AI-based tools were used exclusively to assist with minor language and grammar edits; all ideas, analyses, and conclusions in this manuscript are solely those of the authors. I've used this phrasing in submissions at journals that follow COPE guidelines because it clearly separates mechanical editing from intellectual contribution. Editors and reviewers immediately understand that the AI did not generate content, interpret data, or influence conclusions. By explicitly stating that only grammar and language were affected, it addresses transparency requirements without triggering concerns about AI authorship or originality. In practice, this sentence has consistently passed editorial checks, reassuring journals that the manuscript maintains full authorial control while acknowledging responsible, limited AI use.
"The authors utilized ChatGPT-4 solely for linguistic polishing and grammatical error correction to enhance readability; no original content, data, or scientific concepts were generated or altered by the AI." This phrasing succeeds because it strictly delineates syntax from semantics. While COPE requires authorship to be attributed to an individual, COPE recognizes that authorship can be assisted by AI. Identifying the AI only as having influenced the "linguistic" aspects and not the "scientific" aspects of writing eliminates uncertainty about who owns the work.
One disclosure sentence that cleared review was simple and narrow, and I remember the submission clearly. We wrote that AI assisted with grammar and clarity edits only, with no role in idea generation, analysis, or conclusions. It felt odd at first leaving it that plain. The sentence worked because it mirrored the journal's own policy language instead of sounding defensive or clever. Editors didn't have to interpret intent. What stood out was how limiting the scope reduced follow up questions completely. The phrasing treated AI like a spellcheck, not a collaborator. At Advanced Professional Accounting Services, that same restraint shows up in compliance work. Clarity beat explanation. Reviews moved faster. Stress stayed low, abit unexpectedly.
An effective COPE-aligned disclosure sentence for journal submissions is: "The manuscript underwent language editing for grammar and clarity to enhance readability, but no content was added or altered." This phrasing clearly indicates that the editing was limited to grammar and clarity, ensuring transparency about the integrity of the content and maintaining the authors' original intentions, which is essential for ethical academic publishing.