How long should authors wait for the journal’s response?

How long should authors wait for the journal’s response? Authors submit their papers to academic journals; however, they do not know how long they should wait for the editorial decision, when they can send a reminder, and how to follow up with the editorial office.

How long does it take for a journal article to be reviewed?

Absolutely, the review process time differs from one journal to another. It depends on the field of study, the review policy, and the publisher’s policy. It also differs from one manuscript to another. Some manuscripts can be finished in one month; however, others may exceed 8 months in the review process. Many journals mention their expected review times on their websites. For example, Cancer Cell International – a journal published by BMC – states the following timelines:

67 days to first decision for reviewed manuscripts only
46 days to first decision for all manuscripts
143 days from submission to acceptance
15 days from acceptance to publication

*This timeline was copied from the journal website on June 2, 2021.

Preferably, you should figure out the review times of your target before submitting your manuscript so that you can prepare yourself for the wait. Sometimes, authors cannot wait for a long time; therefore, they should try to find another journal that states faster review times on their home pages.

If a journal does not state its timelines, you should check the most recent published articles. Most of the articles include some statistics such as submission date, revision date, acceptance date, and publication date. By checking the statistics of the most recent published articles, you can expect the time that you should wait for their decision.

We should bear in mind that even the stated review times on the journals’ websites are average. That means the review time of your manuscript may be more or less. Actually, the review time depends on many factors like how far the manuscript was well-prepared according to the journal’s guidelines, the reviewers’ availability and responsiveness, the extent of revisions required, etc. Most of the journals use a submission system where authors can submit and track the status of their papers.

When should the authors send a reminder?

Authors can wait from three to four months before sending a gentle reminder to the editor to ask for an update regarding their submission. Most journal editors are authors of other manuscripts so they understand how far you are concerned about the publication of your manuscript.

How to write an inquiry to the journal editor about the current status of a manuscript?

Here is a template that can be used to remind the journal editor:

Dear Prof./Dr. [editor’s last name],

Regarding manuscript [Insert manuscript reference number] titled “[Insert manuscript title].” We/I have submitted the manuscript to be considered for publication in your esteemed journal since [Insert date of submission]. We have not received an update regarding the manuscript status. So, could you please let me know when we can expect an update regarding our submission?

Thank you for your time and consideration and looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

[Insert author name and correspondence details]

[Signature]

I hope this helps and I would like to hear your suggestions. Good luck!

Resources and Further Readings:

Cancer Cell International [Internet]. Cancer Cell International. [cited 2021 Jun 2]. Available from: https://cancerci.biomedcentral.com/
How can I track the status of my submitted article? – Journal Article Publishing Support Center [Internet]. [cited 2021 Jun 2]. Available from: https://service.elsevier.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/29155/supporthub/publishing/~/how-can-i-track-the-status-of-my-submitted-article%3F/
Press D. Submission Status Guide | Dove Press Author Guidelines | Dove Press Author guidelines [Internet]. [cited 2021 Jun 2]. Available from: https://www.dovepress.com/author-guidelines/submission-status
What to Expect in Peer Review [Internet]. ASHA Journals Academy. [cited 2021 Jun 2]. Available from: https://academy.pubs.asha.org/asha-journals-author-resource-center/what-to-expect-in-peer-review/