How do you edit your journal article before submission?

1. Proofread for spelling, grammar, punctuation/syntax errors. Have others proofread as well. 2. Check that the title, abstract & keywords accurately reflect the content. 3. Ensure consistency in formatting, citations, references, tables/figures per target journal's guidelines. 4. Evaluate logical flow & structure to ensure coherence 5. Trim unnecessary words/details to achieve clarity & concision. 6. Verify data accuracy, calculations, quotes & that information are up-to-date. 7. Incorporate feedback from mentors, colleagues who reviewed drafts. 8. Explain complex concepts/terms for a broad readership. 9. Address potential questions/concerns reviewers might raise. 10. When ready, proofread one final time before submitting your best work.

Each journal is different. Make sure you understand in what format the journal demands the submission. Be aware of spelling styles - US or UK. This is crucial. In all cases, clarity in abstract is most important because that is the first thing that is seen. The findings and conclusions should be based on the research, and hence do not overstate the findings/conclusions. Credit whoever has contributed in any manner.

Surprise surprise Researchers should identify the suitable journal BEFORE writing the manuscript. Not the other way round! This is essential!

First of all, I read the entire article to ensure that every part enjoys integrity ,clarity and cohesion. I ask one or two experts to remark on the content of the article and proofread it and implement their recommendations. Then I use some websites or software programs to edit it. Afterwards, I peruse it again. I always try to observe the guidelines presented by the journal. Studying the other articles published by the journal would help a lot. In addition, asking for expert advice on the structure of the article is necessary. Before submitting, I always reconsider my decision up to 3 times in a month since it provides me with an opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the content of the article before finalizing the submission.

Editing a journal article before submission is a crucial step in the publication process. Firstly, I review the manuscript for overall structure and flow, ensuring a clear introduction, well-organized body, and concise conclusion. Next, I meticulously proofread for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. It's essential to check formatting, including citations and references, to adhere to the journal's guidelines. I often seek feedback from peers or mentors for a fresh perspective. Lastly, I read the article aloud to catch any awkward phrasing or inconsistencies. Taking the time for thorough editing enhances the quality of the submission and increases the chances of acceptance by the journal.

This truly depends on your community / research area. In mine, energy research/water technology/nanomaterials, we prefer short, precise, technical English. Not an essay. Not a report. Technical writing. To the point without filler words like "it should be noted that". Well, if something should not be noted, we would not put it in the paper and if something is noteworthy, why mention it at all? Just as an example. Remember that a large number of your target audience may NOT be as fluent in English as you are. So reduce the plethora of fancy expressions and prefer rather plain technical writing.

Keep your content to the point, without unnecessary fluff. Make sure you convey your thoughts as clearly as possible - your readers have not done your research and don't necessarily have all relevant information. Don't assume they have relevant background.

When revising the structure of an article or essay, a tip from one of my English Professors always jumps into my mind: "Make sure that one sentence flows into another as naturally as it would in conversation." For natural forward movement, you not only have to think big picture - ensuring that each paragraph flows into the next - but you also have to consider the smaller picture. Loop each sentence into the following so that there is an unbroken chain threading your thoughts together. For an even nitty-grittier option, include a word from the end of the previous sentence in the beginning of the next sentence. It is a simple tip but helpful to keep in mind when editing the structure of your work.

The final review before submission is important but the most challenging. At that point you've already read each section many times that you don't want to read and revise again. Few tips that work for me: 1) Review the introduction: The introduction captures or not the reader's attention. Make sure it covers the problem statement and your contribution in an interesting way. 2) Quick scan of typos: Review everything underlined in red to make sure the paper has no typos. 3) Review the abstract and the conclusion: Check if after all the revisions both sections are still coherent. 4) Say the paper's story out loud: Listen to yourself walking through the paper and check if what is written actually captures the story you'd like to share.

It's essential to consult the journal requirements to assess whether the structure is suitable. For instance, some journals require structured abstracts, while others use unstructured abstracts. Journals may also require lay summaries, statements of contributions to the field, and other specific sets of text. A typical original research article will be divided into Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, and Discussion sections. Some journals require a separate Conclusion section. Check the journal requirements to confirm whether sections should be numbered or unnumbered, whether you're allowed to use subsections, and so on. Some journals will also specify the number of heading levels allowed.

It can get messy to jot down all the thoughts and research content in an organized manner. The things which always helped me are: In Introduction, you need to include a thesis statement at the end (shares information like the roadmap of the essay) In body paragraphs, you can start with a topic sentence which sets the tone of the upcoming paragraph. In conclusion, use a clincher statement which reinforces your paper's overall purpose, leaving the audience with intriguing thought, question or a quote.

Print it off! I know it's bad for the environment but some things are just easier with a pen and paper. And if it's language in particular that's an issue, read it out loud.

Check the language (most likely English) of your article. Try to maintain consistency in a paragraph and flow between paragraphs by using appropriate transition words and topic sentences. Ensure that the text is free from simple grammatical, spelling and punctuation marks. Feel free to use established field-specific words because the journal will be read by a particular set of readers in your area, but do not overcomplicate by adding new and unnecessary jargons. Seeking language editors who are also have subject-area expertise will help the manuscript to be submission-ready.

Read it out loud!!! In my experience reading your article aloud helps spot errors and also enables you to fine tune the piece.

Be consistent in language. For example, if you are writing in English, consistently follow either British or American English (or any other form of English). In some cases, journals prefer American English or Canadian English. Then, follow the journals' preferences.

C’est également faux, il faut faire ces taches AVANT la soumission car les revues sérieuses déclinent directement les articles dont les références ne sont pas strictement correctes et dans le format. Dit d’une autre manière, si vous n’êtes pas capable d’écrire des références, ce que pourrait faire un collégien, que faites-vous à l’université ?…

Journals follow different kinds of citation and reference styles. We can find details regarding it on the journal websites. Accordingly, prepare the citations and references.

Verifying the accuracy of a journal article's cited sources is essential for establishing trust in its data. It's useful for several things: 1. Accuracy Verification 2. Building on Previous Work 3. Avoiding Plagiarism 4. Quality Assurance 5. Cross-Checking Information 6. Replication and Further Research 7. Resolving Discrepancies 8. Maintaining Ethical Standards Authors, reviewers, and readers alike must verify the accuracy of references and citations in a published journal paper. It promotes ethical scholarship, helps establish a reliable basis for research, and strengthens the standing and progress of the academic and scientific communities.

Review the journal guidelines before you begin. Make sure the correct presentation is being used; journals may require author–date style, superscript numbers, bracketed numbers, numbers in parentheses, and so on. Pay particular attention to the guidelines for the Methods section and whether the journal allows or recommends the use of citations to previously cited methods rather than full descriptions of these methods. Also check the information requirements regarding the manufacturer of specific reagents (including location). Carefully review the reference examples supplied by the journal (and don't be surprised if these are internally inconsistent!). Above all, make sure your text is consistent so the reader can focus on the content.

In addition, I suggest double checking the body of the manuscript in regards to the references ( if all of them have been properly cited), and adding the latest research articles as references. Some journals check the year of published references, and in case they are older than 10 years, they might be omitted. Of course, in some cases (for example in review articles), this ‘rule’ does not count.

Proofreading, as the final step in the process, is a given, but many people don't know how to do it effectively. Using a style guide is key, as that helps govern consistency in your document. It's also useful to step away from the text for at least a few hours, but preferably longer if possible. Finally, handle one element at a time. Check the spelling, then outline headings, then citations, then references; trying to do all of these at the same time means missing errors that would otherwise be glaringly obvious. Single-task for success.

Before submitting the final draft, read it at least 2 to 3 times on different days to be able to catch any mistake or error needs to be corrected.

Personally, I found AI very useful in proofreading my pieces of writing as that saves time and energy. It makes the job easier, just like a "peer review" but one that I have access to its results and feedback!

Quando é possível fazer a revis?o gramatical do trabalho e ter paciência no sentido de lê-lo depois de pronto alguns dias depois antes de enviar para submiss?o é uma sugest?o. Quando terminamos um artigo estamos vendo tudo: gramática, articula??o entre parágrafos, cita??es, normas da revista no geral. E o conteúdo será que conseguimos dar aten??o devida? Por isso, dar um tempo para o artigo e depois repassa-lo novamente dias depois (se possível) faz notar algumas coisas que o cansa?o de antes quando o finalizou, n?o permitiu notar.

I do find that it is often difficult to spot my own mistakes. Some lines may sound right to me, but when someone else reads it, they do tell you what they do not follow in my writing. It is best to have a second person to proofread your writing.

The most important section is the results and discussion part. with any result you report, it must be accompanied with a supporting reference or a contradicting reference. It does not matter how many references you use. As long as there are results, conclusion must be made for that observation. Do not forget, that negative results are results, and they must be noted and reported.

AI tools such as Grammarly are handy in editing and proofreading before final submission. Grammarly aids in refining journal articles by checking grammar, punctuation, and style. It suggests improvements for clarity and conciseness, ensuring the article adheres to academic standards. For instance, it can detect passive voice, which is often discouraged in scientific writing, and propose active alternatives. It also highlights potential plagiarism, prompting researchers to properly cite sources. Reflecting on its use, Grammarly acts as a final check, polishing the article to meet publication criteria.

Authors editing their own work are guaranteed to miss things. Engaging a professional editor to carefully review your content pays enormous dividends in getting you a fresh perspective, and when that editor is a subject-matter expert, you gain the benefit of an initial "soft" peer review before submitting your article to a less forgiving reader: your journal of choice. Taking care of flaws in your argument, structure and language at this stage will increase your chances of successful publication. This step is indispensable for EFL researchers submitting to English-language journals; journal editors are simply not forgiving when it comes to language errors, no matter how valuable your content.

One missing piece of advice: give yourself time and space for ruthless iteration. If you think your piece cannot be cut further, cut it some more. Have a folder for off-cuts to reduce the intellectual grief of losing good thoughts that simply do not fit the specific brief. And when you get to a reasonable draft, ask others for their honest views. Then iterate again.

Journalists editing their news articles before submission should prioritise clarity and accuracy. Start by revisiting the headline; ensure it succinctly conveys the main message. Verify facts rigorously, confirming details with credible sources to maintain journalistic integrity. Trim excess words to enhance readability and maintain the audience's attention. Check for consistency in tone and style throughout the article. Ensure a logical flow, allowing readers to easily follow the narrative. Address any ambiguities or potential misunderstandings to prevent confusion. It's beneficial to read the article aloud or have a colleague review it for additional perspectives.

Before editing, you need ti read about the subject your editing, know what is trending abou thus subject? Did your article give bew information? How much will your subject be interesting? Then Begin your editing by reading the full article and see if you found any thing new after what you have read before? If so, you will begin editing by highlighting the new interesting , exciting information. Then begin editing the rest of the article as usual according to journal guidelines. make sure that everything is correct.

Mindmapping has always helped me. Before I begin writing, I mind-map (I use paper and different color pens) to jot down the crux of the piece and the ancillary points that should be included. Then, while writing, I simply tick them off. Mindmapping software tools are also available.

A very significant insight shared with the writer when editing is a second eye by an adept research with prowess and lengthy years of experience. This expertise can aid in: 1) reducing time needed to edit the article 2) actively listening to recommendations by a field expert when helping in article editing 3) engaging with the article from a different perspective thus adjusting and trimming where needed and necessary 4) yielding the best outcome of your article permitting it to be ready for journal publication