Why Manuscripts Get Rejected by Journals and How to Avoid It

Submitting a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal is a major milestone in the research journey. It represents months, sometimes years, of work distilled into a single, publishable article. Yet even well-conducted studies are often rejected at the first hurdle.

Understanding why manuscripts are rejected can help researchers better prepare, avoid common missteps, and improve their chances of acceptance. Below, we outline the most frequent reasons journals reject submissions, and how expert medical writing support can help address them.

1. Out of Scope for the Journal

One of the most common reasons for immediate rejection (also called “desk rejection”) is that the manuscript does not align with the journal’s scope, readership, or editorial focus.

How to avoid it:

• Review the journal’s aims and scope carefully.

• Read recently published articles to assess fit.

• Tailor your manuscript’s language and framing accordingly.

• Consider discussing potential submissions with the journal’s editorial office before submission.

2. Lack of Novelty or Significance

Journals seek to publish research that adds new insights, challenges current understanding, or advances clinical or scientific practice. Manuscripts that reiterate known findings without clear innovation are often rejected.

How to avoid it:

• Clearly articulate what is new about your study in the introduction and discussion.

• Conduct a thorough literature review to position your work appropriately.

• Use a compelling cover letter to highlight your manuscript’s contribution.

3. Poor Manuscript Structure or Writing Quality

Even robust studies can be rejected if the manuscript is difficult to follow, poorly structured, or contains language errors. Reviewers and editors may struggle to assess the science if it is not clearly presented.

How to avoid it:

• Follow the journal’s author guidelines exactly.

• Use the IMRaD structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion) where applicable.

• Consider professional editing or medical writing support to ensure clarity, consistency, and polish.

4. Inadequate Methodology or Data Presentation

If the study design is flawed, sample size too small, or statistical analysis poorly described, journals may question the validity of the findings. Similarly, inconsistencies between tables, figures, and text can raise red flags.

How to avoid it:

• Clearly describe your methodology with sufficient detail for replication.

• Use appropriate reporting guidelines (e.g., CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA).

• Double-check that data in text, tables, and figures match precisely.

5. Failure to Follow Submission Guidelines

Every journal has detailed instructions for manuscript formatting, reference style, file types, and required declarations. Ignoring these can lead to automatic rejection.

How to avoid it:

• Use a pre-submission checklist before uploading.

• Include all required statements (ethics, conflict of interest, funding).

• Make sure figures are in the correct resolution and format.

6. Ethical Concerns or Incomplete Disclosures

Journals take research ethics seriously. Missing ethics approval, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or data fabrication will result in rejection and possibly further investigation.

How to avoid it:

• Obtain and document institutional ethics approval.

• Register clinical trials where applicable.

• Disclose all sources of funding and potential conflicts.

7. Weak or Unbalanced Discussion Section

A discussion that overstates findings, ignores limitations, or fails to link back to the broader literature may suggest a lack of scientific rigour. Editors expect a balanced and contextualised interpretation.

How to avoid it:

• Acknowledge study limitations openly.

• Avoid making unsupported claims.

• Reference relevant prior work and describe implications clearly.

How Rockwood Medical Writing Agency Can Help Avoid Manuscript Being Rejected

At Rockwood, we work with academic, clinical, and industry authors to ensure that manuscripts are:

• Scientifically sound and clearly structured

• Written in fluent, journal-appropriate English

• Fully compliant with submission and reporting guidelines

• Strategically positioned for journal selection and peer review

• Supported throughout revisions and reviewer responses

Whether you are preparing your first manuscript or submitting to a high-impact journal under time pressure, our medical writing experts offer tailored support to improve your chance of publication success.

Final Thoughts

Manuscript rejection is not always a reflection of poor research. Often, it is the result of misalignment, oversight, or preventable errors. With thoughtful planning, attention to detail, and expert writing support, your manuscript can meet the high standards of peer-reviewed publication.

Ready to submit with confidence?

Contact Rockwood Medical Writing Agency to discuss your manuscript goals today.