With this year’s UNFCCC COP getting underway in Brazil, we decided to take a look at some of the research and comment…
Our editors’ tips on preparing your submission to PLOS Climate
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Keyboard by councilcle, Pixabay Licence
We asked our editorial board members for their tips on maximising your chances of success when preparing a submission for peer-reviewed publication in PLOS Climate. Here’s what they told us.
A good paper…
“Is easy to read with clear messages and a strong scientific foundation.”
“Tells a strong story concisely. The authors follow the appropriate guidelines from the journal.“
“Uses well thought-out figures to clearly express key findings.”
“Is sensibly organised with a logical flow of argument. It has a cohesive narrative and uses clear, precise language.”
“Has a clear research question and utilises appropriate methods to answer the question, with a discussion of the limitations of the paper’s analysis and findings.”
When writing your paper…
“Write clearly and succinctly, check grammar and ensure the manuscript is well-referenced.”
“Always bear in mind the story you wish to tell.”
“Keep in mind the “so what” of your paper – readers should have a clear understanding of how the paper contributes to the knowledge base.”
“Package your thoughts for the article type in question in a way that addresses the journal’s aims and scope and is likely to capture the readers’ interest without distorting the scope of your study or its findings.”
“Carefully check spelling and grammar throughout the manuscript. If needed, seek input from a colleague or professional copyediting service.”
When writing your cover letter:
“Make sure it’s not a repeat of the abstract! Really get to the value of your paper and why it matters. Explain why this particular journal should be interested in this work and why its readership will be interested. Be clear and to the point.”
“Make it clear why your study/paper fits into the goals and aims of the journal.”
When responding to reviewers’ and editors’ comments:
“Respond to every comment, even if it’s a simple “edited”.”
“To help the reviewer and editor, ideally give page and line numbers in the manuscript where you have revised the text.”
“Show the reviewer that you have thought about their feedback, that you appreciate it, and then tell them how you tried to incorporate it into the manuscript (or why you don’t think it is appropriate… but be polite with the justification!). Remember that the peer review process is a positive; reviewers are there to help you to make the paper stronger.”
“Remember that publishing can be stressful. be calm, and try to treat every exchange as an opportunity to learn.”
Looking for more information about how to prepare your manuscript for submission to PLOS Climate? Read our publication criteria and submission guidelines.