Q: What does it mean if the status date changes while the status remains "With Editor"?
I submitted a manuscript on 13th Nov to an Elsevier journal. The status changed from from "Submitted to Journal" to "With Editor" on 14th Nov. On 20th Nov, the status date changed, but the status remained "With Editor". Since then the manuscript status has been same. Did something happen here? I'm wondering if this means that the editor is looking for reviewers or whether an initial screening is being conducted. Really appreciate some advice and clarification on this. Thank you!
Maybe, your manuscript have been sent to an area editor whose has appreciate research fields close to yours. You can note that it can be two or many different editors taking care your paper. That means one at the first your submission and others (e.g., area editor) then. Therefore, your status is still "With Editor" because of changing editors. Do not worry about that. I think it will be set to "under review" as soon as the second editor has invited at least one reviewer who had agreed to review your manuscript.
If the status date changes, with the status showing "With Editor," it means that the Editor has accessed the database to check your manuscript. This indicates two possibilities:
1. The editor could have accessed the database to download the manuscript for the initial editorial screening.
2. It is possible that the initial screening is done and the editor wanted to check the list of author-suggested reviewers or wanted to check your reference list for potential reviewers.
The next status change will provide more clarity on this. Since it's been just a couple of weeks since the manuscript was submitted, it would not be advisable to write to the journal so soon. However, if there is no status change even a month after submission, you can send an inquiry to the journal.
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This content belongs to the Journal submission & peer review Stage