Editor’s Corner: What happens to a paper after submission to a journal?
In my previous post, “What are journals looking for in a manuscript submission?”, I discussed some of the key things authors should consider when submitting their work to a journal. But what happens to a manuscript once it's been submitted? In this post, I discuss the journey a manuscript takes after it has been received on a journal’s submission system.
Different journals, different processes
As discussed previously, not all journals are alike in what they are looking for in terms of submissions, and likewise, each journal will have its own workflow for how exactly it processes the submissions it receives. Also, depending on the journal’s size and structure, various individuals may be responsible for different aspects of the process. Larger journals with larger teams may divide tasks among several people, while smaller journals might rely on fewer (or even just one) editor. However, despite these differences, most journals follow a broadly similar path for handling submissions.
Initial submission screening
Once a manuscript is submitted, it undergoes an initial screening by the internal editorial team. The nuances of this stage will vary journal to journal, but will typically include the following checks, along with any others that are more specific to the journal:
Scope and relevance: Does the article align with the journal’s audience and subject area? Journals look for articles that contribute to their field and match their scope.
Quality and clarity: While journals won’t necessarily require a manuscript to be perfect at this stage, they do check for clarity. If the writing is unclear, the manuscript may not proceed to peer review. Many journals will also use plagiarism detection software at this stage.
Originality: How novel and impactful is the research? Journal requirements regarding originality will vary, with some considering all ethically conducted ‘sound science’ papers, while others may require a higher level of novelty and impact before accepting a paper for review. This is something worth considering when selecting a journal to submit to, and journal expectations on this should be detailed in its information to authors.
Compliance with journal guidelines: Did the author follow the journal’s submission guidelines? This includes ensuring that all necessary documents (cover letter, figures, tables, etc.) are submitted and that disclosures are included in the journal’s required format.
Major flaws: Is there an ethical issue with the work? At this stage, editors check that research complies with ethical standards, including for example, details on aspects such as informed consent and ethics board approval.
Various outcomes are possible after this initial screening, including immediate rejection of the paper without further review (a so-called ‘desk reject’), where the manuscript does not meet the journal’s requirements or scope, or the return of the paper to the authors for revision before proceeding further (for example, to add clarity or to align with journal requirements). Alternatively, the paper may now proceed to the next stage for detailed evaluation via external peer review.
A note on desk rejections
Though disappointing, a desk rejection is not necessarily the end. In fact, it can offer valuable insights into how to proceed. Journals may not always provide detailed feedback, but even limited comments can help improve the manuscript. If the issue is one of scope, perhaps the manuscript would be a better fit for another journal, and some journals may even recommend other journals within the publisher’s portfolio that the author can transfer their submission to. Where novelty/impact is of concern, you might consider submitting to a ‘sound science’ journal that prioritizes quality research over novelty. For methodological issues, could further work be done to improve the robustness of the conclusions? Additional analysis or experiments could help strengthen the study. Finally, if writing quality is of concern, improving readability can increase the chances of acceptance for peer review.
Peer review
If the manuscript passes initial screening, it moves on to peer review. Different journals have different peer review models (for example, single- or double-anonymised review). However, in general this is typically carried out by at least two independent experts in the subject area, generally external to the journal (although they may be part of the journal’s Editorial Board). Reviewers will look at a submission in a more in-depth way than the initial editorial screening and will consider a variety of areas including the paper’s methodologic validity and rigour, its quality and relevance to the journal’s audience, how the authors have interpreted their findings, and any potential ethical issues.
The peer review process often takes time, and this can be a point of frustration for authors. Journals need to achieve balance between quality and speed; it is important for peer review to be conducted in an efficient timeframe, but also that sufficient time is allowed for thorough review. The growing volume of manuscript submissions every year is also a challenge, with the pool of reviewers struggling to keep pace. This has lead to reviewer fatigue and increased review times.
Following their assessment of the manuscript, reviewers provide feedback and make recommendations for the editor handling the submission on how to proceed. Based on this feedback, the paper may be accepted, rejected, or returned for the authors for varying levels of revision based on the reviewer feedback and any editorial comments, for example related to journal requirements and overall fit. This decision may be made by a single editor or may be the outcome of discussions between the journal’s editorial team. Where the outcome is revision, a paper may go through subsequent rounds of review prior to a final decision.
Final takeaways
Journals strive to return a decision after the initial submission screening and quality checks as quickly as possible. However, peer review can take time, and there may be delays due to reviewer availability or the complexity of the manuscript. If you are unsure about the status of your paper, most journal submission systems state where the manuscript is in the process, or you can contact the journal directly.
Ultimately, the aim of the submission screening and peer review process is to ensure that published manuscripts meet the highest standards of clarity, integrity and academic merit. While the process can be time-consuming, it is crucial for ensuring the quality of the final publication.
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