Generally, the probability of an unsolicited paper submitted to any publication being rejected is high. A paper may be rejected at any of these three stages: without review, after review, and after revision. The bulk of rejections take place during the "without review" and "after review" stages. However, this does not necessarily mean these papers were by any means substandard. Below is a summary of details gathered from various documents and papers, which is highly beneficial in light of having your paper published.

Tip 1. Content and Format

• Title. The title must be carefully chosen. It should be concise, containing only the most important words that BEST describe the paper. Moreover, it must be appealing to the editor and be in agreement with the journal's editorial mission.

• Abstract. The Abstract should include brief, pertinent, and clearly stated information, such as the objective, procedures, results, and major conclusions drawn. Similar to the Title, it should be given considerable attention as it is the first part of your paper the editor/s and reviewer/s will read.

• Hypotheses. The research hypotheses must be sensible and logical.

• Introduction. The Introduction should occupy no more that 1 to 1pages and should illustrate the relevance of the paper. It should contain a clear objective, refer to related literature, and state a brief conclusion at the end in order for the readers to better appreciate the evidences that follow.

• Methods. The Methods should narrate the paper's process in full detail and in chronological order such that the readers can repeat the experiment and evaluate the validity of the findings. Should new procedures be cited, an appendix should be available for the readers to refer to. The results of the study must be stated concisely, and appropriate graphics and charts used when necessary.

• Results. Self-explanatory charts, graphs, tables, and graphics that would best depict the results must be used. These must be presented in a logical sequence and with emphasis on critical observations.

• Discussion. The inverted pyramid format should be used in the Discussion, stating the key results first, followed by sound arguments, and finally, a general conclusion. The implications and limitations of the study should likewise be included.

• Conclusion. By this time, the paper's conclusion may have already appeared three times - in the Discussion, the Summary, and the Introduction. If there is any point the readers may have missed or misunderstood, then this part should be a means to restate it through carefully chosen words.

• References. All citations must be correct and complete.

• Authors. Only those who actively participated in the completion of the paper must be included.

Tip 2. Select the appropriate journal.
Select the appropriate preferred journal before you begin writing so that you would be familiar with its basic requirements. Your knowledge of these specifications, as well as the editor's preference and the journal's audience, would allow you to write aptly, thereby increasing your manuscript's chances of being accepted.

Tip 3. Tailor fit to a specific journal.
Once you have selected your ideal journal, familiarize yourself with its unique style and preferred topics. Pay attention to its editorial mission and focus. Read existing published papers in that journal. Then, adapt to its style by fine-tuning your paper according to the journal's evaluation criteria.

Tip 4. Make the paper relevant to its audience.
Who reads this journal? Envision your potential readers and familiarize yourself with the way they think, such that your work will not be too technical or basic for them. Furthermore, it would be helpful to anticipate who the people likely to review your paper will be. This may include the people who have published a related topic in the same journal, as well as those you have cited. By and large, your work will be read by experts and professionals in line with the journal's field. The paper must be up-to-date, with the latest developments.

Tip 5. Make an outline of your manuscript before writing.
Write an outline of the manuscript first. This would allow you to better conceive your paper before proceeding with the details of the study.

Tip 6. Revise, revise, and revise.
Once you have completed the first draft, the more tedious work begins. There is no exact figure on the number of times you must revise. However, revisions are very much part of writing if you intend to have your paper published. Consider asking yourself the following questions: Are the details clearly and logically presented? Can these be easily understood? Have I clearly communicated the problem and the findings of the study?

Once you submit the paper, (if it was not rejected outright) it will most likely be returned to you with a request for revision. This is an almost inevitable process in submitting papers to journals. Revise accordingly following the editor's instructions.

Revise the paper in light of accuracy, brevity, clarity, and grace. Be accurate with figures. Use the exact words that best describe the details. Make sure the quantities in the tables and figures are consistent with those stated in the text. Exercise careful discretion in your choice of words. Check for grammatical errors. Follow the "one idea per sentence" rule, at least 95% of the time. In occasional cases, you may connect two sentences with linking words.

In summary, the paper must be well written in the English language in a scientific and presentable manner that could be simply understood even by non-native English speakers.

Tip 7. Use punctuation marks appropriately.
This would allow you to communicate the right message to the editor and the reviewers. Placing the period inappropriately makes a big difference. Learn how to use question marks, quotation marks, commas, semi-colons, colons, dashes, and even en-dashes, and em-dashes.

Tip 8. Strictly follow the instructions.
Follow the instructions of the journal carefully. These may include a maximum number of pages, a required format, a specific length of sections, a list of restricted words, approved abbreviations, and of course, submission procedures. Additionally, observe deadlines. Following instructions carefully saves you from unnecessary revisions and increases the chances of your paper being accepted for publication.

Tip 9. Ask for critical feedback.
Make use of the expertise of your connections. Have your paper objectively evaluated by a reliable number of colleagues, your co-authors, and mentors; seek their advice and include them in your acknowledgments. Notably, it will give the reviewer the impression that your paper has been subjected to a thorough assessment by reliable experts, therefore increasing its credibility.

Tip 10. Communicate and promote your paper to your editor.
Create a well-crafted cover letter. It should inform the editor of the relevance of your paper, as well as briefly state why it would be in the best interests of the journal to publish your work. Inform the editor of other possible work that may present yours as redundant. Explicitly explain what makes your work original.

If the paper has been previously rejected by another journal, send in the reviewer's comments to the new editor, together with your responses. If the paper is returned to you for revisions, work on these immediately and return the revised manuscript promptly.