A cover letter is one of the few parts of a journal submission where you get to speak directly to the editor, before a single reviewer reads your manuscript. A weak or generic cover letter won’t save a poor manuscript, but a clear, well-structured one can help an editor quickly understand why your paper belongs in their journal — which matters, since editors decide whether to send a paper out for review at all. Here’s how to structure one. (This pairs with our broader guide on formatting a manuscript for journal submission.)
What a Journal Cover Letter Should Include
- Editor’s name and journal name — addressed to a specific editor whenever the journal’s website lists one, rather than “Dear Editor.”
- Manuscript title and article type — stated clearly in the opening line, along with the type of submission (original research, review, brief report).
- A one- or two-sentence summary of the study — what was studied and the main finding, written for someone who hasn’t read the manuscript yet.
- Why it fits this specific journal — a sentence connecting your work to the journal’s scope or a recent related paper it published. This is the part most cover letters skip, and it’s often what makes an editor take a submission seriously.
- A statement of originality — confirming the manuscript is original, not under review elsewhere, and not previously published (required by nearly every journal).
- Conflict of interest and funding disclosure — a brief statement, even if it’s simply “the authors declare no conflict of interest.”
- Corresponding author’s contact information — full name, affiliation, email, and phone number.
Some journals also expect a brief statement confirming that all listed co-authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript and agree with its submission — check whether your target journal requires this explicitly in the cover letter or as a separate form.
A Simple Structure to Follow
Paragraph 1: Manuscript title, article type, and a one-sentence summary of the study and its main finding.
Paragraph 2: Why the study matters and why it fits this journal specifically — its relevance to the journal’s scope or readership.
Paragraph 3: Required statements — originality, conflicts of interest, funding, and confirmation that all authors have approved the submission.
Closing: Thank the editor for their consideration, and provide the corresponding author’s full contact details.
Adjusting the Letter for Resubmissions
If you’re resubmitting a manuscript that was rejected elsewhere, or submitting a revised version after reviewer feedback, the cover letter needs an additional element: a brief, honest note on what changed, without necessarily disclosing that it was previously rejected by another journal (this isn’t required, and most editors don’t expect it). For a revised submission to the same journal after peer review, the cover letter typically references the revision and points to a separate, more detailed point-by-point response document addressing each reviewer’s comments individually.
Common Cover Letter Mistakes
- Simply restating the abstract instead of explaining the study’s significance and fit for the journal
- Addressing the wrong editor or journal (a clear sign of a copy-pasted letter from a previous submission — editors notice this)
- Leaving out a required statement the journal specifically asks for, like data availability or ethics approval
- Making the letter too long — most effective cover letters fit on a single page
- Overselling the findings with language the manuscript itself doesn’t support (“groundbreaking,” “first-ever”) — this can undercut credibility rather than build it
- Using an overly casual tone, or conversely an overly stiff, generic template with no specific connection to the journal at all
A Short Template
Dear Dr. [Editor’s Last Name],
Please find enclosed our manuscript, “[Manuscript Title],” which we would like to submit for consideration as [article type] in [Journal Name].
[One to two sentences: what was studied and the key finding.]
[One to two sentences: why this fits the journal’s scope, or connects to work the journal has previously published.]
This manuscript is original, has not been published previously, and is not under consideration elsewhere. All authors have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission. [Add any required conflict of interest or funding statement here.]
Thank you for considering our manuscript. Please contact me at [email] with any questions.
Sincerely,
[Corresponding author name and affiliation]
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a cover letter be? One page is standard — roughly three to four short paragraphs. Editors read many of these, and a long letter is more likely to be skimmed than a focused one.
Do all journals require a cover letter? Most do, though a small number make it optional. When it’s optional, including one is still generally worth doing — it costs little effort and gives you a chance to make your case directly to the editor.
Should the cover letter mention limitations of the study? Generally no — save a discussion of limitations for the manuscript’s discussion section. The cover letter’s job is to introduce the work and make the case for the journal, not to pre-empt reviewer criticism.
Preparing a submission package — the cover letter, formatted manuscript, and every required supporting file — takes time to get exactly right. Our manuscript formatting service can help prepare your full submission package. Get in touch if you’d like support before your next submission.