Page 115 - How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 8th Edition 8th Edition

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Be kind to the editor and state why you have submitted that particular package. You might even choose to say
something nice, as was done recently in a letter in impeccable English but written by someone whose native tongue
was not English. The letter read: "We would be glad if our manuscript would give you complete satisfaction."

Sample Cover Letter

Dear Dr. ———:

Enclosed are two complete copies of a manuscript by Mary Q. Smith and John L. Jones titled "Fatty Acid Metabolism in Cedecia
neteri," which is being submitted for possible publication in the Physiology and Metabolism section of the Journal of Bacteriology.

This manuscript is new, is not being considered elsewhere, and reports new findings that extend results we reported earlier in The
Journal of Biological Chemistry (145:112–117, 1992). An abstract of this manuscript was presented earlier (Abstr. Annu. Meet. Am.
Soc. Microbiol., p. 406, 1993).

Sincerely,
Mary Q. Smith

Follow-up Correspondence

Most journals send out an "acknowledgment of receipt" form letter when the manuscript is received. If you know that
the journal does not, attach

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a self-addressed postcard to the manuscript, so that the editor can acknowledge receipt. If you do not receive an
acknowledgment in 2 weeks, call or write the editorial office to verify that your manuscript was indeed received. I
know of one author whose manuscript was lost in the mail, and it was not until 9 months later that the problem was
brought to light by his meek inquiry as to whether the reviewers had reached a decision about the manuscript.

The mails being what they are, and busy editors and reviewers being what they are, do not be concerned if you do not
receive a decision within one month after submission of the manuscript. Most journal editors, at least the good ones,
try to reach a decision within 4 to 6 weeks or, if there is to be further delay for some reason, provide some explanation
to the author. If you have had no word about the disposition of your manuscript after 6 weeks have elapsed, it is not at
all inappropriate to send a courteous inquiry to the editor. If no reply is received and the elapsed time becomes 2
months, a personal phone call may not be out of place.

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