Q: What is the meaning of the Editor Assigned status after the Under Review status for the second revision of a manuscript?
I have submitted my manuscript to a Springer journal. They have given a major revision decision twice. After the submission of the second revision, the status was Under Review for 20 days. After that, it changed to Editor Assigned, and has been the same since January 17. What could be the reason for the current status? Is the review process completed or are more reviewers required to [re-]review the manuscript?
You have two questions. Let’s take them in the sequence you have asked them.
What could be the reason for the current status?
So, your re-revised manuscript has moved to Editor Assigned after Under Review. This means that the peer review of the second revision is over, and now, the handling editor – either the Associate Editor (AE) or the Managing Editor (ME), as the case may be – is trying to decide on your manuscript, or at least they have been assigned to do so. As it has been at the same status for close to three weeks, it may mean that they haven’t yet gotten to it, perhaps because they are busy with other manuscripts and/or other journal responsibilities. You could wait another week or so, at the most, for a month (up to February 17), and if you still haven’t seen any change, you may write to them requesting an update.
Is the review process completed – or are more reviewers required to re-review the manuscript?
This may be somewhat difficult to say here, as your manuscript has already gone through two major revisions, which is not very common (although it does happen). However, for the same reason, they may be making a decision on it soon. That said, there are instances when editors have referred a manuscript to additional reviewers, until they are entirely satisfied. But as you can understand, they do so mainly to ensure the science is strong and that they are putting out a valid and credible paper. After all, journals have as much stake as a researcher, if not more. From your side, you should simply wait for the next update. In case you don’t hear from them shortly, as already mentioned above, you may write to them seeking an update.
Until then, you may go through the following articles for insights into the journal decision-making process:
- Editorial decision-making: what are the possible outcomes for a manuscript?
- How a journal editor reaches a decision on a manuscript after peer review
- Peer review process and editorial decision making at journals
A final thing. As you mentioned that your manuscript has gone through two major revisions already and wonder whether it may go through some more (even if minor), you may wish to consider a review or editing service for future manuscripts. The experts – language and/or scientific – at such a service would help review, edit, and even prepare your manuscript for submission to the journal in a way to firstly strengthen it for peer review and then to increase its chances of acceptance (and thus, also reduce your worry). While we offer a suite of editing/review services, the one most pertinent to your present situation is our Scientific Editing service. You may learn more about it here: Editage Scientific Editing
Anyway, hope all that helps. All the best for the next steps on your manuscript!
Thank you for the the previous detailed explanation. After three months of waiting, the decision came with minor revision (four comments only) and the following statment is mentioned by EiC "I have decided that your manuscript can be accepted for publication after you have carried out the corrections as suggested by the reviewer(s) indicated below". I have made the correction and resubmit it within two days. Now the status in editorial manager is showing "Under Review" status after "Editor Invited" status. Does that mean it is send back to the reviewer again or the editor is checking by himself.
Oh, this is great to hear. You have received a provisional or conditional acceptance, an acceptance based on the provision or condition that you make the last few changes. So, congrats!
About the latest status, you needn’t worry about that. That’s a technicality. To answer your question though, as this was a minor revision, the AE will most probably be checking the last few changes themselves rather than sending it to the reviewers. So, you are good.
Feel free to celebrate a while. :) But after that, you’ll need to think about the closing stage on your manuscript, which is the proofing check. Once the manuscript is accepted, the editing team will typeset it and send you the manuscript for a proofing / final check. To prepare for that, you can go through the below queries to ensure you are submitting a final manuscript that is perfect for publication. All the best for the final stage!
Hello again!
With continuing to my previous query, the status of my manuscript is under review since 30 March after the submission of the revised manuscript with a minor revision.
Is there any need to worry or it is a common practice from the journals side. Should I send an email to the handling editor since it is unknown for me if it is gone under another round of revision or not?
I am really anxious and any suggestion from your side is highly appreciated.
This content belongs to the Journal submission & peer review Stage