Letters to the Editor (LTEs) (alternately called “Correspondence” or “Reflections”) are brief, focused communications that provide commentary on material recently published in a journal. Although not peer-reviewed, they are considered contributions that advance the scientific discourse of a topic. As such, they are indexed along with the parent articles they discuss.
The What and Why of Letters to the Editor
LTEs should present a specific question or clarification on a point of an article that was unclear or not made. They are designed to highlight salient points, provide alternative perspectives, or raise constructive concerns about a published article. Previously, letters often served to congratulate article authors, made tangential points, or provided a brief platform to discuss the letter writer’s own research. Such is no longer the case. Journal readers who wish to make cordial or non-impactful communications are now encouraged to communicate directly with article authors. Each journal will have detailed guidelines on what constitutes a proper letter.
Of note, LTEs are not intended to address mistakes, provide corrections, or raise allegations of scientific misconduct. Neither are they vehicles for public disagreement or debate between researchers.
As mentioned, letters focus on previously published articles. Many journals provide a wide variety of brief communications other than letters, such as viewpoints, opinions, ideas and innovations, observations, etc. All of these offer excellent opportunities for early-career researchers to get published in a peer-review journal.
Authors of Letters
LTEs can be written by researchers at all stages of their careers. Although they are not stand-alone articles, as mentioned above, they do represent a way for researchers to gain a citation associated with a peer-reviewed article. Such citations do not weigh nearly as heavily as full articles, but they do provide early career researchers with an entrance into peer review journals.
Particulars
As with any submission to a journal, be sure to study the Information for Authors to determine the specific guidelines for LTEs. Although each journal has unique qualities to their LTE guidelines, many elements are similar across journals, including the following:
· Word count: Usually ≤500 words
· Authors: Typically, three or fewer
· References: Usually five or less
· Figures/Images/Tables: Zero to two at most
· Proximity to the published article: Letters must be submitted within 2-3 months of the final, published article (not a pre-print)
· Tone: Letters should be collegial, constructive, and professional in tone.
· Review: Editors will review all submitted letters. Some journals have dedicated editors for letters.
· Frequency: Journals frequently place limits on the number of letters an author can submit each year.
· Editing: All journals reserve the right to edit letters to the editor.
· Form of publication: Letters often are published exclusively online, as digital content, and may not appear in the print version of the journal.
Letters are typically sent for a response to the author(s) of the published article that they address. Journals usually limit the “life cycle” of a letter to the letter itself and author’s reply. Gone are the days when letters and replies took on a life of their own, with letter writer and article author going back and forth repeatedly in print.
An example of a good LTE can be found in this letter: “Facial transplantation: A dilemma of the four basic medical ethics principles”.1
LTEs provide researchers with a time-honored mechanism to engage publicly in scientific discourse, giving them a way to contribute to their specific field of research and gain valuable publication citations.
Reference
1Leonard, Colin G. M.B., B.Chir., L.L.M.(Medical Ethics & Law); Leonard, David A. M.B.Ch.B., Ph.D.. Facial Transplantation: A Dilemma of the Four Basic Medical Ethics Principles. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: June 2022 - Volume 149 - Issue 6 - p 1257e-1258e
doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000009102