Q: What does it mean if the status progressed from 'Editor Assigned' to 'Decision in Process' in a month?

Detailed Question -

I submitted my manuscript to an Elsevier journal, and the status changed as follows in one month (April-May): Editor Invited > Editor Assigned > Decision in Process. Does it mean the manuscript is likely to be rejected?

1 Answer to this question
Answer:

As it’s a quality journal/publisher and the status has been gradually progressing, your deduction may be right. However, as you may know, this is the decision by the associate editor (AE) alone. The Editor-in-Chief (EiC) is yet to make their decision, which might well be more positive. So, you should wait for the next update, without either dashing your hopes completely or raising them entirely, that is, by maintaining a balance. Here’s an earlier query along similar lines: Does a direct 'Decision in Process' status indicate rejection?

Now, in case it’s a reject, as you may know too, you can submit an updated version of the manuscript to another journal, making changes based on any feedback received from Elsevier.

To minimize or deal with desk rejection, you may also find it worthwhile going through these resources:

Additionally, you may wish to check out our new AI-powered platform, PubSURE, that aims to help you minimize desk rejection. It does so in two ways. One, it helps you make your manuscript submission-ready through its machine checks. Two, once your manuscript is ready, it helps you showcase it to several journal editors, one of whom may consider it for publishing in their journal. You may learn more about the platform here: PubSURE

All the best for the next status and steps!

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