Submission Process

Q: Can I submit a paper that has not yet received a reference number to another journal?

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Dear Sir, I had submitted an article to a journal 3 weeks ago. A week after submission, I sent an email requesting information about the status of my MS, since the reference number and editor had not been assigned. The EI of the journal replied immediately suggesting another journal which he thought is more suitable for my work. However, I got a simultaneous email from the same journal requesting me to edit my submission. I did this and resubmitted. I waited for another 2 weeks, but the status still reads ‘submitted to journal.’ I wish to submit this MS to another journal since neither the reference number nor an editor had been assigned. Would this not be considered as a case of simultaneous submission? Thank you.

Asked by Larry Mcrobins on 26 Jan, 2016

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Ideally, a paper should be withdrawn from one journal before submitting it to another. Submitting it to another journal before the withdrawal process is formally complete might be considered as duplicate or simultaneous submission. Since your paper has not yet been assigned a reference number or an editor, the withdrawal process should be quite smooth for you. You can write to the EI once again requesting withdrawal of the paper. Once the EI confirms that the paper has been withdrawn, you can go ahead and submit to the next journal.