How Long Does it take to Publish a Journal Article?

If you're a scholar, PhD, or academic you've likely wondered about the timeline for getting your work into print. In this post, I provide a concise and informative guide to the academic publication process and how long it takes, helping you understand the steps and challenges, as well as offering some powerful tips to help you your publishing journey.

It usually takes quite a long time

Publishing a journal article is a journey – a long journey with tons of ups and downs. The timeline can be as unpredictable as it is important, and it's essential to set your expectations accordingly.

In the best-case scenario, you might find yourself in a rare "unicorn" situation where your research paper gets accepted and published in the ideal amount of time, around 8 weeks. However, don't pop the champagne just yet; these instances are super rare.

A study conducted by Runde in 2021 and published in Plos One found that median times-to-publication varied significantly, ranging from 79 to 323 days in their sample of academic journals. This wide range highlights that the publication timeline can be influenced by many factors, which include the journal's policies and procedures, the specific field of research, and the particular details of the paper.

For most researchers, the path to publication is a more patient one. The journey to see your original research in print can stretch on for a considerable period (i.e. a year or even two). But, don't let this dishearten you. This timeline may seem daunting, but it's a part of the process, and every article has its own unique journey.

So, as you work toward publishing your work, keep in mind that you will need patience and perseverance. Your amazing research deserves to see the light of day, and the long publication process is just one more step towards that shining moment.

Publication time for scientific articles varies greatly, with most papers published about 6-12 months after initial submission.

What makes it take so long?

A peer-reviewed journal article is one that has been vetted by experts in the field before it is published, and this process tends to be long and cumbersome. The idea, however, is that the process ensures that the article meets certain standards of quality and relevance.

The peer-review process can be summarized as follows:

• As the very first step, an author, or group of authors, submit(s) their manuscript to a journal.
• The editor of the journal decides whether they will consider the manuscript for publication and send it for review. This decision is mostly based on whether they believe the article is a good fit for the scope of the journal, or not.
• If yes, the editor sends the article to usually 2-5 peer reviewers. Peer reviewers are experts in their field who critically assess a manuscript for its novelty, scientific rigor, and clarity.
• The reviewers assess the manuscript and indicate whether they recommend accepting the article or not. They usually provide detailed comments and suggestions for improvement that are then shared with the author.
• Based on these reviews, the editor makes a decision about whether to reject the manuscript, accept it, or reconsider it pending revision.
• The most common decision is revision, and so the authors then revised their manuscript and resubmit it.
• Usually the editors send the revised manuscript from review again, sometimes to the same reviewers, sometimes to different ones.
• Again, based on these reviews, the editor makes a decision about rejection, acceptance, or revision.
• If the paper is accepted, then it moves into ‘production’ where copy editors work on formatting and preparing the manuscript for publication in the journal.
• Around this time you will be asked to make any additional required decisions, such as whether to pay extra for colour figures or open access (if relevant).
• ‘Page proofs’ are then sent to the corresponding author to edit and approve.
• Then finally the manuscript gets in the queue for the next issue of the journal. In cases where a journal only publishes one or two issues a year, it can take some time before an accepted manuscript makes it into an issue. (Sometimes these articles will be published online in advance of the ‘official’ publication date.)

So, as you can see this is an arduous process that takes a long time. Different journals have different timelines, but most often the process takes at least several months, and more often closer to a year.

A journal article may need to go through several rounds of revision depending on feedback from the Editors and Reviewers. This can lengthen the time between first submission and publication.

Can I make article publication times go faster?

No. Not really. Once your paper is submitted the important decisions and timeline are largely out of your hands. But…here are some tips that can help make a difference.

📚 Consider journals with faster turn around times. Some journals share this information, but time to publication is not always super easy to get. Some journals do advertise their time to publication on their webpage and so that is good starting point. But keep in mind that the values they report might not be accurate, up-to-date, or relevant to your particular scenario (article type, field of study, rounds of revisions, etc.). Often talking to your supervisors, mentors, and peers is the best way to get the scoop on which journals in your discipline have a reputation for publishing more quickly, and which ones tend to take too long.

📚 If given the option, recommend appropriate reviewers that you think will say ‘yes’. Something that often delays publication is that editors can’t find appropriate reviewers. How it’s meant to work is that Editors invite reviewers that are expert in your field, they ‘accept the invitation’ and are sent the manuscript, and they return their reviews to the Editor within about 4 weeks. But the reality is that many reviewers ‘decline’ because they are busy. Many don’t even respond to the invitation email at all. And then the Editor has to start the process over again with different reviewers. You can’t control any of this, but often you are given the option to suggest reviewers at submission and you should always take this opportunity when you have it. It helps the Editors, it makes them happy, and that is a good thing. They might not use the reviewers you suggest, but there is a good chance they will.

📚 Check on the process after appropriate waiting times. Unfortunately, some articles just fall through the cracks due to technical issues, or personelle issues (changes in editorship). If you have waited for a response for an appropriate amount of time (i.e. more than around 8 weeks, depending what stage of the process you are in), then you can send an email to inquire about the status of your manuscript. Most often the submission portal has link to ‘send email to editor”. Be polite and use this strategy sparingly. In most cases you just have to wait.

Here’s an example email:

Dear Prof. XX,

I am writing to enquire about my article titled XX (Submission Number XX). I submitted the manuscript on Month/Day/Year, approximately 3 months ago and have not yet received a response. Can you please let me know if anything else is required from me?

I appreciate your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

📚 Don’t wait to submit a ‘perfect’ paper. The reality is that the reviewers are probably going to suggest a million revisions. This is normal and a part of the process and it doesn't always reflect the overall quality of the paper. It is wasted hard work to 100% perfect your manuscript before submitting it, because a lot of it is going to change. It’s better to get an imperfect paper submitted and the process started.

📚 Don’t stall yourself in the revision stage. The most common outcome for a reviewed paper is “revise”, which means that the editor is requesting that you incorporate and respond the reviewer’s feedback. When they invite you to revise, they often given you a deadline about 2-3 months away so that you have ample time to revise and resubmit your manuscript. You can help cut down the time to publication by doing and submitting your revisions promptly. This sounds easy, but in the moment if can feel like the last thing you want to do in the world is work on the manuscript you thought was already done. Revise promptly, but still take the time you need to response properly, and don’t do anything reactionary in the first few days after receiving your reviews. It’s good practice to let the reviews simmer for a bit (but not too long), before starting to tackle the revisions.

Once you submit your paper the timeline is largely out of your control. However, you can contribute to speeding up the process by suggesting suitable reviewers, checking the status if you encounter extended waiting periods, and avoiding unnecessary delays before you submit (just submit it! 🤓) and when you are revising the manuscript.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to publish a research paper?

The time to publication for a journal article can vary significantly depending on several factors, such as the field of study, the journal's policies, and the manuscript's complexity. On average, it can take anywhere from several months to several years. However, a general estimate is around 6-12 months from initial submission to publication.

How can I expedite the publication process for my scientific paper?

To expedite the publication of your scientific paper, you can choose journals known for their quicker turnaround times. Additionally, ensure that your manuscript is well-prepared, adheres to the journal's guidelines, and responds promptly to reviewer comments and revisions. Effective communication with the journal's editorial team can also help reduce publication time.

What factors affect the time it takes to publish an academic paper?

Several factors can influence the time to publication, including the journal's process and policies, the availability of the journal editors and peer reviewers, and the number of revisions required.

Can I predict the time it will take to publish my journal article?

You cannot predict the exact wait time to publication as it can vary widely. However, you can estimate the average publication time for the journal you're submitting to by checking their website and talking to peers about their experiences. Keep in mind that this is just an estimate and individual cases will differ.

How can I select the right journal to minimize publication time?

To minimize publication time, it's crucial to choose a journal that aligns with your research, and it helps if it has reputation for swift publication. Read through the journal's guidelines and review past issues to get an idea of their typical publication timeline. At the top of most journal articles, you will see the ‘Date submitted’ and ‘Date published’. You can also discuss your options with colleagues and mentors to make a more informed decision. Keep in mind, however, that publication time is rarely the most important factor when considering journals – fit and appropriateness are usually more important.

Is it possible to speed up the peer review process for my journal article?

You can’t make the process go faster. But, you can help expedite the process recommending appropriate reviewers, checking in on the process if you experience unusual waiting times, and not stalling yourself in the pre-submission and revision stages.

How can I check the status of my manuscript?

Usually you are able to track the status of your manuscript via the submission portal where you submitted.

Can I email the journal or Editor?

Yes, but make sure to only do this sparingly. The best way to do this is to go into the submission portal where you submitted the journal and look for an “email Editor” or “send email” link. Always be polite and patient for a response.

What should I do while waiting for my journal article to be published?

While waiting for your journal article to be published, focus on other research projects, engage in academic networking, and stay up to date with the latest developments in your field. And sart working on your next paper 🤓

Will long publication times affect me earning my PhD (for ‘PhD by publication” programs)?

A10: Potentially, but hopefully not. Check the specific requirements of your program, but most will accept submitted and ‘in review’ papers to meet degree requirements, because the research community is well aware of the long timelines. Long publication time is something to keep in mind with doing a PhD by publication however, and it makes it even more important to make good decisions, plan ahead, and manage your time effectively.

Additional resources

For guidance on how to write and publish a journal article the productive way, check out my free resource: How to Publish a Journal Article: The First 7 Steps Checklist

Runde BJ (2021) Time to publish? Turnaround times, acceptance rates, and impact factors of journals in fisheries science. PLOS ONE 16(9): e0257841. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257841 

Does it take too long to publish research? By Kendall Powell 

10 things you should know before publishing your first journal article

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