Cover Letter是编辑对你的第一印象。很多人要么写得像模板,要么犯了致命错误,导致论文还没送审就被退回。今天说清楚Cover Letter里最不该出现的3句话,以及你应该写什么。

不该写的话1:“Please consider my manuscript for publication.”
太废话了。你投稿不就是让人考虑吗?
✅ 应该写:“We believe this work is a strong fit for [Journal Name] because it addresses [specific gap], which aligns with your recent publications on [topic].”
(表明你研究过这个期刊,不是海投。)

不该写的话2:“This paper has not been submitted elsewhere.”
虽然这是事实,但写在Cover Letter里像在辩解。而且如果你一稿多投,写了这句就是造假。
✅ 应该写:把它并入一段标准声明:“This manuscript is original, has not been published before, and is not currently under consideration elsewhere. All authors have approved this submission.”
(一段话搞定,不要单列。)

不该写的话3:“I am a graduate student, please give me a chance.”
卖惨没用。编辑关心的是论文质量,不是你写了多久。
✅ 应该写:突出论文的创新性和严谨性。不要提你的身份(除非期刊要求)。如果期刊匿名评审,Cover Letter里也不要写作者名字。

标准Cover Letter结构(5段,半页纸)

  1. 投稿声明:标题+投稿类型。

  2. 研究亮点:2-3句话说清楚——研究了什么问题?最重要的发现是什么?为什么适合这个期刊?(这里要引用1-2篇该期刊近期的论文,表明你做过功课。)

  3. 创新点:1句话说明与已有研究的不同。

  4. 标准声明:原创性、未一稿多投、作者知情。

  5. 结尾:感谢编辑,注明通讯作者。

模板示例

Dear Editor,

Please find our manuscript entitled “The Effect of XXXXX” for consideration as a Research Article in [Journal Name].

This study investigates XXXXX. The key finding is that XXXXX, which challenges the prevailing view that XXXXX. We believe this work aligns well with your journal’s recent focus on XXXXX (e.g., the paper by Smith et al., 2023).

Unlike previous studies that XXXXX, our research provides XXXXX.

This manuscript is original, has not been published elsewhere, and is not under consideration by another journal. All authors have read and approved this submission.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Correspondence can be addressed to [name and email].

最后检查

  • 期刊名字写对了吗?(很多人把“Journal of XXX”漏掉“of”)

  • 你的名字和单位写了吗?(如果期刊要求匿名,不要写)

  • 有没有拼写错误?

写一封专业的Cover Letter,是对编辑的尊重,也是你学术素养的体现。花15分钟认真写,不亏。

(编辑王老师)