Submitting a cover letter along with your paper is more than a formality, it’s your chance to give editors a clear, concise first impression of your work.
A well-written letter can help the editorial team quickly understand what your article contributes and ensure it reaches the right Associate Editor and reviewers.
How to Write a Strong Cover Letter
Start with a focused summary
Open with a short introduction that captures the essence of your manuscript. In just a few sentences, explain the problem you’re addressing, your primary results, and the significance of your findings for the broader research community. Including the article title and full list of authors helps editors connect your letter to the manuscript and speeds up the reviewer selection process. You should also briefly mention why the journal is an appropriate venue for your submission.
Keep it brief and to the point
Your cover letter doesn’t need to restate your abstract or delve into technical details. Editors value clarity and conciseness, so they aim for a tight overview that highlights only the key elements they need to know up front.
Clarify connections to your prior work
If your submission builds on or significantly extends a previously published paper, note that in your letter. Provide the earlier citation and describe what new contributions the current work offers.
Final checks before you submit
Before uploading your materials, take a moment to verify that the publication’s title is spelled correctly, and, if you’re addressing a specific editor, confirm their name as well. Cover letters are typically uploaded alongside the manuscript through the journal’s online submission system.
Understanding Overlength Page Charges in IEEE Journals
IEEE offers authors a wide range of publishing options—from fully open access topical journals to traditional subscription-based titles. While submitting to a hybrid journal does not incur publication fees unless you choose open access, most of these journals enforce page limits. If your article exceeds the allowed length after its typeset and finalized, mandatory overlength page charges will be applied. These overlength charges apply to all articles in hybrid journals, even if you choose the open access option, and they are separate from open access fees.
How to stay within page limits
Planning ahead is the best way to avoid unexpected charges. Before drafting your paper, review the journal’s guidelines on its IEEE Xplore® homepage and use the appropriate submission template. Page limits can vary not only between publications but also between article types. Remember that the final page count includes everything, references, appendices, and biographies.
Explore more resources at the IEEE Author Center: ieeeauthorcenter.ieee.org
