Why Authors Must Adhere to Journal Submission Guidelines: A View from the Editorial Desk

Abstract

Amid growing competition for publication opportunities and increasing demands for academic rigor, adherence to journal submission guidelines has become an essential component of scholarly competence. This editorial article reflects on the functional role of editorial policies within the broader framework of academic communication. The author examines journal guidelines not as formal constraints but as institutionalized expressions of rhetorical and genre-based expectations that structure scholarly dialogue. The analysis centers on typical errors made by authors who overlook journal requirements, including failure to follow the accepted article structure (e.g., IMRaD), omission of references to the journal’s prior publications, improper formatting of bibliographic entries, and exceeding word limits. Each of these errors is accompanied by editorial commentary that explains how such lapses are interpreted in editorial practice - as indicators of insufficient scholarly maturity, lack of dialogic awareness, or rhetorical imprecision. Adhering to journal guidelines should be viewed as an act of professional responsibility, demonstrating not only technical proficiency but also a conscious willingness to engage with the institutional and rhetorical norms of the scholarly community. Attention to these requirements not only increases the likelihood of publication but also contributes to a more productive and ethically grounded scientific exchange.