Video: Peer Reviewer Reveals Top 7 Reasons for Desk Rejection
Desk rejection of research papers is more common than you think! This video reveals the most common reasons for this practice.
1. Your paper fails to meet the journal’s scope.
Regardless of how good your research is, if it does not fit the scope of the journal, the paper gets rejected before peer review. Do not simply focus on the impact factor of the journal. Always read the aims and scope before selecting a journal.
2. Your paper is under review in a different journal.
Remember, it is highly unethical to submit your paper to more than one journal at the same time! If your paper is under review in a different journal, wait for its decision. In case you wish to submit to another journal of your choice, be sure to withdraw from the first journal and proceed with the submission only after your withdrawal is accepted.
3. Your paper does not adhere to the journal’s formatting guidelines.
This is one of the most common reasons for manuscripts being rejected at desk. If you are unclear about author guidelines, write to the journal with pre-submission enquiries or seek professional help to get your paper formatted as per the target journal’s guidelines.
4. Your paper is missing key elements.
Make sure all key elements (e.g., title, abstract, keywords, references, tables, figures, or key analyses) are present in the research paper in the correct format. Missing even one of these crucial elements can lead to desk rejection.
5. The quality of language in your paper is not up to the mark.
All journals insist on maintaining clear language and accurate grammar in your paper. If English is not your first language, reach out to native speakers in your peer group to review your paper or opt for professional editing services.
6. Your tables and figures are not clear.
Some journals provide guidelines on how your tables, graphs, figures, and other illustrations should be formatted. They might even have guidelines on the required image resolution. Read these instructions carefully and ensure that they are submitted as required (either uploaded as separate files or included in the main manuscript).
7. Ethical concerns.
Another common reason for desk rejection is plagiarism or other forms of ethical misconduct. Keep in mind that in addition to plagiarized text, figure duplication is considered unethical. So, be careful and ensure you have referenced all the correct works in your research to avoid plagiarism.
