Authorship in Research

Q: Can I write to the editor if I'm the first author but not the corresponding author?

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Hello all, I have submitted a paper in which I am the first author but not the corresponding author. The corresponding author has sent an enquiry to the editor regarding the status of the paper. It has been around 4 months since teh revised paper has been submitted. Can I mail the editor asking for a status update when I am just the first author and not the corresponding author?

Asked by SAURABH KUNJ on 29 Sep, 2017

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The purpose of having a corresponding author is that the editor has only one point of contact with whom he/she communicates and does not have to correspond with multiple authors. Although you are the first author, ideally you should not write to the editor if you are not the corresponding author. Since the editor is already in communication with the corresponding author, your writing to him/her may just lead to confusion. The corresponding author can write to the editor again asking for a status update. there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, the corresponding author can follow up with the editor once every 3-4 weeks.