Q: What should I do if the editor is unresponsive?

Detailed Question -

I submitted a paper to a mathematical journal on 29/3/2017. Three days later, the status changed to "Under review." However, the status never changed after that. I have sent three inquiries to the journal but received no response till date. What should I do? Yet, every time I send an inquiry, I request read receipts and come to know that they have read my messages! I am confused. Can anybody help me?

3 Answers to this question
Answer:

Usually, the review time for mathematics journals is much longer than other fields. However, it's been 7 months since submission, and it is odd that the journal has not responded to any of your emails. I think you should write to the journal again. Politely explain that as an author, you are anxious about the status of your manuscript and would appreciate if they respond to your emails updating you on the progress of the manuscript. Send follow up emails every week for at least 3-4 weeks. If you still receive no response, you can consider withdrawing your paper.

Recommended reading:

Comment

Answer: An introduction section should cover the following: 1. Background on the topic: include the current knowledge in the field 2. Why there is a need for additional research in the field. 3. What are your objectives/hypothesis If you are not aware of other publications/studies that you can cite, you may refer to journals in your field or look up existing theories/articles on Google or Google scholar. Make sure to cite these appropriately as references in your article.
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Answer: Not receiving a response from the journal after seven months of submission, is unusual. You should write to the journal again mentioning the submission date and the manuscript’s reference number. You can also try to send mail directly to the Editor-in-chief of the journal. Also, please check if the journal is still active and accepts a new submission. Hope this helps!
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