Okuzeka
Academic English & Research vocabulary · Peer Review and Publishing

Desk rejection

Meaning in academic english & research, with examples

nounCommon term

In academic english & research, desk rejection means: The rejection of a manuscript by the editor before it is sent to reviewers, often because it does not fit the journal's scope or standards.

In Turkish: editör reddi, ön değerlendirmede ret, masa başı ret

How it is used

Very common at highly ranked journals. Typical reasons are a poor fit with the journal's aims, a weak contribution, or serious problems with language or format. The verb is desk-reject: 'The paper was desk-rejected.' The decision is usually fast, sometimes within days.

Example sentences

  1. We received a desk rejection within a week because the paper was outside the journal's scope.

  2. A desk rejection is disappointing, but at least you can quickly submit elsewhere.

Common collocations

  • receive a desk rejection
  • desk rejection rate
  • be desk-rejected
  • avoid a desk rejection
  • peer reviewThe process in which experts in the same field evaluate a manuscript or grant proposal before it is accepted, revised or rejected.
  • journalA regular publication containing research articles in a particular field, usually checked by peer review before publication.
  • manuscriptThe text of an article or book that an author submits to a journal or publisher before it is accepted and published.
  • submitTo formally send a piece of work, such as an article, thesis, abstract or application, to the people who will judge it.
  • revise and resubmitAn editor's decision that a manuscript cannot be accepted yet but may be reconsidered if the authors make substantial changes and submit it again.

More terms: Peer Review and Publishing

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: