Don’t submit your academic manuscript withoutthis checklist

You’ve struggled through the research process, and spent countless hours, days and nights

on the composition, and now your academic manuscript is complete.

Getting a manuscript published is a matter of great pride. However, a submission is no

guarantee of publication. Even though your idea may be unique and your research and

writing impeccable, your chosen journal might still reject the manuscript.

To avoid outright rejection, following certain processes before submitting your manuscript

is crucial.

Here’s a complete checklist that you should go through and complete before submitting

your manuscript for publication.

1. Formatting

It is important to format your manuscript to the requirements and appropriate style

guide (APA, Harvard, Oxford, etc.) followed by the journal.

This includes:

• layout
• font type
• font size
• heading style
• numbering
• spacing
• page margins
• in-text citations
• reference list.

2. Structure

Every section of the manuscript should be checked.

• The title should be attractive and relevant
• The abstract should be to the point and give the gist of your study
• Internal headlines should be identically formatted throughout
• Clearly define meanings of symbols, abbreviations, and measurement units
• Correctly list sources of references and quotations
• Graphs, tables and figures must be accurate, clear and complete
• Footnotes must have relevant additional information and be correctly numbered.

3. Language

Besides providing a novel or unusual idea, your manuscript should also focus on

properly presenting this idea. Ensure the ideas flow smoothly and choose simple

sentences over long and complex ones. Ensure there are no grammatical or spelling

errors. Getting your content reviewed by a third party is always a good choice.

4. Facts and Details

Facts and other important details must be properly checked to ensure your

manuscript is authentic and relevant.

We recommended checking and double-checking the following:

• symbols
• data
• equations and calculations
• numerical consistency
• numerical consistency between your reference list and in-text citations.

5. Attribution and Acknowledgment

You cannot write an academic thesis without taking any material from another study.

It is extremely important to attribute and acknowledge the relevant source of

information.

• Always use quotation marks while copying or reproducing material
• Provide proof of written permission for published or non-published content or material.
• Copyrighted material should not be used without gaining permission in writing.

6. Cover Letter

The cover letter makes the journal publishing company notice your manuscript and

should not be ignored. It should provide a brief overview of the manuscript and why

the journal should publish it.

Also include:

• complete details of the author, including name, email and postal address, and telephone number
• whether it has been submitted for publication to any other journal
• commercial or financial relationships of any kind

Following this checklist will help ensure that your academic manuscript does not face

outright rejection.

If you can’t be critical about your work, engage a professional company that can help.

Siliconchips Services is a premium publishing company offering this service to ensure your

manuscript achieves the high standards expected by academic journals.

Photo by Hatice Hüma Yardım on Unsplash.