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20.3 Ensure your paper is as good as it could possibly

be the first time you submit it
Many researchers finish their manuscripts just before (and often after!) the deadline.

Due to such pressures of time, they often send their manuscript to the editor without
doing a final check. Most manuscripts are written by multiple authors. This involves

a lot of exchanges of versions of the manuscripts, with a consequent increase in the
possibility of mistakes being introduced. Lots of changes are made at the last min-
ute, and often no one checks them for accuracy in terms of English. One author
needs to be responsible for the fi nal check.

Unfortunately, poor English and lack of clarity are one of the most frequent causes
of a paper being initially rejected. You will waste several months if you have to
resubmit your paper, and in the meantime someone else might publish a paper on
the exact same topic!

Bear in mind the following:

• Judge your paper with the same criteria as you would if you had written it in

your own native language.

• Double check you have followed the journal's guidelines/instructions for
authors.

• Ensure everything is accurate (data, dates, references, bibliography).

• Ensure everything is consistent (US vs GB spelling, punctuation, capitaliza-

tion) – for more on this see 20.9 and 20.11 .
• It takes much longer for editors and reviewers to read badly-written work than

well-presented work. They may not react well.

• Rewriting (which includes cutting) can be a very satisfying as well as being
an essential process.

• After weeks or months of working on your paper, you will find it hard to spot
your own errors – ask a colleague to help you.