Top 5 reasons for desk rejection and how you can avoid this fate
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 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, 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
If your manuscript has been rejected, you are not alone. While you may have worked hard on your research, even papers with path-breaking findings can be rejected because of basic missteps that can be avoided with a manuscript submission readiness check. Learn about the common problems that lead to desk rejection, with practical tips and a smart AI solution that can propel you further on your journey to publication success.
How R Pubsure helps you submit with confidence
R Pubsure is a secure, quick and comprehensive manuscript submission readiness check for authors, especially useful for early career and international researchers who have English as a secondary language. Its AI-powered assessment is based on over 18 years of editorial intelligence, gained by working on more than a million manuscripts, and covers the key parameters most journal editors check for when deciding the fate of a paper. Polish your work with the R Pubsure Report or save on revision time with R Pubsure Pro, which presents you with a downloadable document that has recommended corrections in ‘Track Changes’ for you to approve. Manuscripts that score well receive the R Pubsure Certificate of submission readiness, which can be shared with the journal to speed up the editorial process.
Efficient and accurate, with multiple checks for free, R Pubsure helps you eliminate potential problems that lead to desk rejection in three simple steps:
1. Choose a plan that suits you best and upload your manuscript for an assessment.
2. Get the R Pubsure Report and polish your paper based on its recommendations.
3. Proceed with confidence with the R Pubsure Certificate of submission readiness.
These are just some of the most common reasons for desk rejection, which can force journal editors to reject even high-impact manuscripts. If you detect any of these problems in your work, be sure to take time to rectify these before you approach your target journal. Once you’re ready to submit, put your manuscript through R Pubsure’s detailed submissions readiness check to polish your work further and accelerate your journey towards publication success.
References:
1. S. Ehara, K. Takahashi — Reasons for rejection of manuscripts submitted to AJR by international authors. AJR Am J Roentgenol, 2007. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17242215/
2. S. Goldfinch, K. Yamamoto — Peer review, refereeing and their discontents: a failed model or simply the least worst option? Prometheus Assessed? Research Measurement, Peer Review, and Citation Analysis. ScienceDirect, 2012. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781843345893500033
3. S.A. Hall, A.J Wilcox — The fate of epidemiologic manuscripts: a study of papers submitted to epidemiology. Epidemiology. 2007. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17301708/
