The cover letter is your chance to lobby on behalf of your manuscript. The letter is far from just a formality and should be written with the same care as your manuscript’s text (if not more). Ultimately, your cover letter is designed to influence the decision of the editor to send your manuscript out for peer review. Sometimes great science will be reviewed regardless of the cover letter, but a well written cover letter is useful for the vast majority of scientists who want to make their research stand out. American Journal Experts wishes you the best of luck with your research!
2. Outline
The goal of a good cover letter
The structure of a good cover letter
Other tips
Sample cover letter
3. The goal of the cover letter
Lobby for your paper
Good fit for the journal
Of interest to the journal’s readers
No conflicts of interest that would be a barrier
Get the editor interested in your paper
Move your paper from “rejected without
review” to “sent out for review”
4. Write carefully
Many authors rush to finish the cover letter
during the submission process
Remember that the cover letter may be the
only thing that the editor reads
Give it the same effort you gave your manuscript
5. Outline
The goal of a good cover letter
The structure of a good cover letter
Other tips
Sample cover letter
6. Structure of a cover letter
Business letter format
Topics to cover:
▪ Description of the study
▪ Importance of the study
▪ Fit for the journal
▪ Assurance that the work is original and unpublished
▪ Suggested reviewers (if requested) or reviewers to avoid
7. The beginning
Include your contact information
Include information about the addressee
Name of Editor/Editor-in-Chief, if known
Name of journal Editorial Office
Standard greeting
Dear Dr. Smith:
Dear Editor:
Avoid “to whom it may concern”
8. Opening paragraph
Manuscript details
Title
Authors
Type of article (especially if not original research)
Give a 1- or 2-sentence summary of the paper
Definitely mention if this paper builds on a
previous paper published in that journal
9. Second paragraph
Continue to describe your key findings
No need to hedge with soft words, but don’t make
outrageous claims
Don’t use numbers or statistics unless critical for
your conclusions
This is your “elevator pitch” – a short, convincing
synopsis of your work
Can combine with first paragraph, depending
on its length
10. Third paragraph
Explain the fit of the paper for
the journal
Go beyond “novel”/”of interest”
Specifically address Aims & Scope
Why would their readers want to
read your article?
11. Final paragraph(s)
Formalities
The manuscript is original
The manuscript is not under review elsewhere or
published elsewhere
There are no conflicts of interest to disclose
Suggest reviewers, if asked
Mention researchers that should NOT review
your paper
Be polite!
12. Outline
The goal of a good cover letter
The structure of a good cover letter
Other tips
Sample cover letter
13. Other tips
Grab the editor’s attention!
It’s okay to make bolder claims here, within reason
“Our manuscript defines a novel enzyme from…”
“This paper answers several important questions
about…”
Alter the strength of your language based on your
target journal
14. Other tips
Do:
Highlight important results/conclusions
Explain why readers of that journal would benefit
from those results
Don’t:
Speak negatively about other papers/researchers
Complain about previous rejections
15. Other tips
Take your time and craft the letter carefully
Have a colleague look it over
Pay attention to the details
Italicize the journal name and species names
Spell the editor’s name correctly
Check other spelling and spacing
16. Possible mistakes
Irrelevant material
Citing one of your previous papers that does not
relate to the current study
Anything meant for a different journal!
Distracting details
Numbers or p-values
Information on methods (unless that is the focus)
Repetition
No space to waste
17. Outline
The goal of a good cover letter
The structure of a good cover letter
Other tips
Sample cover letter
18. Sample cover letter
Your contact information
Recipient’s information
Date and greeting
19. Sample cover letter
Authors Manuscript title
Brief introduction and
important results
20. Sample cover letter
Fit for journal
Specific tie to journal
scope
Reviewer to avoid
Possible reviewers
(if needed)
22. Summary
The cover letter can “tip the scales” in your
favor and lead to getting your paper reviewed
Main parts:
Brief introduction to manuscript
Key results (and their importance)
Fit for journal (why will their readers care?)
Conflict of interest/originality statement
Suggested reviewers (or people to avoid)
Focus on the paper’s strengths – sell, sell, sell!
23. About us
American Journal Experts (AJE) offers high-quality
editing, translation, peer review, and manuscript and
figure formatting services. To learn more, visit our
site at www.journalexperts.com.
AJE also provides author education resources
through in-person workshops and our Expert Edge
site (http://expertedge.journalexperts.com). If you
are interested in hearing more about our workshop
series, contact us at education@journalexperts.com.