Q: An editor was assigned after I sent a withdrawal request to the journal. What should I do?
I have submitted my paper to an Elsevier journal. Soon after submission and before the manuscript was assigned a manuscript number, I sent an e-mail through the EOS requesting to withdraw the paper because of some problems in references. I have read on the Elsevier site that only before assigning the editor the paper can be sent back to me for changes. Now, regardless of my request the journal has assigned an editor to my paper. I would like to know if this is normal? Or does it show that they have not read my email? What shall I do?
Since the journal has assigned an editor to your manuscript, it is possible that they have not seen your email requests for withdrawal.
You have mentioned the guidelines on the Elsevier website. However, please note that these guidelines refer to making changes to the manuscript and not withdrawal. Therefore, if you wish to withdraw your manuscript, you can still proceed with the withdrawal request.
But as you mentioned, your concern is only regarding some problem in the references, which in my opinion, should not be a major problem. You need not volunteer to withdraw your manuscript for reasons related to mistakes in the reference list. You can instead rectify the error or clarify the situation when you address comments raised during the peer review process. Alternatively, you can also send an email to the journal editor explaining this situation.
However, if you do believe that the problem is a major one and a withdrawal is inevitable, then you can write another email to the journal, politely reminding them of your previous email. You can continue to write to the journal once every week till your request for withdrawal is approved.
If you wish to go ahead with the withdrawal, these posts will help you: