TheMethods Bench
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Prepare my manuscript

Most desk rejections are structural, not scientific. Build the outline against the reporting guideline for your design, write the methods so they can be repeated, and audit the paper before a reviewer does.

Start with this

Build your manuscript outline

Plan the paper section by section against STROBE, CONSORT, COREQ or PRISMA, depending on your study type.

Open it

Then work through these, in order

  1. Understand “the methods are not clear”What reviewers actually want when they write that sentence.
  2. Report quantitative results wellEstimates, intervals and interpretation instead of a p-value list.
  3. Write qualitative findings, not a quote dumpBuild claims that the quotes support.
  4. Avoid common desk-rejection patternsThe problems editors screen for before peer review.
  5. Check the paper before submissionA final audit of references, reporting and consistency.
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