Targeted literature searches are a fundamental part of writing clinical manuscripts that will meet the standards of high-quality journals and contribute meaningfully to evidence-based practice. When physicians write clinical manuscripts, utilizing a targeted literature search can identify high-quality, relevant, and current evidence. While a general literature review is useful, a targeted literature search is specific to the clinical question and should be completed through frameworks established, such as PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) and PRISMA [1].

Choosing the Right Journal Based on Manuscript Type: A Must-Know Guide for Authors

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Choosing the Right Journal Based on Manuscript Type: A Must-Know Guide for Authors

Choosing the right journal for your manuscript is an essential part of the scholarly publishing process. Most manuscript rejections are not due to the quality of the research, but instead from mistake of selecting journals that do not fit the manuscript type. In this guide, we provide authors guidance on the specifics of journal selection, distinctions of the right manuscript types, and tips that can help authors successfully submit a manuscript. [1]

1. Common Types of Manuscripts

It is important to understand manuscript classification first before choosing a specific journal to approach. Many journals indicate the types they accept, and approaching a journal that is not in your classification may lead to desk rejection.

Manuscript Type	Purpose	Example
Original Research Article	Reports new, significant, and complete findings	Clinical trial, experimental lab study
Review Article	Summarizes and evaluates existing research	Systematic review, scoping review
Case Report	Describes a rare or unusual case	Uncommon disease presentation
Short Communication	Brief report of new research findings or methodologies	Preliminary results, protocol reports
Technical Note	Describes a new technique or modification to existing methods	Novel imaging procedure
Perspective/Opinion	Author’s viewpoint or theoretical insight on current issues	AI in healthcare ethics
Editorial/Commentary	Invited pieces commenting on published articles or field developments	Response to a research article
Letter to the Editor	Critical comments on previously published works	Concern about statistical interpretation

2. Why Submitting to the Wrong Journal Type Leads to Failure

High-quality manuscripts can still be rejected if submitted to the wrong journal. If the content and the journal’s scope do not match, the potential for visibility and acceptance is diminished.

Desk Rejection: When editors determine the content is out of scope and reject prior to peer review.
Publication Delays: Months check and review for a wasted cycle. If the paper is still rejected there is no forward action.
Reduced Research Visibility: Publishing in non-indexed journals or journals with severely limited reach chances to be cited by other researchers is compromised.
Credibility Loss: Publishers submitting and resubmitting, when gaps between prior journal and publishing reputations, only showcases insufficient academic strategy.

3. How to Check If Your Manuscript Type Is Accepted by the Journal

To make certain that the manuscript type is harmonized with the journal’s published requirements prior to submitting the manuscript, complete the following four steps.[2]

3.1. Check the "Aims and Scope" Section

Defines, quite clearly, the domain, audience, and structure and type of articles being looked for. Often found on the journal landing page or publisher website.

3.2. Review "Instructions for Authors"

Includes the possible manuscript types (including word limits, abstract format, section headings, etc.).

3.3. Review Recently Published Articles

Look back through the last 6-12 months of published articles – look for the standard article formats and general topics.

3.4. Use Journal Match Tools

Elsevier Journal Finder, Springer Journal Suggester, Wiley Author Services.Input title, abstract and keywords, and the tools will suggest journals.

3.5. Example Table – Journal Acceptance Mapping

Journal Manuscript Types

Journal Name	Accepted Manuscript Types	Scope Keywords
The Lancet	Original, Review, Commentaries	Global health, clinical trials
PLOS ONE	Original Research, Protocols, Data Papers	Multidisciplinary science
BMJ Case Reports	Case Reports, Clinical Images	Clinical observations, rare conditions
IEEE Access	Technical Articles, Review Articles	Engineering, AI, hardware systems

4. Pubrica Tips for Successful Submission

Pubrica promotes a deliberate stepwise method for authors looking to maximize acceptance and visibility for the article they submit. The steps in Pubrica’s Journal Selection Checklist are as follows: Match the type of manuscript with the Journal description and scope in the journal. Check the Impact Factor, indexing (Scopus, Web of Science) Check the review times and acceptance rate Check that it is not a predatory journal (use the DOAJ or COPE guidelines), Decide whether the journal is open access or subscription model depending on your fundi.

4.1. Focus on One Key Message

Pubrica’s Top 5 Submission Strategies

Pre-Screen Multiple Journals

Develop 3 tiers of journal lists – primary, secondary, B-level options.

Match Manuscript Style to Target Journal

Align to the journal’s format, citations, and organization style.

Include SEO Title and Abstract.

Include 3-5 keywords in the title and abstract to increase the visibility/discoverability.

Explain the Relevance of Your Manuscript in the Cover Letter

Provide the editor with 1-2 sentences to demonstrate why this article is relevant to the journal’s audience.

Edit Language from a Professional

Use a professional scientific editing service to comply with the journal’s grammatical requirements.

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Failing to follow the target journal’s author guidelines and formatting requirements is one of the most common mistakes in journal submission. [3]

Submission Mistakes Table

Mistake	Impact
Submitting a case report to a journal not accepting it	Desk rejection
Using generic formatting	Incompatibility with submission system
Ignoring impact factor relevance	May affect academic reputation
Submitting without verifying indexing	Reduces chances of academic recognition
Not checking APC (Article Processing Charges)	Leads to budget mismatches or withdrawals

6. Summary Table: Journal Selection Strategy

Submission Preparation Steps

Step	Action
Identify Manuscript Type	Classify: Original/Review/Case/Commentary etc.
Shortlist Journals	Based on scope, indexing, review time
Verify Acceptance Criteria	Check “For Authors” section + recent issues
Customize Submission	Title, abstract, formatting, cover letter
Use Editorial Support	Consider Pubrica’s editing and submission help

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Conclusion

Selecting a journal appropriate for your manuscript type is arguably the first and most important step to circumvent rejection, time lost and disappearing visibility. You will want to match your paper to the scope of the journal, identify their format and article types. Find journal finder tools using the journal’s name or your keyword search terms, examine their submission guidelines and consider hiring an expert service such as Pubrica’s journal selection service to help you with manuscript transitions and optimize your chances of successful publication.

Choosing the Right Journal Based on Manuscript Type: A Must-Know Guide for Authors? Pubrica offers end-to-end research design, analysis, and reporting support.

References

Sands, L. P. (2019). How to choose the right journal for your manuscript. Innovation in Aging, 3(Supplement_1), S223–S223. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igz038.820
Lee, K. P., Boyd, E. A., Holroyd-Leduc, J. M., Bacchetti, P., & Bero, L. A. (2006). Predictors of publication: characteristics of submitted manuscripts associated with acceptance at major biomedical journals. The Medical Journal of Australia, 184(12), 621–626. https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00418.x
Kirillova, O. V., & Association of Scientific Editors and Publishers (ASEP). (2019). How to avoid mistakes when preparing a journal to submit to Scopus. Science Editor and Publisher, 4(3–4), 169–188. https://doi.org/10.24069/2542-0267-2019-3-4-169-188