Glossary
Academic publishing glossary
Plain-language definitions of the academic publishing terms that actually affect whether your paper gets published — each with practical guidance and a link to the tool that helps.
Predatory journal
A journal that charges publication fees but does not provide the legitimate editorial and peer-review services a journal is supposed to. How to spot one, and how to avoid it.
Read the definition →Desk rejection
When a journal editor rejects a manuscript before it reaches peer review — usually within days. Why it happens, how common it is, and how to avoid it.
Read the definition →Salami slicing
Splitting one body of research into multiple 'least publishable unit' papers. Why editors and reviewers treat it as a problem, and where the legitimate line is.
Read the definition →Frequently asked questions
What is this glossary for?
It defines the academic publishing concepts that have direct, practical consequences for getting a paper accepted — predatory journals, desk rejection, salami slicing, and related terms. Each entry pairs a plain-language definition with concrete guidance and the relevant free tool.
Who writes these definitions?
Science AI Journal's editorial team. The definitions are grounded in widely accepted standards — for example the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidance — and written to be genuinely useful to a researcher deciding what to do next, not just dictionary entries.