Generic Cover Letter (Fallback)

Use this template when the target venue does not match any of the specific templates and no venue-specific guidance is available. Suitable for most mid-tier journals and conferences.

Tone

• Professional, contribution-led, no marketing language.
• Adapt the depth to the target venue: top journal letters should be tighter and more selective; mid-tier journals can include more methodological detail.

Opening

• First sentence states the manuscript title, type, and central finding.
• Name the target journal or conference.

Contribution Framing

• Two to three sentences naming the contribution and the headline quantitative result.
• One sentence on what this enables or resolves.

Journal Fit

• Two sentences explaining why this venue is the right home.
• If possible, reference a recent paper from the same venue.

Declarations

• Originality: not under concurrent consideration.
• All authors approve the submission.
• Conflicts of interest (state explicitly even when "none").

Length

• Default ceiling: 400 words. Adjust based on the venue if known.

Common Desk-Reject Triggers

• Generic "this work is novel and important" with no specific evidence.
• Missing declarations.
• Cover letter that reads as a rephrased abstract.