Research Tools 15 — Before Submission: Build a Reliable Checklist

Use the Think. Check. Submit. checklist when assessing an unfamiliar journal. Confirm its identity, publisher, peer-review process, fees, and contact information. Verify indexing through the database itself.

Read the journal’s author instructions. Check the scope, article type, word limit, figure rules, references, and required statements. Find out whether publication charges apply and discuss funding before submission.

Prepare the manuscript, figures, supplementary files, and cover letter. Include the relevant ethics, funding, conflicts-of-interest, and data-availability information. Ask all co-authors to review and approve the final version.

Check every uploaded file and the submission system’s generated PDF. Equations and symbols may change during conversion. Keep a dated copy of the submitted package.

Remember: a professional-looking invitation or fast acceptance promise is not evidence of quality. A careful final check protects your work and helps editors assess it fairly.