Three short documents decide whether your paper is sent to reviewers: the title, the abstract and the cover letter. Together they are under 600 words. Editors read them first, and at many SCI and SSCI journals they are the only things an editor reads before deciding. This guide shows how to write an abstract, title and cover letter that pass editorial screening, with templates you can adapt and the errors that end a submission in the first minute.
Title, abstract and cover letter combined. Editors decide on desk rejection from these three documents more often than from the manuscript itself.
三份简短的文件决定您的论文是否会被送审：标题、摘要和投稿信。三者加起来不到 600 词。编辑最先读它们，而在许多 SCI 和 SSCI 期刊，它们是编辑做决定前唯一会读的东西。本指南展示如何撰写能通过编辑筛查的摘要、标题和投稿信，提供可改编的模板，并指出会在第一分钟终结投稿的错误。
标题、摘要和投稿信合计。编辑更多是根据这三份文件、而不是稿件本身来决定是否初审拒稿。
The title: state the finding, not the topic
A title that names a topic ("A study of leadership and innovation in Chinese SMEs") tells the editor nothing about what was found and nothing about fit. A title that states the relationship or result ("Transformational leadership increases product innovation in Chinese SMEs through employee voice") tells the editor the variables, the context, the mechanism and the direction, and lets a reviewer decide in seconds whether they are qualified. Titles that state findings are also cited more, because searchers see the result in the search list.
| Pattern | Example | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Result statement | "X improves Y in Z" | SCI empirical papers with a clear effect |
| Relationship plus mechanism | "X and Y in Z: the mediating role of M" | SSCI papers with a theoretical model |
| Question | "Does X reduce Y? Evidence from Z" | Papers with mixed or conditional findings |
| Method plus object | "A deep-learning approach to X in Z" | SCI method papers |
Keep titles under about 15 words, include the two or three terms a searcher would use, and avoid clever phrases before a colon. See how to write a title that gets clicks and citations.
标题：陈述发现，而非主题
只点出主题的标题（"中国中小企业领导力与创新研究"）没有告诉编辑发现了什么，也没有说明契合度。陈述关系或结果的标题（"变革型领导通过员工建言提升中国中小企业的产品创新"）告诉编辑变量、情境、机制和方向，让审稿人几秒内判断自己是否胜任。陈述发现的标题也被引用得更多，因为检索者在结果列表中就能看到结论。
| 模式 | 示例 | 最适合 |
|---|---|---|
| 结果陈述 | "X 在 Z 中改善 Y" | 有明确效应的 SCI 实证论文 |
| 关系加机制 | "Z 中的 X 与 Y：M 的中介作用" | 有理论模型的 SSCI 论文 |
| 问句 | "X 能降低 Y 吗？来自 Z 的证据" | 发现混合或有条件的论文 |
| 方法加对象 | "一种用于 Z 中 X 的深度学习方法" | SCI 方法论文 |
标题控制在约 15 词以内，包含检索者会用的两三个术语，避免冒号前的巧妙短语。参见《如何写出获得点击和引用的标题》。
The abstract: six sentences, in order
Most SCI and SSCI abstracts are 150 to 250 words. The structure that survives screening is the same in both indexes, whether the journal uses headings or not.
- Context.One sentence: why the problem matters.
- Gap.One sentence: what is unknown or contested, stated specifically.
- Aim and approach.One or two sentences: what this study did, with design, sample and setting.
- Key results.Two sentences, with numbers: effect sizes, directions, the headline comparison.
- Contribution.One sentence: what changes in theory, practice or method because of this.
- Implication.Optional, one sentence: who should act differently.
An abstract with no numbers in the results sentences will be read as an abstract for a paper without results. Put at least two figures in: the effect, the sample, the improvement, the difference.
Keywords are chosen after the abstract: five to eight terms that do not repeat the title, drawn from the journal's own keyword conventions. See the abstract guide with template and how to choose keywords.
摘要：六句话，按顺序
大多数 SCI 和 SSCI 摘要为 150 至 250 词。无论期刊是否使用小标题，能通过筛查的结构在两个索引中是一样的。
- 背景。一句：问题为何重要。
- 空白。一句：什么未知或有争议，具体陈述。
- 目标与方法。一到两句：本研究做了什么，含设计、样本和场景。
- 关键结果。两句，带数字：效应量、方向、核心比较。
- 贡献。一句：由此在理论、实践或方法上改变了什么。
- 启示。可选，一句：谁应该改变做法。
结果句中没有数字的摘要，会被当作一篇没有结果的论文的摘要。至少放两个数字：效应、样本、改善幅度、差异。
关键词在摘要之后选择：五到八个不与标题重复的术语，参考期刊自身的关键词惯例。参见《摘要写作指南与模板》和《如何选择关键词》。
The cover letter: three paragraphs, nothing generic
The cover letter is addressed to the editor, not the reviewers. Its job is to make the case for review in the editor's own terms: what the paper contributes, why it belongs in this journal, and that it meets the journal's conditions. Editors can tell a template from a real letter in one line.
Paragraph 1. "We submit the manuscript entitled [title] for consideration as a [article type] in [journal]. The study [one sentence on what it did] and finds that [one sentence on the main result with a number]."
Paragraph 2. "The paper contributes by [contribution in one or two sentences]. It fits [journal] because [name two or three recent articles in the journal on related questions, and say how this paper extends them]. We believe it will interest your readers working on [topic]."
Paragraph 3. "The manuscript is original, is not under consideration elsewhere, and all authors have approved the submission. [Ethics approval reference.] [Any conflict of interest.] We suggest [three reviewers with affiliations and emails] and have no reviewer exclusions [or state them]. Thank you for your consideration."
Do not summarise the whole paper, do not praise the journal, and do not exceed one page. Our post on cover letter templates for journal submission gives three variants, and how to suggest reviewers explains how to choose names the editor will accept.
投稿信：三段，没有套话
投稿信写给编辑，不是写给审稿人。它的任务是用编辑自己的标准论证为何值得送审：论文贡献了什么、为何属于这本期刊、以及它符合期刊的条件。编辑一行就能分辨模板和真实的信。
第一段。"我们提交题为[标题]的稿件，请贵刊考虑作为[文章类型]发表。本研究[一句话说明做了什么]，发现[一句话说明主要结果，带数字]。"
第二段。"本文的贡献在于[一到两句贡献]。它适合[期刊]，因为[列举期刊近期两三篇相关问题的文章，并说明本文如何扩展它们]。我们相信它会引起贵刊关注[主题]的读者的兴趣。"
第三段。"本稿件为原创，未在他处投稿，所有作者均已同意提交。[伦理批准编号。][任何利益冲突。]我们推荐[三位审稿人及其单位和邮箱]，无需回避的审稿人[或说明]。感谢您的考虑。"
不要概述整篇论文，不要赞美期刊，不要超过一页。《投稿信模板》给出三种变体，《如何推荐审稿人》解释如何选择编辑会接受的人选。
Errors that end a submission in the first minute
Screening failures editors report
- Title names a topic area with no variables or result
- Abstract has no numbers and no contribution sentence
- Abstract promises analysis the paper does not contain
- Cover letter addressed to the wrong journal or wrong editor
- Cover letter is a copy of the abstract
- Keywords repeat the title word for word
- Title, abstract and cover letter state the same contribution in the same words
- Cover letter names recent articles in this journal
- Article type and word count confirmed against the guidelines
The last positive item matters more than it looks. A consistent contribution sentence across the three documents signals a paper that knows what it is. The reverse, three different claims, signals a paper still looking for its point. Our post on avoiding desk rejection with a strong abstract shows the link to screening, and why SCI and SSCI papers get desk rejected lists the other reasons.
SCI and SSCI nuances
SCI journals more often use structured abstracts with headings and expect quantitative results with precision. SSCI journals more often use unstructured abstracts and expect the theoretical contribution to be named. Cover letters for SSCI journals benefit from one sentence on the theoretical conversation the paper joins; cover letters for SCI journals benefit from one sentence on novelty relative to the most recent comparable work. Read SCI versus SSCI expectations for the wider picture.
A first-time researcher in computer science who had never written a cover letter took a paper from concept to SCI Q4 acceptance in about three months with structured support. Read the case study → Our Submission Support service covers the title, abstract, cover letter, formatting and reviewer suggestions as one package.
会在第一分钟终结投稿的错误
编辑报告的筛查失败
- 标题只有主题领域，没有变量或结果
- 摘要没有数字，没有贡献句
- 摘要承诺了论文中没有的分析
- 投稿信写给了错误的期刊或编辑
- 投稿信是摘要的复制
- 关键词逐字重复标题
- 标题、摘要和投稿信用同样的措辞陈述同一个贡献
- 投稿信提到了这本期刊的近期文章
- 文章类型和字数已对照指南确认
最后一项正面要点比看起来更重要。三份文件中一致的贡献句，表明这是一篇清楚自己是什么的论文。反之，三种不同的说法，表明论文还在寻找自己的要点。《用强摘要避免初审拒稿》展示了与筛查的关联，《SCI 与 SSCI 论文为何被初审拒稿》列出了其他原因。
SCI 与 SSCI 的细微差别
SCI 期刊更常使用带小标题的结构化摘要，期望精确的定量结果。SSCI 期刊更常使用非结构化摘要，期望点明理论贡献。投给 SSCI 期刊的投稿信宜加一句论文加入了哪场理论对话；投给 SCI 期刊的投稿信宜加一句相对最新可比研究的新意。更广泛的比较请读《SCI 与 SSCI 的期望差异》。
一位从未写过投稿信的计算机科学新手研究者，在结构化支持下用约三个月将论文从概念推进到 SCI Q4 录用。阅读案例 → 投稿支持服务把标题、摘要、投稿信、排版和推荐审稿人作为一个整体来处理。
Highlights, graphical abstracts and other extras
Many Elsevier and some Springer journals ask for three to five "highlights": bullet points of under 85 characters each stating the key findings. Write them as results, not topics, and reuse the numbers from the abstract. Some SCI journals request a graphical abstract; a single clear figure of the design or the main result is enough, and our post on graphical abstracts explains what works. SSCI journals more often ask for a short author biography and a data availability statement. None of these are screening criteria on their own, but missing any required item can send the submission back before the editor reads it.
Suggested reviewers: the part of the cover letter that speeds review
Editors spend more time finding reviewers than reading papers. Three well-chosen suggestions, with current affiliations and institutional emails, can cut weeks from the first decision. Choose researchers who have published on your question in the last five years, are not your co-authors, collaborators or compatriots at the same institution, and are not on the journal's editorial board. If a reviewer has a conflict with you, state it and exclude them with a reason.
亮点、图形摘要及其他附加项
许多 Elsevier 期刊和部分 Springer 期刊要求三到五条"亮点"：每条不超过 85 个字符的要点，陈述关键发现。把它们写成结果而非主题，并复用摘要中的数字。部分 SCI 期刊要求图形摘要；一张清晰展示设计或主要结果的图就够了，《图形摘要》解释了什么有效。SSCI 期刊更常要求简短的作者简介和数据可用性声明。这些本身都不是筛查标准，但缺少任何必需项都可能在编辑阅读之前把投稿退回。
推荐审稿人：投稿信中加快评审的部分
编辑找审稿人花的时间比读论文更多。三个精心选择的推荐，附当前单位和机构邮箱，可以把首次决定提前数周。选择过去五年内就您的问题发表过论文、不是您的合著者、合作者或同一机构同事、也不在期刊编委会的研究者。如果某位审稿人与您有利益冲突，说明并给出理由排除。
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