Cover Letter for Journal Submission: Format and Template

A cover letter for a journal submission is a short, formal note to the editor that introduces your manuscript, explains in two or three sentences what it argues and why it suits that journal, and confirms the standard declarations on originality, exclusive submission and conflicts of interest. It should fit on one page. A good cover letter will not get a weak paper accepted, but a careless one can make a good paper look careless. Below you will find what to include, what to leave out, and a template you can adapt.

Why the cover letter matters

The editor is usually the first person to read your submission, and often decides within minutes whether it goes to peer review. The cover letter helps the editor answer three quick questions:

1. What is this paper about, and what does it add?
2. Does it fit this journal’s scope and readers?
3. Has the author followed the rules and made the required declarations?

If your letter answers these clearly, you have made the editor’s job easier, and that always helps.

What to include

What to leave out

• Your entire abstract. The editor will read it separately. Summarise in your own fresh words instead.
• Exaggeration. Phrases like “groundbreaking” or “first ever study” make editors sceptical.
• Your life story. Your degree and institution are enough. Long biographies are unnecessary.
• Requests for a quick decision or for guaranteed publication.
• Copy-paste errors, such as another journal’s name. This is a very common mistake and an instant bad impression.

Cover letters and blind review

In a double-blind journal, the cover letter goes to the editor, not to reviewers, so it can carry your name. Your manuscript must still be fully anonymised. Keep your name only on the cover letter and the separate title page. If the submission form has a single upload field, check the journal’s instructions on where to put identifying details. Our guide to double-blind peer review explains how to anonymise properly.

Cover letter template

Replace the bracketed parts with your own details.

[Date]

To
The Editor
[Full name of journal]

Subject: Submission of manuscript titled “[Title of your paper]”

Dear Editor,

I am pleased to submit my manuscript, “[Title]”, for consideration as a [research article / short article / case comment] in [journal name]. The manuscript is approximately [number] words including footnotes, and follows [OSCOLA / The Bluebook / APA] as required by your author guidelines.

The paper examines [the problem in one line]. It argues that [your main claim]. In doing so, it [your contribution, for example: offers the first sustained analysis of / proposes a framework for / tests the claim against data on] [specific area].

Given the journal’s focus on [scope area stated by the journal], I believe the paper will interest its readers, particularly [type of reader, such as scholars of criminal procedure or policymakers working on data governance].

I confirm that:

• the manuscript is my original work and has not been published, in whole or in part, elsewhere;
• it is not under consideration by any other journal or publication;
• all sources are properly acknowledged and quotations are marked;
• I have no conflict of interest to declare [or: I declare the following interest: …];
• [No generative AI tools were used / AI tools were used only for (purpose), as disclosed in the manuscript, in line with the journal’s policy].

Thank you for considering this submission. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,
[Full name]
[Designation, Department, Institution]
[Email] | [ORCID iD, if any]

A worked example of the key paragraph

The middle paragraph is where most letters go wrong. Compare these two versions for a paper on bail.

Weak: “This paper discusses bail in India. Bail is a very important topic and there are many issues. The paper covers all aspects of bail law.”

Strong: “This paper examines how trial courts set monetary bail conditions for undertrial prisoners who cannot afford sureties. It argues that the statutory power to release on personal bond is under-used, and proposes a short checklist for magistrates to apply at the first hearing.”

The strong version names a specific problem, states an argument and shows a contribution, all in two sentences.

Co-authored papers

If there are several authors, the corresponding author writes the letter. Add a line confirming that all authors have approved the manuscript and agree to its submission, and list each author’s name and affiliation at the end, or on the title page if the journal prefers.

Cover letter for a revised manuscript

When you resubmit after peer review, the cover letter is shorter. Thank the editor, state that you have revised the paper in response to the reviewers’ comments, list the three or four main changes, and refer the editor to your detailed response letter. Our guide on how to respond to reviewer comments includes a response letter template.

Final checklist before you send

• Correct journal name and editor’s name spelt correctly.
• Title matches the manuscript exactly.
• Word count and citation style match the author guidelines.
• All declarations included and true.
• One page, formal tone, no spelling errors.
• Manuscript itself is anonymised if the review is blind.

For the full submission process, read how to publish a research paper in a law journal in India.

The Lexfolio Journal of Law, Policy and Social Sciences (LJLPS) accepts submissions throughout the year in law, public policy and allied social sciences. Its author guidelines set out what to include with your manuscript.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cover letter compulsory for journal submission?

Many journals require one, and others treat it as optional. Even where it is optional, a short, clear cover letter is a good habit and helps the editor.

How long should a cover letter be?

One page is ideal. Three or four short paragraphs plus the declarations are enough for almost any submission.

Can I use the same cover letter for every journal?

You can reuse the structure, but always rewrite the journal name, the scope paragraph and any journal-specific declarations. Generic letters are easy for editors to spot.

Should I suggest reviewers in my cover letter?

Only if the journal asks for suggested reviewers. If it does, suggest independent experts with no conflict of interest, and give their institutional details.