期刊编辑教你如何写好Cover letter（投稿信）
Submitting your manuscript: Write the right cover letter

by Catarina Sacristán ( the Editor of Trends in Molecular Medicine )

期刊编辑对提交的稿件的第一印象不仅在于文章标题，还在于Cover letter（投稿信）。

Cover letter是作者与期刊的第一次“正式”互动，为作者提供了一个极好的机会来展示其研究的科学贡献与重要性。

It may seem obvious, but a journal editor's first serious impression of a submitted manuscript lies not only with the article title but also, rather simply, with the cover letter. The cover letter is your first "formal" interaction with a journal, and it embodies a request, so to speak, to consider your article for publication. But it also provides you with an excellent opportunity to present the significance of your scientific contribution.

I've worked as an editor for primary research and review manuscripts alike, and despite their many similarities, there are distinctions to writing the cover letter for each. Here are some helpful tips for writing a suitable cover letter for Cell Press scientific journals. 

Cover Letter写作指南

Cover letter basics: What do we look for?

1. 内容为王

Cover Letter的开头应该简洁地解释某一领域之前已知的内容，然后陈述自己希望发表这篇文章的动机。接下来，立即阐述概念的先进性、及时性和新颖性。以及是什么让这项科研成果与众不同？这项工作的意义是什么，文章又将我们引向何方？这会引起广大读者的兴趣吗？

1. Let's start with content. We look for letters that start by succinctly explaining what was previously known in a given field and then state the authors' motivation for wishing to publish. Following that, the conceptual advance, timeliness, and novelty should be immediately conveyed. What sets apart this scientific contribution? What is the significance of the work, and where does the article lead us? Will this research be of interest to a broad readership?

2.切中要害

迅速传达关键信息，切忌长篇大论。一般来说，一页纸足矣。

2. Get to the point. We want a concise letter that quickly gets to the main point and the take-home message; this sets the stage for your manuscript. Succinctly explain the topic of discussion, and quickly convey the key conclusions. Do not submit a long dissertation. Generally, one page suffices and is preferred.

3. 不要直接复制文章的摘要内容

Cover Letter应该是文章关键点的综合，还记得“60秒电梯推销法”吗？重要的是，你需要在总结的基础上更进一步，例如，说明这些研究是如何推动该领域发展的，影响是否深远等等。

3. Do not rehash the abstract of the paper. Copying and pasting the abstract into your cover letter verbatim is a big no-no. Instead, we seek a synthesis of the key points—possibly, and depending on style, the summary might resemble a brief story pitch in an elevator! But importantly, you need to venture beyond the summary: write a sentence that takes you further than the obvious conclusions. How does the content move the field forward? Are the implications far-reaching?

4. “躁起来”

期刊编辑们完全可以体会到作者对于他们将要做出的科学贡献的兴奋感。总而言之，“你肯定会喜欢这篇文章的!”这种情绪应该渗透到你的内心深处。

4. Get excited! Authors' excitement about their scientific contributions can undoubtedly inspire the editor who's reading the cover letter. Overall, the sentiment of "you're gonna love reading this paper!" should seep through—make that happen!

5. 推荐审稿人名单

关于潜在的审稿人（包括他们的专业领域）的相关信息可以包括在内（建议3位），这绝对是一个加分项。另外，指明lead contact和他们的所属单位也可以帮助编辑们加快处理速度。

5. Include a wish list of reviewers. Relevant information on potential reviewers (including their field of expertise) can be included and is definitely a plus, as it can be quite helpful to the editor. By contrast, please don't provide a long list of excluded reviewers (three maximum), and most certainly do not suggest excluding authors from entire continents on the map! Also, save the editor some time by specifying which author should be the lead contact, and indicate their affiliation.

6.简单谦虚

这封信应该谦虚且直率，不要炫耀或花哨。不过，也可以主动表明文章或相关结果已经多次在XX会议上present，并且“非常”受到科学界的好评。所以让“科学”为自己说话吧。此外，还可以在Cover Letter中声明文章是原创的，且没有一稿多投。

6. Keep it simple ... and humble. In terms of style, consider sincerity and simplicity. The letter should be humble and forthcoming; don't be ostentatious or florid. Claims of priority, if not fully supported, tend to be a turnoff. In addition, statements indicating that the article or related findings have been presented at X number of conferences and are "tremendously" well received by the scientific community—or otherwise—do not add much to the cover letter. They might instead suggest right off the bat that a lot of cooing and convincing of the journal editor will be required. So let the "science" speak for itself. Also, a statement declaring that the article is original and isn't being considered elsewhere can only add to your cause!

7. 反复校对

一封没有拼写或语法错误的Cover Letter或许可以证明你是一个注重细节的作者。

7. Proofread your letter by checking the spelling, grammar, and syntax. A well-written letter indicates that you take your submission seriously and that you are an author who pays attention to detail.

8.检查每一个细节

再三确认这封信的收件人是你想要投稿的期刊的编辑。我时常会见到写错了期刊名或收件人这种“本可以避免”的错误，而且发生的次数比我想象得要多。

8. Check every detail. Avoid mistakes such as directing the cover letter to the editor(s) of a different journal, or to a different journal altogether. This might suggest that you've submitted your article elsewhere, that it might have been poorly received, and perhaps that the Cell Press journal you're submitting to isn't your first choice. It could also suggest that you don't pay sufficient attention to detail. Sadly, these sorts of errors continue to surprise me and happen more often than I would like.

相关博文：Nature编辑教你如何写投稿信：What’s in your cover letter?