Cover letter for a journal submission
One page. Four required statements. Written in your words, not your abstract. Built from what Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis and ICMJE actually ask for — sources at the bottom.
Editors look for four things: that the paper is not published or under review elsewhere, that all authors approved it, who the corresponding author is, and why it fits this journal. Everything else is one paragraph on why the work matters. Springer Nature's required sentence, verbatim: “We confirm that this manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal.”
What editors require — three sources, one table
| Element | Springer Nature | Taylor & Francis | ICMJE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editor's name, journal name, date | yes | yes | — |
| Manuscript title and article type | yes | yes | — |
| Why it matters, in your own words (not the abstract) | yes | yes — “Don't copy your abstract” | — |
| Fit with the journal's aims and scope | yes | yes | — |
| Not published elsewhere, not under consideration | yes (exact wording below) | yes | yes — “all submissions and previous reports that might be regarded as redundant publication” |
| All authors approved the manuscript | yes | — | yes — “A statement on authorship” |
| Competing interests | — | yes | yes (if not in the manuscript or authors' form) |
| Corresponding author contact | yes | yes | yes |
| Related manuscripts under review at the same publisher | yes | — | yes |
| Ethics / permissions where relevant | yes | — | yes (permission for reproduced material) |
Compiled from the three guidance pages listed under Sources, read 6 October 2026. The journal's own Instructions for Authors override all of them.
Fill in
Subject
Submission: [Manuscript title]
Letter
Dear [Editor's name], Please consider our manuscript "[Manuscript title]" for publication in [Journal] as a [Article type]. [Why it matters, in your own words] We believe this work fits [Journal] because [Why this journal]. We confirm that this manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal. All authors have read and approved the manuscript and agree to its submission. Competing interests: [Competing interests]. I will serve as corresponding author: [Your name], [Institution]. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, [Your name], on behalf of all authors
Personal fields are never written to the URL — a shared link carries the journal, not you.
Keep it to one page — and leave these out
- The abstract pasted in. Taylor & Francis: “explain in your own words the significance.”
- Jargon, acronyms, excessive detail. Taylor & Francis: “keep your cover letter to a maximum of one page.”
- Suggested reviewers, unless the journal's instructions ask for them in the letter — most take them in the submission form.
- Anything the manuscript already states. ICMJE allows the competing-interest statement to live in the manuscript or the authors' form instead.
- Spelling errors. Taylor & Francis: “ensure your letter is thoroughly proofed.”
Cover letter vs cover page
A cover letter is the message to the editor above. A cover page (title page) is the first page of the manuscript itself — title, authors, affiliations, corresponding author, word count — and its layout is set by the journal's template, not by this page.
Before you send
- Check the journal's own Instructions for Authors — Springer Nature and Taylor & Francis both say the journal page overrides general guidance.
- If the journal charges an APC and your country is on a waiver list, say so in one line and link the policy: check your country · waiver confirmation letter.
- The editor's name is on the journal's homepage or editorial-board page; “Dear Editor” is acceptable if the journal rotates handling editors.
- Paid services charge for this letter — AJE from $40, Enago $60 on their price pages (6 October 2026). Editing and proofreading prices compared.
Questions
Do I need a cover letter at all?
Most journals ask for one; Springer Nature and Taylor & Francis both describe it as the place to make the case for your paper. Some submission systems replace it with structured fields — the same four statements still apply.
How long should a journal cover letter be?
One page (Taylor & Francis: “keep your cover letter to a maximum of one page”). Springer Nature gives no word count; follow the journal's instructions.
Must I declare a related paper under review elsewhere?
Yes. ICMJE asks for a full statement on anything that might be regarded as redundant publication; Springer Nature asks specifically about related manuscripts at its other journals.
Who signs the cover letter?
The corresponding author, on behalf of all authors, with a statement that all authors approved the submission (ICMJE, Springer Nature).
Sources for this page
- Springer Nature
- Cover letter and What editors want, read 6 October 2026
- Taylor & Francis
- How to write a cover letter for journal article submission, read 6 October 2026
- ICMJE
- Recommendations — Sending the submission, read 6 October 2026