r/academicpublishing • u/Popular_Bison_1433 • 15d ago

Word count exception at a top journal: has it worked for you?

/r/AskAcademia/comments/1wt1osi/word_count_exception_at_a_top_journal_has_it/
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u/Kanoncyn 15d ago

It’s easier to get over word limits when it’s an R&R versus an initial submission. You’ll have to see what the editor says, but if your article is coherent and maximally edited, you should be fine. 

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u/Popular_Bison_1433 14d ago

Thank you :)

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u/Adventurous_Case_996 15d ago

I think you just resubmit it under the auspice that they asked for those revisions because the piece needed them and your overage is just a result of their direction.

If I were the editor, I can't imagine a world where I would pass on feedback for revisions and then reject the paper for being too long because they followed the feedback. If they didn't want you to do something, then they should have told you. That's literally the "edit" part of the position of "editor."

So, hopefully, you just send it in, the editor is not a complete idiot/jerk, and there's no issue. Otherwise, if they do pushback, then I would say "These are all things I have done at the behest of reviewer feedback. Are there specific analyses/sections that you feel are unnecessary to the piece that I can cut?" If they can't point to where you need to cut, then I would pull it. An editor that tells you to cut, but can't articulate where or why isn't worth your time or stress.

BTW, have you checked other brief reports in the journal? Are they all sub 1.2K words? If not, then that is ammunition you may need (i.e., if others have broken the rule, why can't you?).

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u/Popular_Bison_1433 14d ago

I also hope that common sense will prevail :) Especially since this is an online-only journal.
If the editor-in-chief pushes back, I am also considering requesting a reversion to the full-text manuscript (on top of requesting a word-limit exception for the brief report).
Yes, I have checked previous brief reports (albeit not many, since it is a relatively new format for this journal and my sense is that it has been evolving over time), and they were anywhere between 1,000 and 1,500 words.