Difference between submitted articles and accepted articles

When researchers complete their studies and are ready to share their findings with the academic community, they typically submit their articles to journals for publication. At this stage, the articles qualify as "submitted." The submission process involves preparing the manuscript according to the journal's guidelines, including formatting, structure, and citation style. Researchers also provide a cover letter explaining the significance of their work and why it is suitable for publication in the chosen journal. Once the submission is complete, the manuscript undergoes a rigorous review process.

The review process has a significant role in determining whether a submitted article gets accepted for publication. After submission, the journal assigns the manuscript to peer reviewers who are specialists in their field. The reviewers thoroughly evaluate the article's methodology, originality, significance, and clarity. They provide feedback and recommendations to the authors, pointing out any flaws or areas that require improvement. Based on the reviewers' feedback, authors may be required to edit their articles and provide a point-by-point response that addresses the reviewers' concerns. This iterative process of revision and resubmission continues until the reviewers and the journal's editor are satisfied with the quality and suitability of the article.

Submitted articles may vary in terms of content compared to accepted articles. At the submission stage, the article typically includes the introduction, literature review, methodology, results, and discussion sections. However, these sections are subject to revision and refinement during the review process. Reviewers may provide suggestions to strengthen the article's argument, improve the clarity of the writing, or suggest additional analyses. As a result, the content of the accepted article may differ from the initial submission, incorporating revisions and additions based on the reviewers' feedback.

Once the reviewers and the editor are satisfied with the revised version of the article, it gets accepted for publication. At this stage, the article becomes an "accepted article." The journal proceeds with the production process, which involves typesetting, formatting, and proofreading. Accepted articles are often assigned a digital object identifier (DOI), making them citable even before officially publishing them in an issue of the journal. The journal may also request authors to provide additional materials, such as data sets or supplementary information, to enhance the article's value and accessibility.

One notable difference between submitted and accepted articles is the timing of their availability to the public. Submitted articles are not accessible to the general public as they undergo the review process. Only the authors, editors, and peer reviewers get access to the content during this stage. In contrast, once an article is accepted, it may be made available online as an "early access" or "in press" version. This availability allows researchers and interested readers to access and cite the article before it appears in a specific journal issue. However, the final, fully formatted version of the article will be published in a particular issue of the journal, often accompanied by other articles within the same thematic collection.