Q: Can a journal publish my article without getting back to me to approve their changes?

While you have articulated your question quite clearly, it seems there are some concerns at the back of your mind. Also, some aspects of the situation aren’t entirely clear, perhaps because you haven’t provided those details. For instance… Is this a research/scientific/academic journal, or some other? If the editor seems to know about your piece while you are still completing it, is this a commissioned piece? Or maybe you are working on the revisions of a piece you had submitted earlier?

Anyway, to answer your posted question, ideally and ethically, they shouldn’t publish the article without your approval of the changes. If they are a legitimate/quality journal, they wouldn’t do so. They would share the final proofs before publishing it. Of course, the journal does have the final say on how much or what they will publish. This depends on various factors such as space/length, focus, readership, and such. So, the editor’s hint may be based on these factors.

If it’s weighing on your mind, you should check this with the editor. As you are still finalizing your piece, this may be a good point to do so. Based on what they say and how accommodating they are willing to be, you could tweak your article to suit their requirements.

Hope that helps.

For insights into the way journals and editors think and operate, you may find these resources helpful:

• Peer review process and editorial decision making at journals
• Editorial decision-making: what are the possible outcomes for a manuscript?
• A journal editor's insight into what happens post manuscript submission

And of course, if you need help with editing, you may check out our wide range of editing services: Editage Services

All the best for your piece! Hope it’s published soon – your way, the journal/editor’s way, or some way that’s a happy middle. :-)