Preparing your paper for publication
Publishing a paper is not easy but in this guide we describe how to get your paper published. Preparation is key to a smooth journey through submission, peer review and Editor decision. In this guide, we walk you through everything you need to know—from preparing your manuscript to understanding how editors and peer reviewers evaluate submissions. Knowing how to publish a paper begins with writing a clear, structured manuscript that meets journal expectations. You may also wish to read, why publish in Premier Science?
Reporting Guidelines
Use reporting guidelines to help you include all the relevant information in your manuscript. Authors should state in their methods section that they are reporting in line with a particular reporting guideline and submit a completed guideline checklist, referencing the page numbers particular items have been completed, to evidence their compliance.
Here are some of the main ones:
- PRISMA – for Systematic Reviews
- CONSORT – for Randomised Controlled Trials
- STROBE – for observational studies
- STROCSS – for observational studies in surgery
- PROCESS – for case series in surgery
- SCARE – for case reports in surgery
- CARE – for case reports
- STARD – for diagnostic studies
- SQUIRE – for quality improvement projects
- REMARK – for tumour market prognostic studies
- ARRIVE – for animal research studies
- CHEERS – for Health Economic Evaluation studies
- COREQ – for qualitative research
Following the correct guidelines shows editors you understand how to get an article published in reputable academic journals.
How to Editors and Reviewers analyse a paper?
Some important considerations to think of include:
- Are the research questions and hypothesis clearly stated?
- Are the research questions worth asking and appropriately justified?
- Are the methods described in sufficient detail to be reproduced?
- Are the methods sufficiently robust?
- What does this study add to the literature?
- Are the implications for future research and practice discussed?
- Are the limitations suitably discussed?
- Are the conclusions justified by the data and the methods?
- Does the manuscript flow well? Are ideas logically and clearly organised?
- Are there language issues?
Understanding this process helps you know how to publish an academic paper and ensures your work meets reviewer expectations.
What questions to peer-reviewers get asked to answer?
- 1. How innovative and impactful is the research presented in the manuscript?
- 2. How well-designed and executed are the methods employed in the research?
- 3. How clear and logically organized is the presentation of ideas and results?
- 4. Are the references to the literature suitably comprehensive and up to date?
- 5. To what extent does the manuscript contribute new knowledge or insights to the relevant field of study?
- 6. How relevant is the research to current issues or challenges in the field, and what potential impact could it have?
Images
References
- Use high-resolution, professional images.
- Make sure they are relevant and enhance the manuscript.
- Poor-quality or irrelevant visuals can weaken your submission.
References should be up-to-date and refer to recent research, with any relevant index references included as well. They should be in the appropriate format, which for Premier Science journals is Vancouver i.e. numbered.
Top tips
- Read the journal guide for authors
- Follow appropriate journal guidelines, e.g. PRISMA, CONSORT, STROCSS, PROCESS, SCARE
- Be transparent and clear about conflicts of interest, funding, ethical approval, research registration.
- Proofread your work
- Use a spelling and grammar checker, Microsoft Word has one built in. There are also multiple tools you can use to help.
If you still have questions about how to submit a paper or the publication process, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We’re here to help.
