Introduction
Submitting a manuscript to a journal is a milestone for any researcher. But knowing what not to include can be just as crucial as knowing what to write. In India’s competitive academic environment—especially for early-career researchers—minor oversights can lead to outright rejections. This blog outlines elements that must be avoided in journal submissions, especially for those targeting UGC-CARE and Scopus-listed journals.
1. Uncited Claims or Unsupported Data
Avoid including data, statistics, or facts without proper citation. Reviewers expect every claim to be backed by credible sources. This is especially important in disciplines where citation ethics are strictly enforced, such as education, law, and health sciences.
Tip: Use recent sources, preferably from the last five years, and avoid citing Wikipedia or random websites.
2. Personal Opinions or Anecdotes
While qualitative research allows for narrative input, most academic journals do not welcome unsupported personal opinions or stories. Even in social sciences, statements must be grounded in literature or empirical observation.
Example to Avoid: “In my experience as a teacher, students prefer group learning.”
Better: “According to Kumar (2021), group learning improves student engagement in Indian classrooms.”
3. Colloquial or Informal Language
Academic writing demands precision and professionalism. Phrases like “a lot of,” “cool,” or “the thing is” dilute the seriousness of the manuscript. Even in humanities journals, the tone must remain formal and scholarly.
Tip: Avoid contractions (e.g., “don’t”) and instead use “do not.”
4. Excessive Self-Citation or Irrelevant Citations
Overloading your references with your own prior work or unrelated studies can be seen as manipulative or lazy. Citations should be relevant, strengthen your arguments, and reflect engagement with global and Indian scholarship.
Red Flag: More than 30% of references coming from the same author or journal.
5. Plagiarized or Poorly Paraphrased Text
Even accidental plagiarism can lead to desk rejection or blacklisting. Tools may not detect deeper rewording errors, but reviewers often catch tone mismatches. In India, most universities require a similarity score below 10-15%, especially in UGC-CARE-listed journals.
Solution: Write in your own words and use Turnitin or URKUND to pre-check.
6. Incomplete Abstract or Missing Keywords
Some authors write vague abstracts or forget to include keywords entirely. This hurts visibility and search indexing. Remember, the abstract is often the only part reviewers read before deciding to proceed.
Ideal Abstract: Should include purpose, methods, findings, and conclusion—within 250 words.
7. Overuse of Visuals or Poor-Quality Tables
Don’t flood your paper with too many figures or tables, especially if they do not add value. Also, avoid low-resolution images or ones without clear captions. Journals usually require original visuals with sources cited for any reused charts.
Guideline: Limit to 3–5 visuals unless required by the methodology.
8. Grammatical Errors and Typos
Sloppy grammar, spelling errors, and formatting issues reflect poorly on your seriousness as a scholar. Indian researchers often lose credibility with international reviewers due to basic language mistakes, even when the research itself is strong.
Tip: Proofread thoroughly or use a professional editing service before submission.
9. Excessive Length or Ignoring Word Limits
Many journals have strict guidelines on word count for each section. Overshooting limits without justification can lead to rejection without review. Don’t assume more words make your paper stronger—clarity matters more.
Tip: Follow the author guidelines exactly—section by section.
10. Unethical or Sensitive Content
Avoid making unverified claims on religion, caste, gender, or politics unless backed by strong data and contextual awareness. Even with good intentions, your work can be rejected for appearing biased or insensitive.
Important: Get ethical clearance if your research involves human subjects or controversial issues.
Conclusion
Excluding the wrong elements from your journal manuscript is an important part of research professionalism. For Indian scholars—especially first-time authors—the path to publication becomes smoother when the submission is clean, ethical, and follows journal standards. Read author guidelines carefully, avoid these common mistakes, and you will improve your chances of getting your paper reviewed, accepted, and respected.