TOP 7 REASONS WHY YOUR MANUSCRIPT FOR MATERIAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING IS REJECTED PRIOR TO THE PEER REVIEW PROCESS Once a research paper is submitted, it undergoes strict moderation before being checked by the chief editor and being shortlisted for peer review. The editor of Material Sciences and Engineering shares the top seven reasons for a research paper not making it to the peer review process. The post highlights the pitfalls an academic writer must be aware of when writing a research paper and emphasizes that the presentation and language quality of a manuscript must be such that it is judged for scientific worth than language mistakes. In- addition, it is recommended that the services of scientific paper editing companies be availed for eliminating English language mistakes that obscure the overall scientific quality. 1. Reasons for failing technical screening Before reaching the chief editor, the research paper undergoes a technical check. The content is checked for plagiarism. It is also checked whether the paper has been submitted to other journals and whether it is undergoing peer review. Submission of one article to two or more journals or the use of published text/images without prior consent of the publisher of the journal in which they were published is unacceptable. The reasons for a research paper failing the technical screening process are as follows: o o o o
The research paper is incomplete; it lacks a title, affiliations, tables, an author list, main text, references, or relevant data. The manuscript has poor English that will hinder the peer review process. The given references are outdated/incomplete. The academic paper fails to conform to the author guidelines provided by the journal.
2. Paper falls outside the scope of the journal For example, the journal Energy pertains to studies on energy, but the emphasis is on some different energy. Therefore, a paper reporting a study that provides no new perpective on energy may not qualify for consideration by the journal. 3. Incomplete manuscript o o
The research paper discusses observations, but the students are partial. The finding discussed pertains to a related field, making the important study is side tracked.
4. Use of unreliable methods/faulty data analysis o
The academic study reported in the paper considered inappropriate control groups or presents incorrect comparison statistics. o The study failed to use a recognized methodology. o The analysis is statistically invalid/fails to meet accepted norms in the field. 5. Disconnect between the material studied and the conclusion of the research paper o The paper contains unscientific, amorphous, and unacceptable arguments. o Data given fail to support the conclusion. o The inference neglects a major portion of the study. 6. Same author submitting a slightly different version of a published paper by making insignificant addition o o o
Findings given only add to existing findings in the field, but fail to advance the field. Study reported is a portion of a large published study. Study submitted is extracted from different studies presented in the field.
7. The research study reported is unconvincing and difficult to comprehend
Poor English, poor structure, and incomprehensible content lead to the rejection of the paper before the peer review process. It is advisable to seek professional assistance. There are companies that provide high-quality ​ scientific paper editing​ services, which are especially beneficial for non-native English speakers. ​