Q: Is it okay to ask about my submission status by email - and how can the email be effective?

A month in the Under Editor Assessment status is a bit long, but it can happen. The Associate/Managing Editor (AE/ME) may have been busy with other submissions, and more immediately, with trying to clear their workload before heading for the holidays. So, yes, you can definitely ask about the status by dropping them a mail. But note that for the same reason (being right in the middle of the holiday season), they may take time getting back to you. In fact, they may not get back until early or even mid-January now. So, a better idea may be to write sometime then so that your mail is not ‘lost’ in the ‘sea’ of mails in their inbox once they get back. For help with the email content, you may find this handbook very helpful: A practical handbook of templates for communicating with the journal

Note: The handbook is available from R Upskill, a sister brand offering learning programs for various aspects of a researcher’s work, from writing to research promotion to career progression. For a limited period, the entire range of courses is available for free (as a trial), so do check it out!

So, good luck with the mail, and then the progress on your manuscript. And for now – Happy Holidays!