Many journals desk‑reject a substantial share of submissions during initial editorial screening studies and publisher reports commonly show desk‑rejection rates in the tens of percent, depending on discipline and journal. Editors place rapid emphasis on fit, clarity and technical compliance; when manuscripts fail to follow author instructions or present inconsistent formatting, editors often stop the review process. This means that even strong science can be sidelined before peer review unless style and formatting are treated as core parts of manuscript preparation. This article explains what style and formatting mean in an academic context, when and why they matter, common mistakes that trigger early rejection, how correct style supports communication and reproducibility, and practical steps (including when to consider professional help) to ensure your manuscript clears the first editorial gate.
What style and formatting mean
- Style: the set of writing conventions used to present content—tone, voice, citation system, nomenclature, and discipline‑specific phrasing. In academic contexts, “academic writing style” implies formality, hedging/precision and engagement with the scholarly conversation.
- Formatting: the visual and structural rules for the manuscript—page layout, fonts, headings, line spacing, title page elements, figure/table placement, reference formatting, and compliance with journal templates or house style. A style guide documents these standards and may be general (Chicago, APA) or journal‑specific (house style).
Why style and formatting matter
- First impressions determine progression. Editors use an initial screen to decide whether a manuscript proceeds to peer review; poor formatting or missing required elements can contribute to a desk rejection. Journal audits and editor surveys report that a meaningful share of submissions are rejected before review due to technical noncompliance.
- Readability and reviewer focus. Clean, consistent formatting directs reviewers’ attention to methods and results rather than to layout errors or ambiguous citations, improving the quality and speed of review.
- Reproducibility and compliance. Using reporting guidelines and correct styles (e.g., PRISMA for systematic reviews) improves transparency and often measurably increases reporting completeness. Editors increasingly require checklists and structured reporting as part of submission.
- Administrative efficiency. Correct formatting reduces administrative back-and‑forth (requests to reformat), shaving weeks off processing time and decreasing the risk of avoidable rejections.
Common formatting mistakes and how they cause problems
- Missing required sections or elements (e.g., trial registration, ethics statements, cover letter): editors may treat a manuscript as incomplete and return it.
- Inconsistent or incorrect references: poor citation format can make it harder to check prior work and signal lack of attention to detail.
- Incorrect file types or figure resolution: many journals have strict requirements; non‑compliant files may delay or prevent review.
- Ignoring word or figure limits: exceeding stated limits frequently leads to requests for reformatting or early rejection.
How style (voice and terminology) supports scientific communication
- Shared conventions enable rapid comprehension. When you use standardized terms and consistent units, readers assess your claims more efficiently. Define domain‑specific terms (e.g., “operational definition,” “systematic review”) when first used to ensure accessibility across interdisciplinary audiences.
- Reporting checklists (PRISMA, CONSORT, STROBE) act as style‑adjacent tools: they are not only formatting aids but also content checklists that increase clarity and reproducibility. Studies show reporting completeness improves when authors follow these checklists.
Practical checklist: what to fix before you submit
Before hitting submit, implement this prioritized checklist:
- Read the journal’s “Instructions for authors” and apply its template exactly.
- Check mandatory elements: cover letter, title page, abstract structure, trial/ethics statements, funding disclosures.
- Verify reference style and link DOI numbers or PubMed IDs where appropriate to allow ease of verification and editorial checks.
- Ensure figures/tables meet resolution and format specs and are referred to in the correct order.
- Run a final language pass and use “Styles” in Word or LaTeX templates to ensure consistency across headings and numbering. (Tips: set heading styles centrally rather than manual formatting.)
A brief case study
- A clinical‑trial manuscript missing the CONSORT flow diagram or trial registration number may be returned at screening even if the data are strong. Journals increasingly enforce such requirements to support transparency.
Common misconceptions and how style differs by discipline
- STEM manuscripts often prioritize concise methods and structured abstracts; humanities may allow longer, discursive prose—always follow the target journal’s disciplinary conventions.
- Mistake to avoid: assuming “formatting is cosmetic.” In practice formatting communicates seriousness, facilitates reproducibility and often determines whether your paper reaches peer review.
Actionable next steps Implement the short checklist above for your current manuscript.
- Use reporting checklists relevant to your design (e.g., PRISMA, CONSORT) and attach the populated checklist at submission.
- If uncertain about language or strict template compliance, evaluate professional editing + formatting support to avoid avoidable delays.
Final note
Treat style and formatting as integral to your research workflow rather than as a last‑minute chore. Start applying journal templates and reporting checklists early in manuscript drafting, and if you face constraints in time, language, or complex templates, consider professional editing + formatting support to reduce avoidable desk rejections and speed the path to meaningful peer review.
Consider professional formatting or editing when: English fluency is not native and language issues obscure meaning; the journal’s template is complex; you must produce high‑quality figures or reformat for multiple target journals.
Enago’s manuscript editing services combine language editing, formatting to journal templates, citation formatting, and checks for compliance with reporting guidelines, helping authors reduce editorial delays and focus on their science.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unintentional plagiarism occurs when authors reuse text, ideas, or structural elements from other sources without adequate citation or sufficient paraphrasing, but without deliberate intent to deceive. Common forms include patchwriting with poor paraphrasing that preserves original structure, missing or incorrect citations, reusing standard methodological phrasing without contextualization, and self-plagiarism where authors recycle their own earlier work without attribution. Unlike deliberate plagiarism, these errors stem from misunderstanding, time pressure, or inadequate training rather than intentional misconduct.
Research shows that awareness doesn't always translate to correct practice. Studies of research students found that while most reported knowledge of plagiarism concepts, many hadn't read institutional regulations fully and still committed unintentional overlap across disciplines. Primary causes include time pressure from publish-or-perish incentives that compress writing schedules, language barriers where non-native English speakers struggle with technical paraphrasing, poor training on citation norms, misunderstanding what constitutes common knowledge, and over-reliance on automated tools without human contextual review.
Editors should implement a two-step workflow combining automated screening with human contextual judgment. First, run every submission through vetted similarity-checking services like CrossCheck or iThenticate during initial triage before peer review. Then, manually review flagged matches to distinguish acceptable reuse in Methods sections or boilerplate text from problematic overlap in novel analysis. Follow COPE flowcharts for consistent handling, communicate clearly with authors about minor overlaps requesting revisions, and escalate to institutional contacts only when overlap suggests serious misconduct or authors don't respond.
Automated plagiarism detection tools report textual similarity percentages but cannot determine intent or evaluate context. They flag all matches equally, including acceptable reuse of standard methodological phrasing, proper citations, common disciplinary terminology, and references sections. Tools provide fast, consistent database comparisons but lack the judgment to distinguish discipline-specific norms where method reuse is standard practice. Human editorial review remains essential to interpret similarity reports, evaluate paraphrase quality, assess whether appropriate attribution exists, and make nuanced decisions about significance and intent.
Authors should run pre-submission similarity checks and manually review each flagged match, removing or properly citing any unacknowledged reuse. Maintain meticulous reference manager records during drafting to prevent citation drift. When paraphrasing, change both wording and sentence structure while citing the original source; reserve direct quotes for cases where specific wording is critical. Declare any intentionally reused text, such as previously published methods, in cover letters with proper citations. Keep detailed notes linking claims to sources throughout the writing process to ensure no attribution gaps.
Pre-submission editorial services reduce accidental plagiarism by correcting poor paraphrasing and improving attribution language, standardizing reference formatting and ensuring citations appear where required, and preparing authors to interpret similarity reports before journal submission. Professional manuscript editors combine language refinement with citation practice guidance, helping authors distinguish between acceptable discipline-specific phrasing and problematic textual overlap. Services like Enago's manuscript editing refine paraphrase quality while improving readability, reducing the likelihood that mechanical similarity checks will flag text requiring only clearer attribution rather than complete rewriting.
