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Course & Subject Guides

Academic Publishing @ Pitt

This guide provides resources and information on the academic publishing process as a whole.

Typical Journal Publishing Workflow

Journal publishing typically follows the workflow described below, although variations across publications and publishers exist. When preparing to submit your manuscript to a journal, make sure that you are aware of charges you may incur as well as any decisions about licensing and copyright you may need to make.

  1. Manuscript Submission: Once you have found the journal you want to submit your paper to, review the author guidelines carefully. Make sure that your manuscript adheres to the journal's requirements for citations and formatting. Most journals use a submission system where you will upload your manuscript and any additional files such as figures and appendixes.
  2. Initial Assessment: The journal's editor screens all incoming manuscripts for suitability. If your manuscript is outside the journal's scope, does not follow author guidelines, or is otherwise unsuitable, it will be rejected and returned to you. If your manuscript is deemed suitable for potential publication, the editor will forward it to one or more peer reviewers.
  3. Peer Review: Peer reviewer(s) reads and evaluates your manuscript in order to make a recommendation to the editor. They may recommend that the paper be rejected, accepted as-is, or returned to you for revisions.
  4. Revision: The journal editor forwards the peer reviewer's comments and suggestions to you. You make suggested revisions and resubmit your manuscript for review. If necessary, your manuscript may undergo more than one round of review and revision.
  5. Decision: Once your manuscript has been revised, the editor makes a final decision. They may accept your manuscript, or they may decide that your revisions are not adequate and reject it.
  6. Production: After a manuscript is accepted, it enters the production process. A copyeditor proofreads your manuscript and makes minor changes to ensure that it adheres to style guidelines and is free of grammatical errors. Then, your manuscript will be typeset and formatted. You may have the opportunity to review a proof of your article before it is published.
  7. Publication: Your final, copyedited, typeset, formatted article is published online and/or in print.