Q: "With Editor" for four months
I submitted a manuscript to a Taylor and Francis journal back in late October 2021. On November 6th, the status changed to "With Editor." However, the status has not changed ever since. Is this a normal timeline? Thank you!
Dear author,
As an author my self, I feel that it is bit too long for the editor to take a decision on your manuscript which is highly likely to be sent for peer review. Editorial rejections are most of the time quick. So, tithe editor may probably be scouting for peer reviewers at the moment. But, of course, the time lines may very well vary between journals. There is no harm you contacting and inquiring about the status of your manuscript processing.
Good luck!
We can understand how stressful it must be to see the unchanged submission status for such a long time. Generally, it takes about 1–2 weeks for the editorial assessment to be completed. That’s when the status first appears as "With Editor." During this stage, the manuscript is evaluated for ethical considerations and scope match with the readership of the journal. Do note that the "With Editor" status also shows up when the reviewers submit their reports and the journal editor has to take a final call. However, the fixed status for a long duration, such as 4 months, is certainly unusual, but it does happen! Also, we cannot rule out the significant disruption that was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Journals have been struggling since then to find appropriate reviewers and expedite processes to avoid delays in their schedules. Nevertheless, it is time that you write to the journal’s Editor-in-Chief and inform them how critical the situation is for you and request a status update with an expected timeline by which you can hear from them.
Wish you good luck!
This content belongs to the Journal submission & peer review Stage