Q: Is it possible to submit a paper to a journal after withdrawing it from a previous journal and removing the previous corresponding author's name?

Thanks for describing your situation in such detail. However, note that we have made some edits for greater clarity.

Coming to your query and in fact the whole situation, there are actually several points to discuss or touch upon. So, let’s take them one by one.

• You have written that you invited this author to correct (review) your paper and also to be the corresponding author. Your action is understandable. However, note that sometimes, this may be considered a case of honorary authorship (where a senior or renowned researcher’s name is included only to add weight to the paper), and therefore unethical. However, as this author did make some contributions to the paper (through the initial corrections and the final advice), you are on good ground here. :-)
• The senior author’s suggestion to withdraw the paper seems understandable. After the revision, which was perhaps a major revision, he may have realized that the paper is still not of a certain scientific merit, and may not have wished to attach his name to it. Both of you seemed to have reached a mutual decision, which is another good thing.
• You have said that you have already withdrawn the paper from this journal. If so, please ensure you have followed all the to-dos as mentioned in this resource: How can I get a confirmation of withdrawal from the journal? [This is especially necessary if you wish to submit to another journal.]
• Coming to your actual query, it should be fine to submit the revised manuscript to another journal. However, you need to keep the following points in mind:
  • Ensure you have received the withdrawal confirmation from the previous journal (as described in the previous point).
  • Share all the details of the previous submission with the subsequent journal. If needed, you may share this information through a presubmission inquiry to your target journal(s).
  • You need to acknowledge the previous corresponding author’s contribution in the Acknowledgments section. This is because he was involved in the corrections of the first draft of the submission to the previous journal and also suggested that you withdraw the paper due to a perceived lack of quality. Of course, you don’t need to mention these details, but can leave it at something like “for providing valuable inputs and advice.”
• If you keep all the above points in mind, there should be no ethical issues.
• As the paper was not published, there is no issue of copyright problems.
• The last point to discuss though is perhaps the most important one. You have mentioned that you had initially asked the other author to correct your first draft, and later, that he suggested withdrawing the paper because of a possible lack of quality. So, you need to consider the point that the paper may presently not still be of a quality acceptable by a journal. If so, you may spend some time improving the manuscript. If you wish, you may utilize our manuscript editing service for this purpose. If you think the paper cannot be improved, you may then consider keeping it aside and writing a new paper around another topic.

Hope that helps. All the best for whatever you decide!