When and How to Send a Pre-Submission Inquiry
Should you contact a journal before submitting? Learn when journals invite pre-submission inquiries, what editors need, and how to structure a concise email that is distinct from a journal cover letter.
A pre-submission inquiry is a message or official form sent to a journal before formal submission to ask whether your proposed paper may be appropriate for consideration. Send one only when your target journal invites or permits it for your article type. A positive reply is not a promise of peer review, acceptance, or publication.
Already have a complete or nearly complete manuscript?
Check the journal’s current author instructions before drafting anything. Policies vary by journal, article type, manuscript stage, contact route, and required materials. A publisher’s policy at one journal does not automatically apply to another journal in the same portfolio.
What Is a Pre-Submission Inquiry?
A pre-submission inquiry gives a journal limited information about your manuscript or proposal before your full paper is formally submitted. Depending on the journal, it may concern your original research in preparation, a proposed Review or Perspective, or uncertainty about whether your paper falls within the journal’s scope.
Journals use several terms for this process, including “presubmission inquiry,” “presubmission enquiry,” and “proposal.” Use the wording found in your target journal’s instructions.
The inquiry is optional unless the journal requires a proposal or prescreening step for the relevant article type. Nature’s presubmission inquiry guidance describes its inquiry service as optional and explains that an editor cannot commit to sending an Article for peer review without seeing the full paper.
Inquiry vs Cover Letter vs Formal Submission
These are separate stages with different purposes.
Process | When it happens | Main purpose | Typical materials | Decision status |
Pre-submission inquiry | Before submission | Ask whether the journal may be interested in considering the work | Title, synopsis or abstract, fit rationale, requested materials | Informal and provisional |
During formal submission | Introduce the submitted manuscript and provide requested declarations | Manuscript title, contribution, fit, required statements | Accompanies a formal submission | |
Formal submission | When entering the journal’s system | Place the full manuscript under editorial consideration | Manuscript files, metadata, declarations, and required documents | Starts the journal’s editorial process |
A pre-submission inquiry does not replace submitting a paper to an academic journal. It is an optional communication before that process begins.
Inquiry vs Pre-Submission Review
A pre-submission inquiry is communication with a journal. A pre-submission review of your manuscript is an author-controlled process for evaluating the draft before submission.
An editor may comment on apparent fit in an inquiry. They are not providing a full assessment of your methods, claims, reporting, or manuscript structure.
Should You Send a Pre-Submission Inquiry?
Answer three questions before contacting the journal:
Does the journal accept inquiries for your article type?
Is your manuscript at the stage covered by its policy?
Do you have a specific question that the author instructions do not already answer?
Send an inquiry only when the journal’s policy supports it and the editor needs information about your proposed paper to answer the question. Otherwise, follow the journal’s standard submission instructions.
Manuscript stage can affect the route. PLOS Biology’s submission guidance accepts inquiries about work in preparation but recommends formal submission once the manuscript is ready.
When an Inquiry May Be Appropriate
An inquiry may be worth sending when the journal explicitly offers the route and at least one of the following applies:
Your original research is still in preparation, and the journal accepts inquiries at that stage.
You are proposing a Review, Perspective, commentary, methods paper, or another article type with a separate proposal process.
The paper crosses disciplines or journal sections, and the journal accepts questions about uncertain scope.
The journal asks for an abstract, synopsis, outline, or proposal before a full manuscript can be submitted.
Your inquiry should concern one plausible target journal. If you are still comparing venues, first choose the right journal for your research by reviewing scope, article types, recent publications, and author requirements.
When You Should Submit Directly
Submit the manuscript directly when:
The journal does not accept pre-submission inquiries.
Its policy directs authors with completed manuscripts to the submission system.
The author instructions already confirm whether your topic and article type are eligible.
PLOS ONE’s author guidance, for instance, states that the journal does not consider presubmission inquiries and directs authors to its formal submission process.
An inquiry is also unnecessary when its only purpose would be to ask whether the paper will be accepted, whether it will enter peer review, or whether the journal will waive a stated requirement. Editors cannot make those decisions from a preliminary message.
Review Proposals and Other Article Types
Check the policy for your exact article type. A journal may require complete manuscripts for original research while accepting proposals for Reviews, Perspectives, or other editorial formats.
Nature Human Behaviour’s article-type policy illustrates this difference. The journal does not accept inquiries for research manuscripts, but it considers proposals for Reviews, Perspectives, and How To Comments.
For a proposed Review or related article, follow the specific instructions for the title, synopsis, rationale, references, outline, and author information. Those requirements should not be applied to an original research inquiry unless the journal says otherwise.
Check the Journal’s Inquiry Policy First
Open the target journal’s author instructions and answer the following questions:
Is your article type eligible?
Check the journal’s exact label for original research, Reviews, Perspectives, methods papers, commentaries, or other formats.
Can you inquire at your current manuscript stage?
Some journals accept inquiries about work in preparation but direct completed manuscripts to formal submission.
Where should you send it?
Look for an official form, submission-system option, editorial-office address, or named contact.
What materials does the journal request?
This may include an abstract, synopsis, outline, references, cover note, or selected figures.
Does the journal provide response or follow-up guidance?
Use its stated timeframe and contact route rather than applying another journal’s policy.
If you cannot answer the first three questions from the journal’s current instructions, do not assume that a general email to an editor is welcome.
Use the Journal’s Contact Route
Use the journal’s stated contact route. This may be an official form, a submission-system option, an editorial-office address, or a named editor.
Do not replace the stated route with a general email. EMBO Reports requires authors to submit pre-submission inquiries through its manuscript system and says that inquiries sent by email will not be considered.
Contact a named editor only when the journal invites direct contact or identifies that editor as responsible for the relevant subject or article type. An editor-in-chief should not be the default recipient when the instructions provide another route.
When the Policy Is Silent
If the inquiry policy is silent, check the article-type descriptions, author instructions, and contact page. Do not assume that an unsolicited email is part of the journal’s editorial process.
When the manuscript is complete and the journal’s instructions provide a standard submission route, follow those instructions. The full process is covered in thesify’s guide to submitting a paper to an academic journal.
What to Include in a Pre-Submission Inquiry Email
Your inquiry should give the editor enough information to understand the proposed paper and answer one specific question. Include five components:
Manuscript details: State the tentative title, exact article type, and current stage.
Your question: Ask whether the topic and article type appear suitable for formal submission or the journal’s next proposal stage.
A concise synopsis: Summarize the research question, approach, main finding, or proposed argument.
Relevance to the journal: Explain which area of the journal’s scope or readership the paper addresses.
Requested materials and contact details: Include only the abstract, synopsis, outline, references, figures, or author information named in the policy.
The sections below show how to turn these components into a subject line and short email.
Write a Clear Subject Line
Use a subject line that helps the editorial office identify the request quickly. These patterns are adaptable:
Pre-submission inquiry: [Article type] on [topic]
Pre-submission inquiry: “[Short manuscript title]”
Presubmission enquiry: [Journal-required descriptor]
[Journal’s required label]: [Short title or proposal topic]
Avoid “urgent,” broad praise of the journal, or language that asks for an acceptance prediction.
Give the Editor Enough Information
State your exact question early. Then summarize the work at the level needed to assess fit: the research question, approach, central result, or proposed argument.
Focus on information that helps an editor understand the work’s relevance to the journal. Do not send a career biography unless the proposal instructions request author credentials or your expertise is directly relevant to a commissioned format.
Attach Only What the Journal Requests
Attach only the materials named in the journal’s instructions. Some inquiry policies explicitly tell authors not to send the complete paper, while others accept selected materials such as an abstract, synopsis, outline, references, cover note, or figure.
Check both what the journal requests and where it should be provided. A form may require information to be pasted into a field rather than uploaded as a separate file.
Pre-Submission Inquiry Email Template
Use this template only after confirming that the journal accepts your inquiry type. The annotations explain the purpose of each section. A clean version follows for copying and adapting.
Annotated Pre-Submission Inquiry Email Template
Subject line: Use the journal’s preferred term, exact article type, and a short topic or manuscript title.
Subject: Pre-submission inquiry: [Article type] on [topic]
Opening: Identify the article, its current stage, and the decision you are asking the editor to make.
Dear Dr. [Editor’s surname],
I am preparing a [Article type] tentatively titled “[Manuscript title].” The manuscript is currently [Current manuscript stage]. I am writing to ask whether its topic and article type appear suitable for formal submission to [Journal name].
Synopsis: Summarize the research question, approach, main finding, and relevance without reproducing the entire abstract.
The manuscript examines [Research question] using [Approach]. It finds that [Main finding]. Its contribution is [Contribution], which may be relevant to readers interested in [Relevant area of the journal’s scope].
Materials and closing: Identify only the materials requested by the journal.
In line with the journal’s instructions, I have included [Requested abstract, synopsis, references, figure, or outline].
Thank you for considering this inquiry.
Sincerely,
[Corresponding author name]
[Affiliation]
[Email]
Copy-and-Paste Pre-Submission Inquiry Email Template
Subject: Pre-submission inquiry: [Article type] on [topic]
Dear Dr. [Editor’s surname],
I am preparing a [Article type] tentatively titled “[Manuscript title].” The manuscript is currently [Current manuscript stage]. I am writing to ask whether its topic and article type appear suitable for formal submission to [Journal name].
The manuscript examines [Research question] using [Approach]. It finds that [Main finding]. Its contribution is [Contribution], which may be relevant to readers interested in [Relevant area of the journal’s scope].
In line with the journal’s instructions, I have included [Requested abstract, synopsis, references, figure, or outline].
Thank you for considering this inquiry.
Sincerely,
[Corresponding author name]
[Affiliation]
[Email]
Pre-Submission Inquiry Examples by Scenario
Adapt the following examples only after confirming that the journal accepts your relevant inquiry type. The placeholders deliberately avoid assuming a journal policy, study result, or editorial preference.
Original Research Inquiry
This version applies when the journal invites inquiries about your original research still in preparation.
Subject: Pre-submission inquiry: [Article type] on [topic]
Dear [Editorial Office],
I am writing to ask whether [Journal name] would consider a [Article type] in preparation, tentatively titled “[Manuscript title].”
The study examines [Research question] using [Approach]. It finds that [Main finding]. We believe the work may be relevant to [Relevant area of the journal’s scope] because [Contribution and relevance].
I have included the [Requested abstract or synopsis] in line with the journal’s instructions.
Sincerely,
[Corresponding author name]
[Affiliation]
[Email]
Review Article Proposal
This version applies to a journal with a stated proposal route for Reviews, Perspectives, or a related article type.
Subject: [Journal’s preferred term]: [Proposed Review topic]
Dear [Editor’s surname / Editorial Office],
I am writing to ask whether [Journal name] would consider a proposal for a [Article type] provisionally titled “[Manuscript title].”
The proposed article would examine [Proposed focus], covering [Approach or scope]. Its contribution would be [Contribution], with particular relevance to readers interested in [Relevant area of the journal’s scope].
As requested, I have included [Requested synopsis, outline, and references]. [Relevant credentials, only if requested.]
Sincerely,
[Corresponding author name]
[Affiliation]
[Email]
Interdisciplinary Paper Using an Official Form
When the journal uses an official form, adapt the information to its required fields rather than applying email conventions.
Article type: [Article type]
Tentative title: [Manuscript title]
Current manuscript stage: [Current manuscript stage]
Inquiry: Would this manuscript be appropriate for consideration in [Journal name] under the journal’s [Journal’s preferred term] process?
Research question: [Research question]
Approach: [Approach]
Main finding or contribution: [Main finding / Contribution]
Relevance to the journal’s scope: [Relevant area of the journal’s scope]
Requested materials: [Requested abstract, synopsis, references, figure, or outline]
Corresponding author: [Corresponding author name, affiliation, and email]
What the Editor’s Response Means
Use the editor’s response to identify your next step. The reply is based on the limited information in the inquiry, and the complete manuscript will still go through the journal’s formal editorial process.
Positive response: Follow the instructions for formal submission or the next proposal stage. Development describes this type of response as an expression of interest rather than a commitment to peer review.
Qualified response: Provide the requested information, narrow the proposal, or use the alternative article type or prescreening route suggested by the editor.
Negative response: Check whether the reply leaves formal submission open. If it does not, use the response to reconsider the target journal.
No response: Check the journal’s published timeframe and follow-up route before contacting it again.
Even after a positive response, the complete manuscript may still receive a desk rejection before peer review. The inquiry response does not predict acceptance or publication.
No Response and Follow-Up
Response times vary by journal. Nature says authors will usually receive an answer within two working days, while also stating that it cannot guarantee this speed. Other journals publish no response target.
Follow the target journal’s guidance rather than applying Nature’s timeframe elsewhere. If the journal permits further contact, one brief follow-up may be appropriate after its stated response period. With a completed manuscript, you can also follow the formal submission instructions or consider another journal, provided the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere.
Common Pre-Submission Inquiry Mistakes
Before sending, revise anything that makes the editor’s task harder:
Replace a generic description with the paper’s specific research question, approach, and main finding.
Connect the paper to one relevant area of the journal’s scope instead of repeating the scope page.
Ask one clear question rather than presenting several manuscript ideas.
Keep methodological detail to what the editor needs to understand the paper.
Remove an author biography unless the proposal instructions request credentials.
Replace claims such as “groundbreaking” with a precise statement of the contribution.
Remove requests for acceptance predictions, peer-review guarantees, or an urgent response.
If the question behind your inquiry is whether the manuscript is ready for journal consideration, focus instead on how to improve your manuscript’s submission readiness.
Pre-Submission Inquiry Checklist
Before sending, confirm that:
The inquiry is permitted: Your article type and manuscript stage are eligible, and you are using the journal’s stated contact route.
The message is specific: The subject line identifies the inquiry, and the email states one clear question, the paper’s main contribution, and its relevance to the journal.
The materials are correct: You have included everything the journal requests and nothing it does not.
Your expectations are accurate: A favorable response invites the next step but does not guarantee peer review, acceptance, or publication.
Pre-Submission Inquiry FAQs
How long should you wait for a response?
There is no universal response time. Check the journal’s inquiry page for a published target. If no target is given, do not assume a standard number of days. Follow up only if the journal’s guidance permits it.
Can you contact more than one journal?
Do not assume that simultaneous pre-submission inquiries are always acceptable. An inquiry is different from simultaneous manuscript submission, but policies may be silent, may require exclusivity, or may use an assessment route that changes the situation. Follow each journal’s wording.
Should you attach the manuscript?
Only when the journal explicitly requests it. Some journals request an abstract, synopsis, outline, references, or selected material instead. Others state that completed manuscripts should be submitted formally rather than attached to an inquiry.
Should you mention an earlier inquiry during formal submission?
Follow the journal’s instructions. Some submission systems or cover-letter guidance ask authors to disclose prior discussion with an editor; others do not. Mention it only where the journal requests it or where the editor has given a clear instruction to do so.
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