Expert Checklist for Fast and Easy Research Paper Submission

Choosing the right journal is the first and most important step. It affects your acceptance rate, visibility, and publication speed.

Use this checklist to make an informed selection:

✅ Scope Match: Does the journal’s scope align with your research topic?

✅ Indexing: Is it indexed in Scopus, ISI (Web of Science), or PubMed?

✅ Acceptance Rate: Prefer journals with moderate to high acceptance rates if you're looking for faster publication.

✅ Impact Factor: Check the journal’s impact factor or Scimago Journal Rank (SJR).

✅ Submission to Decision Time: Look for journals that mention fast peer review timelines.

✅ Open Access or Subscription?: Consider the pros and cons (visibility vs. fees).

✅Publication Charges: Are there article processing charges (APCs)? Are they within your budget?

✅ Author Guidelines Availability: Is the journal clear about submission formatting and policies?

✅ Reputation and Credibility: Avoid predatory journals by checking if the journal is listed on the DOAJ, Scopus, or Clarivate.

A paper might be scientifically sound but still get rejected due to poor formatting, missing components, or incomplete files.

Use this checklist to ensure all required files are ready:

✅ Main Manuscript File: With clear headings, line numbering, and structured sections (Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, etc.).

✅ Title Page: Separate document with title, author names, affiliations, corresponding author info.

✅ Abstract and Keywords: Ensure the abstract is within the word limit and keywords are relevant.

✅ Figures and Tables: High-resolution images with proper captions, numbered consistently.

✅ References: Formatted according to the journal’s style (APA, Vancouver, etc.).

✅ Cover Letter: Personalized to the journal, explaining the significance of your work.

✅ Conflict of Interest Statement: Disclosed in the manuscript or as a separate file.

✅ Ethical Approval Documents: Required for research involving humans or animals.

✅ Plagiarism Check Report: Use tools like Turnitin or iThenticate before submission.

✅ Proofreading Done: Have a native speaker or editor review the manuscript.

✅ Permissions and Licensing: For any third-party figures, datasets, or extended reuse.

Scientific merit is non-negotiable. Journals reject papers that lack originality, clarity, or depth.

Here’s how to ensure your research is strong enough:

✅ Novelty: Does your paper present something new—not just a repetition of known results?

✅ Research Gap: Have you clearly defined what problem your research is solving?

✅ Strong Methodology: Are your methods reproducible and well-described?

✅ Data Validity: Is your data accurate, properly collected, and well-analyzed?

✅ Critical Discussion: Have you interpreted your results with relevant literature comparisons?

✅ Conclusion Based on Results: Avoid overstatements not backed by evidence.

✅ Future Work: Mention potential extensions or applications of your findings.

✅ References to Core Literature: Avoid citing only weak or unrelated sources.

✅ Acknowledgment of Limitations: Journals appreciate transparency about study weaknesses.

Beyond content, journals judge papers based on technical clarity and presentation quality.

Use this checklist to polish your manuscript:

✅ Language & Grammar: Use formal, concise, and correct academic English.

✅ Consistency: Uniform style for headings, fonts, spacing, and figure/table formats.

✅ Spelling & Punctuation: Use language tools and professional proofreading.

✅ Logical Flow: Smooth transitions between sections and paragraphs.

✅ Avoid Repetition: Remove duplicate points or redundant phrases.

✅ Structured Abstract: Use the IMRAD format (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) if required.

✅ Referencing Tools: Use software like EndNote, Mendeley, or Zotero to manage citations.

✅ Check for Journal Template: Use the official format if the journal provides one.

✅ File Types: Convert all necessary documents to required formats (PDF, DOCX, TIFF, etc.).

Once the paper is ready, how do you make the submission process itself smooth and quick?

Follow these final steps:

✅ Register at Journal Website: Create an author account before starting.

✅ Check Submission System: Most journals use systems like ScholarOne or Editorial Manager.

✅ Follow Submission Steps Carefully: Upload files, enter metadata, and confirm author contributions.

✅ Check for Errors: Preview every uploaded file to ensure correct formatting.

✅ Include Suggested Reviewers: Many journals allow or require suggestions.

✅ Double-Check Author Information: Affiliations, emails, and ORCID IDs should be accurate.

✅ Final Plagiarism Check: Ensure similarity is below the accepted threshold.

✅ Track Submission: After submitting, regularly check your email and portal for updates.

✅ Respond Quickly to Revisions: For fast publication, submit revised files without delay.

✅ Keep Copies of Everything: Maintain backups of all submitted files and correspondence.