The "cover letter" box you fill in when submitting is often rushed — yet it's the editor's first impression of your paper. A good cover letter answers, in a few sentences, "why does this paper fit this journal and why does it matter?" Here's what it should include, a template and an example.
What is a cover letter for?
A cover letter is a short letter introducing your paper to the editor. It doesn't repeat the paper; it frames it: topic, type, original contribution and fit with the journal's scope. The editor looks at it when deciding whether to send the paper to reviewers — so it directly affects out-of-scope rejection risk.
What should it include?
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Salutation | To the editor (by name if possible) |
| Opening | Paper title + type (original research/review) + intent to submit |
| Contribution | What the paper does, why it matters (1-2 sentences) |
| Scope fit | Why it fits the journal's scope (journal-specific!) |
| Statements | Original, not published/under simultaneous review; ethics approval (if needed) |
| Closing | Thanks + corresponding author contact |
Copy-paste template
Dear Editor [surname], We are pleased to submit our original research article, "[Paper title]," for consideration in [Journal name]. This study [what the paper does and its main finding]. Our findings are [why important/original] and are closely relevant to [the journal's scope/readership]; we therefore believe it is a good fit for [Journal name]. We confirm that the manuscript is original, has not been published before, and is not under simultaneous review elsewhere. All authors have approved the submission[; ethics approval was obtained]. Thank you for your consideration; we look forward to your review. Sincerely, [Corresponding author name, affiliation, email]
Common mistakes
- Sending a generic template to every journal (always adapt the scope sentence).
- Repeating the abstract (a cover letter is a frame, not a summary).
- Writing it too long (half to one page is enough).
- Not stating scope fit — the thing editors look for most.
- Skipping the statements (originality, conflict of interest, ethics approval).
Tip: strengthen scope fit
The most critical sentence in a cover letter is why the paper fits that journal's scope. To write it convincingly, you first need to have chosen a genuinely fitting journal. Peerfect's free journal recommendation engine matches your paper to journals that fit its scope — so the "scope fit" sentence rests on a real match, not guesswork. Combined with choosing the right journal, a good cover letter makes your paper look strong at first glance.