Q: The status of my manuscript is "With editor" for more than 6 months. What should I do?

The time taken by different journals to process a manuscript (even if they are published by the same publisher) may vary from a few weeks to several months. Many Elsevier journals mention the time taken for the first and final decision as well as the acceptance rate on their journal websites. Please refer to this if it is available. Sometimes, the lack of availability of peer reviewers can also contribute to the manuscript remaining with the editor for a long period of time.

Having said that, six months is indeed a long time for initial screening/assigning reviewers for the manuscript. Please write to the handling editor again and request them to expedite the process since this might affect your graduation/career. Kindly emphasize this point and you can take a call after receiving a response from the journal. Keep following up every week. If you don't get a response even after sending 3-4 emails, you can consider withdrawing your manuscript and submitting it elsewhere.

Recommended reading:

• What does the "With Editor" status mean for Elsevier journals?
• Why is the status of my paper showing "Editor Assigned" for more than a month?
• What does the status "With editor" mean and how long does it take?
• The status of my manuscript is 'With journal office.' What does it mean?