What happens after I submit my paper to a journal?

The moment you submit your manuscript, the journal’s online submission system records it. You usually receive a confirmation email with a tracking number. This step may seem trivial, but it is crucial: it ensures your paper is logged in the system and will be tracked throughout the process.

At this stage, automated checks often occur:

• File format (Word, PDF, LaTeX)

• Figure resolution and quality

• Word count against journal limits

• Plagiarism checks using software like iThenticate

Your manuscript must pass these basic technical checks to move forward. Submissions with missing files, incorrect formats, or high plagiarism scores can be rejected immediately.

After passing system checks, the editorial office reviews your manuscript for technical compliance. The editorial assistants check:

• All required sections (title page, abstract, keywords, references) are present

• Figures and tables are properly labeled

• Ethical statements, funding information, and author declarations are included

• Adherence to journal style and referencing guidelines

If your manuscript does not comply with these requirements, it is returned to you for corrections or sometimes desk-rejected if noncompliance is severe.

Once the editorial office approves technical compliance, the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) or Handling Editor evaluates the paper for:

• Scope: Does the manuscript fit the journal’s aims and readership?

• Originality: Is the work novel, or is it a repetition of existing studies?

• Scientific quality: Are the methodology and results reasonable?

At this stage, papers can be desk-rejected if they are out of scope, lack novelty, or do not meet basic scientific standards. Desk rejections are common and save both authors and reviewers time.

If the editor decides the paper is suitable, it is sent out for peer review. Otherwise, you may receive a desk rejection letter, usually including brief comments. Don’t be discouraged; desk rejection is not a reflection of your ability—it often reflects fit, clarity, or novelty issues.

Editors identify 2–4 experts in your field to review your manuscript. Reviewers are chosen based on:

• Subject expertise

• Previous publications on similar topics

• Absence of conflicts of interest

Once selected, reviewers receive an invitation email. They can accept or decline. If they decline, the editor invites others. This stage can take 1–3 weeks, depending on reviewer availability.

Peer review is the heart of academic quality control. Reviewers evaluate your manuscript using several criteria:

1. Originality and Significance

• Does the research address an important question?

• Does it contribute new knowledge or methods?

2. Methodology and Accuracy

• Are the experimental design, data collection, and analysis appropriate?

• Are statistics correctly applied and interpreted?

3. Clarity and Structure

• Is the manuscript logically organized?

• Are figures, tables, and text clear and readable?

4. Ethical Compliance

• Was research conducted ethically (human/animal studies)?

• Are conflicts of interest and funding disclosures transparent?

Reviewers provide detailed comments and a recommendation:

• Accept

• Minor revision

• Major revision

• Reject

After receiving reviewer reports, the editor synthesizes feedback and makes the first decision. Common outcomes:

• Accept: Rare on the first submission.

• Minor Revision: Small changes like grammar, figure adjustments, or clarifying methods.

• Major Revision: Significant changes in methodology, analysis, or discussion.

• Reject: If the paper has fundamental flaws or is unsuitable for the journal.

If revisions are requested, you must carefully address every reviewer comment. Practical tips include:

• Respond point by point, often in a separate response letter

• Highlight changes in the manuscript

• Provide clear justifications for suggestions you cannot implement

Timely and thorough revisions improve your chances of acceptance.

Revised manuscripts may be sent back to the same reviewers for verification. Reviewers check if:

• All major comments have been addressed

• Data presentation, methods, and discussion are improved

• Remaining minor issues are clarified

Sometimes, further revisions are requested, but usually, this is the final check before acceptance.

After reviewers and editors are satisfied, the paper is formally accepted. You receive an acceptance letter, sometimes with a request for final minor corrections. At this stage:

• Your paper is considered officially part of the journal

• Copyediting, typesetting, and proofing are initiated

The production team prepares your manuscript for publication:

• Copyediting: Correct grammar, style, and consistency

• Typesetting: Formatting according to journal layout

• Proofs: You review and approve final corrections

• DOI assignment: Each article receives a Digital Object Identifier

You may receive proofs 1–2 weeks after acceptance, depending on the journal.

Finally, your paper is published online. Most journals post papers ahead of print before assigning a volume and issue. Steps include:

• Online-first publication with DOI

• Indexing in databases like PubMed, Scopus, or Web of Science

• Notification to authors with the final publication link

At this point, your research becomes discoverable and citable worldwide.