Elsevier Author Services – Articles
  • Language Editing Services
  • Translation Services
  • Author’s Webshop
Facebook
Pinterest
LinkedIn
YouTube
WeChat
x
Elsevier Author Services – Articles
Language Editing Services by Elsevier Author Services
Elsevier Author Services – Articles
  • Research Process
  • Manuscript Preparation
  • Manuscript Review
  • Publication Process
  • Publication Recognition
  • English
  • Manuscript Review

Top language mistakes for rejection

  • 2 minute read
  • 9K views
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
0
0

Table of Contents

  • Language through the eyes of Managing Editors
  • Specific sections and short sentences
  • Keep the reader in mind
  • Avoiding the upshot of shoddy writing

Language through the eyes of Managing Editors

Managing Editors read submissions before they are sent to a journal’s editor to make sure the submission meets certain requirements. When you submit your manuscript to a journal, it may be checked by a Managing Editor against these criteria for desk rejection – including poor language.

So how can you make sure your manuscript meets the language requirements to sail through the first stage of checking?

Specific sections and short sentences

Marco Casola, Managing Editor for Water Research, says it’s important to pay particular attention to certain sections of the manuscript. “Usually I read the abstract and conclusion first, and you can sometimes pick out the inconsistency and strange sentences in these sections. The abstract and conclusion are very important – readers will often look to that content to get an understanding of the paper, so it’s doubly vital to make sure those sections are well written.”

Of course, the whole manuscript has to be readable and understandable, he adds. And according to Simone Munao, Managing Editor Physics and Mathematics at Elsevier, the key to making writing understandable is to keep it simple. “It’s not a matter of being creative, but communicating simply and effectively,” he says. “To have a good paper you should write simple sentences; it’s not a novel it’s a math paper.”

Keep the reader in mind

Language mistakes are more common among authors who are non-native English speaking, say Marco and Simone. Interaction with the reader is very important, so authors should keep that in mind and consult a native English speaker to check their manuscript.

“The reader has to understand what you’re saying – clarity is very important,” explains Simone. “Professional editing, such as through Elsevier’s WebShop, helps if you want to make sure your manuscript is well written.”

For Marco, poor language can indicate further issues with a paper. “Language errors can sometimes ring a bell as a link to quality. If a manuscript is written in poor English the science behind it may not be amazing. This isn’t always the case, but it can be an indication.”

Avoiding the upshot of shoddy writing

Ultimately, if your language is poor, making your manuscript unclear, your submission could be rejected by a Managing Editor or an editor before review. And during the review process, reviewers are often frustrated by having to correct spelling and grammar. What’s the answer?

“Spellchecking is wise before submitting,” says Simone. “This should always be done but it can be easy to forget. If I can understand the idea and I think the research is interesting, I pass it to the editor and they may suggest the Elsevier Author Services Language Editing,” notes Simone. “If the paper is unsuitable anyway I will reject it, but I always suggest the Elsevier Author Services too – improving the language could make it ready for another journal.”

Total
0
Shares
Post 0
Tweet 0
Share 0
Send 0
Message 0
Previous Article
  • Manuscript Preparation

The writing challenges PhD students face

View Post
Next Article
  • Publication Recognition

First impressions count: why getting published is like dating

View Post
You May Also Like
Research Fraud: Falsification and Fabrication in Research Data
View Post
  • Manuscript Review

Research Fraud: Falsification and Fabrication in Research Data

Correct way writing p value statistical analyses
View Post
  • Manuscript Review

What is the correct way of writing the p value in statistical analyses?

Active and Passive Voices in Academic Writing
View Post
  • Manuscript Review

Using the Active and Passive Voices in Academic Writing

Avoid Accidental Plagiarism
View Post
  • Manuscript Review

Five Easy Ways to Avoid Accidental Plagiarism

View Post
  • Manuscript Review

Professor Anselmo Paiva: Using Computer Vision to Tackle Medical Issues with a Little Help from Elsevier Author Services

What is the main purpose of proofreading a paper?
View Post
  • Manuscript Review

What is the main purpose of proofreading a paper?

Systematic review vs meta-analysis
View Post
  • Manuscript Review

Systematic Review VS Meta-Analysis

Looking for Medical Editing Services - Elsevier
View Post
  • Manuscript Review

Looking for Medical Editing Services

  • Correct way writing p value statistical analyses

    What is the correct way of writing the p value in statistical analyses?

    • 2 minute read
    View Post
  • Systematic review vs meta-analysis

    Systematic Review VS Meta-Analysis

    • 3 minute read
    View Post
  • Predatory Journal Checklist

    What is a Predatory Journal: Checklist

    • 4 minute read
    View Post
  • PowerPoint Presentation of Your Research Paper

    How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation of Your Research Paper

    • 4 minute read
    View Post
  • Competing interest statement in research articles

    Competing interest statement in research articles

    • 4 minute read
    View Post
More Posts
  • What is a predatory Journal
    Navigating the Complex Landscape of Predatory Journals
    • 3 minute read
  • Manuscript Submission
    From Pen to Press: Navigating the Manuscript Submission Process
    • 3 minute read
  • choosing the Right Research Methodology
    Choosing the Right Research Methodology: A Guide for Researchers
    • 3 minute read
  • Analytical Method Validation
    Navigating the Reproducibility Crisis: A Guide to Analytical Method Validation
    • 3 minute read
  • Why is data validation important in research
    Why is data validation important in research?
    • 3 minute read
  • how to write the results section of a research paper
    How to write the results section of a research paper
    • 3 minute read
Price Calculator
Type in wordcount for Standard
Total:
Follow this link if your manuscript is longer than 12,000 words.
Upload
Learn more about
  • Research Process
  • Manuscript Preparation
  • Manuscript Review
  • Publication Process
  • Publication Recognition
  • News
Elsevier Author Services – Articles
  • Language Editing Services
  • Translation Services
  • Author’s Webshop
Elsevier wordmark
Terms & Conditions

Cookies are used by this site. To decline or learn more, visit our Cookies page.

RELX Wordmark

Input your search keywords and press Enter.