Almost every scholar has had a paper rejected. Journal acceptance rates are typically low, ranging from 5% for higher impact journals (e.g., The Lancet) to 69% for “pay-to-publish” open access journals (e.g., PLoS ONE), whose criteria exclude the perceived importance of the paper. However, most rejected papers ultimately go on to be published [see 1 […]
Declarative titles: Should you state a study’s main findings in the title?
There has been some controversy over the usage of declarative titles, i.e., titles that state the main findings of the study. e.g., Visible light reduces C. elegans longevity [1] Pros Defenders of such titles have argued that they are more informative than other title styles (for information on title styles, please refer to our blog […]
Your title and abstract are key to attracting the right reviewers
Potential referees are typically only given the title and abstract when sent an invitation to peer review an article. It is only upon acceptance of the invitation that they will be given the full paper and supporting materials. It follows, therefore, that your title and abstract are essential to attracting and securing the right reviewers. […]
How to write an effective title
You should not underestimate the importance of an effective title. The title is the first thing an editor, reviewer, and reader will see; a title that is poorly constructed may deter viewers from reading further. Titles are also important for indexing purposes; a well-constructed title will make it easier for people searching for papers on […]
A reviewer asks for additional experiments – what are your options?
Requests for additional experiments typically fall into one of three categories: The suggested experiments are fundamental to proving your argument. You cannot accept/reject your null hypothesis without these experiments. You have provided sufficient proof for your argument; however, additional experiments would add weight to your conclusions. You have provided ample proof for your argument; the […]
