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Title: WHAT EVERY AUTHOR AND REVIEWER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE PUBLICATION PROCESS INTHE JOURNAL OF NEMATOLOGY

Author
item DICKSON, DON - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item Chitwood, David
item BERNARD, ERNEST - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

Submitted to: Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms that cause an annual crop loss in the United States of eight billion dollars. Much ARS research is devoted to developing safe and effective methods of controlling this loss, and much of this research is published in a scientific journal called the Journal of Nematology. One problem with publication in scientific journals sis that potential authors are unaware of scientific and technical requirements for manuscripts submitted to journals. Therefore, in this editorial published in the journal, three present or former editors-in chief (one an ARS researcher) describe the editorial process utilized in the journal and offer suggestions to authors submitting manuscripts for publication. Major topics include the many different types of editorial review a manuscript receives, the need for replication of scientific experiments, standardized style and format, historical inaccuracy of literature citations, and guidelines for scientists asked to provide anonymous peer review of submitted manuscripts. This information will interest and be used by all scientists who are submitting scientific manuscripts to the Journal of Nematology and other scientific journals.

Technical Abstract: The Journal of Nematology is a publication of the very highest quality for communicating the most recent discoveries in the science of nematology. The authors of this Viewpoint article desire to maintain the status of the Journal while lessening the burden placed on the editorial staff. A few simple steps taken by authors during the manuscript preparation phase can greatly improve the quality of their papers. Authors should carefully review the "Author's Publication Handbook and Style Manual" before and during the preparation of a manuscript intended for publication in the Journal of Nematology. Reviewers should provide thorough reviews, be timely in returning manuscripts, and clearly define statements regarding revisions.