Research Studies in English Language Teaching and Learning

Publishing in an academic journal requires careful preparation, attention to detail, and a clear understanding of the journal’s expectations. Many manuscripts are rejected before peer review because they do not follow basic submission requirements. The following guidance will help authors improve their chances of successful submission and avoid desk rejection at the Research Studies in English Language Teaching and Learning (RSELTL).

Ensure your study fits the journal’s scope

Before submitting your manuscript, carefully examine the journal’s aims and scope. RSELTL publishes research related to English language teaching and learning, applied linguistics, language pedagogy, classroom practices, and language assessment. Submissions that fall outside these areas are likely to be rejected at the initial screening stage.

Authors should clearly explain how their research contributes to the field of English language teaching and learning and demonstrate its relevance to current scholarly discussions.

Follow the journal guidelines carefully

One of the most frequent reasons for desk rejection is failure to follow the author guidelines. Authors must ensure that their manuscripts comply with the journal’s formatting and submission requirements. This includes:

Using the correct referencing style
Structuring the manuscript according to the required sections
Meeting the word limit
Providing an appropriate abstract and keywords
Removing identifying information if the journal uses blind review

Carefully reviewing the submission guidelines before uploading your manuscript can prevent unnecessary delays or rejection.

Present a clear research problem and contribution

A strong manuscript clearly states the research problem and explains why the study is necessary. The introduction should demonstrate familiarity with recent literature and highlight the gap that the study addresses.

Editors typically look for manuscripts that provide a meaningful contribution to the field rather than repeating already well-established findings.

Use a sound research design and methodology

Your research design must be appropriate for the research questions. Whether the study is quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods, the methodology should be described clearly and systematically.

Authors should ensure that:

Research questions are well defined
Data collection procedures are explained
Analytical methods are appropriate and transparent

A weak or poorly explained methodology often leads to immediate rejection.

Ensure academic clarity and language quality

Manuscripts should be written in clear, academic English. Poor language quality can make the manuscript difficult to evaluate and may result in rejection before peer review.

Authors are encouraged to proofread their work carefully or seek language editing support before submission.

Check ethical and academic standards

All research should follow recognised ethical standards. Authors must ensure that their work is original and not under consideration elsewhere. Proper citation of sources is essential to avoid issues related to plagiarism or academic misconduct.

If the research involves human participants, ethical approval or informed consent should be clearly stated where required.

Final checks before submission

Before submitting your manuscript, confirm the following:

The study fits the journal’s scope
The manuscript follows the journal’s formatting guidelines
The research design and analysis are clearly presented
The language has been carefully reviewed
All references and citations are accurate

Taking the time to review these elements will significantly improve the quality of your submission and increase the likelihood that your manuscript will proceed to peer review.

Authors who carefully prepare their manuscripts and follow the journal’s requirements are far more likely to have their work considered for publication in Research Studies in English Language Teaching and Learning.