Q: If my paper is "With editor" for many weeks, does it mean my paper will not be rejected?

Detailed Question -

I submitted a manuscript to a journal with a supposedly 10-week first decision time. It's been more than 10 weeks and when I track my status, it is still "with the Editor." Does it mean that my paper is not rejected? Because if it will be rejected, will it be more difficult for us authors to wait for that long only to be rejected? Don't you think so?

1 Answer to this question
Answer:

I agree with you that ideally authors should not be made to wait more than a month in case of a rejection without review. However, that is not always the case when it comes to journals. Often, a paper remains "With Editor" for a long time and is not processed further. You should immediately send an inquiry to the journal asking why the status is not changing and when you can receive a decision. If the status hasn't changed yet, it probably means that it has not yet been sent for peer review. It does not mean that your paper will not be rejected. It can still receive a desk rejection, that is rejection without peer review. It can also be rejected after peer review. There is no guarantee of acceptance until you receive an email from the editor saying that your paper has been accepted.

The time that journals specify on the website is the average time from submission to final decision, and this can vary depending on the article, the availability of peer reviewers, etc. However, you need to constantly follow up with the journal if you wish to avoid unnecessary delays.

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