Q: What does 'clean copy' mean in the case of making a revised submission?
I found the instruction for making a revised submission as follows:
‘Two versions of the revised manuscript must be uploaded: one clean copy and one with the changes indicated by the “Track Changes” function.’
What does ‘clean copy’ mean?
The ‘clean copy’ of the (revised) manuscript is, as the name suggests, the version with all the changes made but without the (tracked) changes highlighted, that is, without the Track Changes option selected. It should basically look like a document submitted the first time: clean. There should be no comments either; you can include those in the comments sheet for the reviewers. The journal asks for the clean copy to send for proofing in case they now decide to accept your manuscript for publication. You may also know about this through this article: Tips for authors submitting a revised manuscript
For further information on revised submissions, you may refer to the following resources:
- 10 Steps to a successful revision
- How long will it take for the journal to reach a decision on my revised submission?
Hope that helps. All the best for a successful resubmission!
This content belongs to the Journal submission & peer review Stage