Publication in scientific journals is a key tool for the career growth of researchers, as it not only confirms the quality of their studies but also contributes to obtaining academic degrees, grants, or recognition in the academic community. In this article, we will explain why publication in prestigious scientific journals takes a lot of time and review the key stages of this process.
Researchers often face situations when they urgently need to publish an article to meet the requirements for defending a dissertation or submitting a grant application. Often they find out about this too late and try to place their works in reputable journals within the shortest possible time, for example, in two months. Unfortunately, this is impossible due to the complexity and duration of the publication process.
Why is publication in 2 months impossible?
The process of publishing a scientific article in a reputable journal is multistep and includes several stages, each of which requires considerable time. Prestigious journals, such as those indexed in Scopus or Web of Science, have high-quality standards, which imply thorough verification of materials.
On average, from the moment of submission to publication, it may take from 6 months to a year, depending on the journal, discipline, and complexity of the review. Attempting to meet a two-month deadline contradicts the very nature of this process. Below, we will consider the key stages that an article goes through on its way to publication.
1. Preparation of the article
At this stage, the author prepares the article, which must meet the strict requirements of the selected journal. This includes the IMRAD structure (Introduction, Methodology, Results, and Discussion), citation style (for example, APA, MLA, Chicago), formatting of images, tables, graphs, acceptable text length, as well as the formatting of the reference list. In addition, the article must be written in compliance with the specifics of the scientific style and, if necessary, translated into academic English.
It should be taken into account that even if the research is already completed, preparation of the manuscript may take from several weeks to several months. Additional time is needed for plagiarism checking, editing by colleagues or professional editors, as well as adapting the article to the specific requirements of the journal, which may vary significantly.
2. Submission of the article
After completing the preparation of the manuscript, the author submits the article to the editorial office of the journal. Along with the article, it is usually necessary to send a cover letter in which the author explains the novelty and significance of the research and confirms that the article has not been submitted to other journals. Some journals also require additional documents, for example, a declaration of no conflict of interest or information about funding.
The submission process itself can be technically difficult: journal systems often have specific file format requirements, and errors in filling out forms may lead to the article being returned without consideration. In addition, selecting the appropriate journal itself takes time, as the author must ensure that the subject of the article corresponds to the profile of the publication.
3. Initial review by the editor
After submission, the editor of the journal conducts a preliminary evaluation. They check whether the article corresponds to the subject area of the journal, whether formatting requirements are met, and whether the study has sufficient scientific value for further consideration. At this stage, the article may be rejected without review if it does not meet the journal’s standards.
Editors often process numerous manuscripts, so the initial review may take from several days to several weeks. In prestigious journals with a high impact factor, competition is very high, which makes editors especially strict.
4. Peer review
If the article passes the initial check, it is sent for peer review.
There are several main types of peer review:
- Single-blind peer review
- Double-blind peer review
- Triple-blind peer review
- Open peer review
- Post-publication review
The main task of reviewers is to evaluate the scientific value, methodology, originality, reliability of data, and quality of presentation. They provide detailed comments and recommendations: accept the article, reject it, or send it back for revision.
This stage is the longest in the publication process, as reviewers must process a large amount of material. Therefore, delays often occur due to this workload.
5. Revision of the article
If reviewers recommend changes, the author receives their comments and has a certain time to revise the article. The changes may be minor (for example, clarifying formulations) or significant (additional experiments, reworking sections or analysis). After making corrections, the author resubmits the article together with a letter explaining how the comments were addressed.
6. Final decision
After revision, the editor makes the final decision: accept the article for publication, reject it, or send it for additional review. At this point, the editor evaluates whether the article meets the journal’s standards after the changes have been made.
If additional review is required, this may take several more weeks.
7. Preparation for release
After approval, the article undergoes technical preparation: language editing, proofreading, formatting of the text, tables, and figures, as well as layout. Some journals allow the author to check the final version to avoid errors.
The duration of this stage depends on the internal processes of the journal and the frequency of issues (monthly, quarterly, or yearly). In prestigious journals with numerous articles, the publication queue may further delay the process.
Publishing an article in a prestigious journal in just two months is impossible, since the publication process consists of many stages. Each step – from preparing the manuscript to the final publication – requires thoroughness, adherence to high standards, and well-coordinated cooperation between authors, reviewers, and editors.
If you aim to publish your article in a prestigious scientific journal on time, contact the company Scientific Publications. Our specialists will help you choose a reliable journal that corresponds to the subject of your research and professionally prepare the article in accordance with all journal requirements. We provide comprehensive support at every stage of the process – from manuscript submission to successful publication. To receive a free consultation, fill in the form below, and our manager will contact you shortly. Together towards new scientific achievements!
