Manuscript Status

Q: Why does the status date change while the status remains 'With Editor'?

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I submitted a manuscript to a journal in early September. After a couple of days, the status changed to 'With Editor.' After three weeks, the status date has changed to 23 Sep, but the status is still 'With Editor.' What does this imply ? Does it mean that the editor sent the manuscript to some potential reviewers, but they have declined to review it, and the editor is sending the manuscript to other reviewers ?

Asked by Shenghong Yang on 04 Oct, 2016

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If the status date changes, but the status remains the same, it indicates that the Editor has accessed the database to check your manuscript. There could be several reasons behind this. The editor could have accessed the database to download the manuscript for the initial editorial screening. Another possibility is that the initial screening is done and the Editor wanted to see the names of the reviewers you have suggested or wanted to check your reference list for potential reviewers. The third possibility could be, as you have mentioned, that one or more of the reviewers have declined the review invitation and the Editor wants to check the reference list to find more potential reviewers.