENT EDIT.
Cite this EminentEdit article |
Antoine, M. (2024, November 11). How to Write a Journal Cover Letter. https://www.eminentediting.com/post/how-to-write-a-journal-cover-letter |
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