Q: Does no specification of a revision period indicate rejection?
I submitted a manuscript to a journal and received a major revision decision. I have assumed that a period for revision is usually specified (about one to three months), but it was not specified this time. Does this mean the possibility of acceptance is low?
No, not really. This may simply be an oversight from the journal, and you should write to them about this. Doing so will also help you know how much time you have for the revision. The usual period is about a month. So, in case you need more time (as this is a major revision), you could later check with them whether they can grant you an extension. However, if the time is more than a month, it should be ample enough to make the major revision changes, and you may not need to ask for an extension.
Presently, after getting to know the exact time you have for the changes, you should concentrate on making the changes and not worry about the decision. You have already come quite far with your manuscript. If you are able to make the changes to the journal’s standards, the paper stands a very good chance of acceptance.
To help you with the peer review comments, you may find the following resources helpful:
- How to respond to comments by peer reviewers
- Do's and don'ts for responding to peer reviewers' comments
And for communicating with the journal, you may find this handbook useful: A practical handbook of templates for communicating with the journal
Hope that helps. All the best for the major revision!
This content belongs to the Journal submission & peer review Stage