Why reviewers/editors reject articles

Notes from a workshop on ‘Writing for peer-reviewed journals’ run by Pat Thomson.

Reasons why reviewers and editors say they reject articles:

  • Lack of focus – saying everything, focusing on nothing, cramming too much in one article
  • Not locating the contribution and the position – for a particular audience, in relation to wider debates. the specific conversation int his journal
  • Poor organisation – not guiding the reader, poor headings, not enough signposts, too many signposts
  • Failing to convince the reader – does not adequately deal with the methodology
  • Not significant – too local, done a lot, doesn’t add anything
  • Sounding like a n00b rather than an equal – assumes significance, sounds tentative, overclaims

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