Q: Will a typo in my revised manuscript lead to rejection?
In my revised manuscript, I have mistakenly written '16 GB RAMS' instead of '16 GB RAM.' It is just a typo. However, will it have a negative effect and lead to rejection?
If this is the only error in your manuscript, the typo may not be significant enough to lead to rejection, but the outcome also depends on other factors. If there have been major revisions due to editor comments, specifically, on improving the writing and/or fixing errors in spelling and grammar, the final decision by the journal may be unfavourable, unless, of course, the error goes unnoticed.
Some journal submission systems allow authors to edit files even after submission by making corrections directly or replacing the submitted file. In the process, your submission status may change to ’Updated.’ To check if this is possible, visit the journal submission page and try clicking on the submission number. Alternatively, you could also check your journal’s FAQ page to look for a solution to editing your manuscript.
The best possible way to deal with this situation, perhaps, is to directly approach the editor via email and inform them about the error. Let them know that you are aware of the mistake and wish to correct it as soon as possible.
As you have expressed yourself, it is important to ensure that your manuscript is complete and error-free before you submit (or resubmit). To avoid being in a similar position again in the future, you may refer to this piece: The importance of manuscript submission readiness checks (with a downloadable checklist to get you started)
Also, to save time and ensure a thorough and objective check of your manuscript before you submit, you may want to give R Pubsure, an AI-powered manuscript assessment tool, a try. It evaluates your paper in mere minutes across 10 key parameters including language quality, with suggestions for improvement, to help you reduce the risk of rejection.
For this paper, however, we would suggest you don’t worry too much. :) Just get in touch with your editor, explaining the correction you wish to make. We hope you get a positive response from them very soon!
This content belongs to the Journal submission & peer review Stage