Q: How long does it take to receive the manuscript tracking number?
I submitted a manuscript to IOP Press the other day. As soon as the submission was completed, I got the automatic email. The mail says; “When the editorial office received your manuscript, the manuscript tracking number and how to access the status report will be informed by email”.
But I haven't received such email after more than 2 weeks. I have no way to know the status. How long should I wait for the email?
Thank you for your question. We understand that waiting for the journal to get back to you after a submission can cause anxiety. Some journals assign a manuscript ID or tracking number mechanically/automatically as and when they receive the manuscript, whereas some other journals assign it based on article type. In this case, given that the automatic email you received said that you will receive a tracking number once the editorial office has received your manuscript, we believe you can write to the journal's editorial office to confirm whether they have received your manuscript and to clarify the timeline related to receiving a tracking number and subsequent steps.
We also have a few related resources on submission statuses, including a useful handbook curated by our sister brand, R Upskill. You may want to have a look at these:
- Tracking your manuscript status in journal submission systems
- Handbook: Keep Calm And Wait: A Guide To Understanding Journal Statuses
- Handbook: How To Communicate With The Journal? Peer Review Comments, Cover Letter And More
Hope this helps. All the best for your submission!
This content belongs to the Journal submission & peer review Stage