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(Volume: 2, Issue: 7)
Does language editing tools/ services influence article acceptance?
Getting article acceptance from refereed journals is the dream of every researcher, since it ascertains the significance and completeness of a research work. Is it not a worse situation, if an article with breakthrough research and beneficial results for a seriously impending problem is rejected by a journal and the cause is ‘Poor English or Grammar usage’? However, this scenario can be alleviated with numerous language editing services/ tools, which have become popular nowadays. So, what is the purpose of using the language editing services/ tools? What are the merits of using them? Is there any difference between the editing services and the editing tools? What are the top editing services/ tools available? What can be the effect of using these services/ tools on the article acceptance in a refereed journal? Let’s have a glimpse at it…
Language editing services/ tools- The purpose
It is a very common instance that a research article being not written by a native English speaker is sure to have solecist language usage. So, the purpose of employing the language editing services/ tools is to notify or automatically correct the article for its incorrect grammar, spellings, punctuation marks, word choices and sentence structure. Language editing tools are software programs or tools, which are available as Add-ins in Microsoft office or any document editing applications. These tools automatically correct the language errors that in certain circumstances, it recommends phrases or best match to the written sentences or words. Numerous free and paid language editing tools are available in the market. Researchers can try these tools based on their requirements and convenience. In contrast, the language editing services are manual editing processes in which native English speakers engage in editing the research article for a cost. The editing includes correcting erroneous sentences, phrases or words and best recommendations to replace a sentence. These services are even provided with certificates, which are demanded by certain journals to ensure the quality of language in their published issues.
Merits
There are certain valuable reasons for which a research article needs the language editing tool/ service and they are: (i) To impart better readability for the aspiring readers across the globe, (ii) To attract the reviewer or an editor towards the methodology and not on the poor language usage, (iii) To meet the journal’s standard, (iv) To build the confidentiality of research, since a well-structured article without improper language usage is believed to have a perfect research background and (v) No manual correction in reduced time.
Language editing tools vs services
Language editing tools and services might appear the same, but they differ by the speed of editing, the ability to scientifically edit the contents and the associated costs.
Speed of editing: The editing tools enable content editing during the time the researcher writes his/ her article, implying that it is fast. As opposed, the services demand the completion of the entire article before availing it for editing. This means that the services will certainly consume specific manhours.
Scientific editing: The editing tools never recommend the words, phrases or sentences based on the scientific information of the article. It may mislead the information presented. On the contrary, if the editing services are opted, the articles will be edited without losing their scientific information. The reason is that the editing services usually involve a native English-speaking expert in a domain, under which the article falls.
Pricing: The editing tools are cheaper, while the services are costly.
In all, when the researcher sounds technically good, the tools usage would be appropriate to avoid language mistakes, enabling precise description to the reviewers and the editors.
Top language editing services/ tools
Currently, English has become the ‘Lingua Franca’ of almost all the reputed journals. So, in a journals’ point of view, language editing is nothing but the correction of the erroneous contents in English. So many language editing tools and services are prevalent over the internet. Grammarly, ProWritingAid and Ginger Software are a top few public language editing tools. Additionally, there are also editing services from reputed journals like, Springer, Elsevier, Wiley and similar others, which are far more reliable and comply with the journal standards. The top usage has been devoted to the editing service, its ease of availing and the associated cost, along with the ability to check plagiarism.
Influences article acceptance or not
Most of the journals publish research in English and the desk rejection is the first- level screening of a submitted research article at the editor’s side, before passing it into the technical review. Dating back to 2020, an Editorial note by Eileen T. Lake on “Why and how to avoid a desk-rejection”, Wiley, states that about 70% of its submissions are from non-native English- speaking countries and it is hard to believe that desk rejection happens because of poor English in the research article. Though it is not advised to desk reject an article because of the language problem, it has to be accepted that a reviewer cannot assess the originality and the significance of a research outcome without proper communication in the paper. Similarly, it is not necessary for the authors to be proficient in English, as the quality of research cannot be assessed based on one’s proficiency in the world’s just one of the languages. However, when desk rejection happens, the authors remain helpless. It is this situation, when the language editing services/ tools will be of greater support to the non-native researchers. Indeed, instead of opting for a public editing tool or service, it is better to avail the journal’s editing services to meet its standards and to make way for article acceptance. In all, a well-organized and well-written research article with its methodology and the research outcomes explained clear-cut in good language is never going to be disregarded by any journal.
Hence, The Research Seer’s Rationale on “Does language editing tools/ services influence article acceptance?” is:
“Language Editing With Good Scientific Contribution Assures Article Acceptance”
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