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Going over a journal’s word-limit in an R&R?

In our newest "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

Do revise-and-resubmits have to respect the same initial word limit? Or is there some leeway (10% over?)?

Good questions. I've heard anecdotally that it can be fine to go a little over a journal's limit, and another reader submitting the following reply:

yes, add 10% in the R&R … I have done it … but it should be done because one is addressing concerns of referees.

Still, it might be good to hear from other readers. I did it for the first time recently, with a paper that was ultimately accepted at a good journal. But in general, I like to avoid anything (like going over a limit) that might give referees or editors an excuse to reject, so for the most part I try to stick to word-limits.

What say you all? Do you go over word limits in R&Rs? If so, is 10% a good rule of thumb? Or, has this backfired for anyone?

Posted in ,

4 responses to “Going over a journal’s word-limit in an R&R?”

  1. Getting good at cutting those words

    Ask the editor!
    I have had the experience of being explicitly told that I could not go over the word limit in responding to the comments and so had to cut other content to get everything in. I would not like to have taken the chance and just gone over. I have also had the experience of having a paper returned (with resubmission allowed, thankfully) for being over the word limit by only a few hundred words (my word count actually disagreed with theirs, but I wasn’t in a position to argue)—so I don’t think you can assume no one will notice.

    Reply
  2. Michel

    It’s almost always okay, yes. In my experience, you’re usually explicitly told when it’s not.
    One possible exception is JAPA: I had an R&R that went over, and I noted as much when resubmitting it. It was rejected a couple of days later, and I subsequently learned that at least one of the original referees never saw it again (not was he told the outcome). I strongly suspect it was the word count that did it.

    Reply
  3. Tenured Phil

    A bit over is fine. I’ve done it without pushback from the editors. I’ve also had a paper or two that went way over the word limit after and R&R. In those cases, I contacted the editor before resubmitting and got approval.

    Reply
  4. academic migrant

    I think contacting the editor is the way. Some journals make this very explicit. AJP, for example, tells you your new word limit in the decision letter.

    Reply

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