1. What is the importance of cover letter when submitting an article to a journal?
2. Please enumerate the major points which a good cover letter should include.
3. Can an editor reject or accept a paper based on the poor quality of the cover letter?
Jean-Baptiste Mawulé Dassekpo the importance of the cover letter should not be overemphasized. No professional Editor will accept or reject a manuscript because of the cover letter. A good cover letter must contain the following points:
1. Title of the manuscript
2. Author names
3. Type of publication (Communication, Full paper etc.)
4. Name of journal
5. Justification why the work should be published in the particular journal
For your information I attach a typical example from our work. Good luck!
Importance of cover letter when submitting an article to a journal . It is a mere humble request to editor to consider the research paper for publication. It should not contain figures.
Yes, it is more of a courtesy factor and would only include the originality (or additional information) of the research if expressly requested by the journal!
Jean-Baptiste Mawulé Dassekpo the importance of the cover letter should not be overemphasized. No professional Editor will accept or reject a manuscript because of the cover letter. A good cover letter must contain the following points:
1. Title of the manuscript
2. Author names
3. Type of publication (Communication, Full paper etc.)
4. Name of journal
5. Justification why the work should be published in the particular journal
For your information I attach a typical example from our work. Good luck!
Dear Jean-Baptiste Mawulé Dassekpo
The question is good, and the answer is better- to know. I think, the purpose of the cover letter is to give a quick but precise view of the manuscript. It saves time for editors as the editors will just go through it so that she/he does not have to read the manuscript in-full.
Cover letter cannot solely determine whether the manuscript is to be accepted or rejected, I believe. However, the cover letter gives significant impression to the editors. Therefore, a cover letter shall be well-prepared.
I agree with Prof. Dr. Frank T. Edelmann . He explained very precisely. Along with his suggestion, you may consider the following.
A good cover letter must contain:
Regards.
Provash
Frank T. Edelmann Thank you for your reply and your useful information. Your cover letter sample is well presented. It will help me a lot.
Kind regards,
@Dassekpo
Thank you Sarker Provash Kumer for your detailed response. I will consider all of your suggestions in my next cover letter presentation. Cheers!!!
Jean-Baptiste Mawulé Dassekpo No professional editor will do that not unless the cover letter is offensive or arrogant. The cover letter has nothing to do with the quality of the research being reported in the submitted manuscript. An excellent cover letter will not make up for a poor quality research. In the same manner, a badly written cover letter should not be taken against an excellent research, probably a breakthrough, reported in the manuscript. But maybe, a nicely written cover letter may touch the human side of the editor, who knows! :=)
Thank you Prof. Victor B. Asio for your valuable comments.
Covering letter should not be ignored but should be carefully crafted. Covering letter and abstract of the paper are the first impressions. It is important to proof read your paper from covering letter to conclusion and references. Not only should covering letter and paper be upto date content- wise but also technically right.
Cover letters are simply a means of communication between the authors and the journal editor but should not decisively determine the outcome of the manuscript. Just think of a cover letter for a particular job post. Your target employer consider it as a written introduction about yourself, and yet the main documents you submit (diploma, transcript, proof of work experience etc) are the ones that determine whether you will be selected for the post or not. With that being said, cover letters should carefully be written in order to attract the attention or interest of the editor.
Mohammed A. Mohammed good points. The only difference is that when the cover letter for a job post is poorly written, you application can go right into the wastepaper basket. Fortunately, Editors can't do that with your manuscript! 😎
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