Yes, you can ...but I suggest you to do it only if you have strong and unquestionable arguments to support your opinion. Actually, I can tell you about a personal experience, where I appealled editor decision of a high impact factor and reputed journal in the field of environmental science and technology. The editor made the decision to reject our submission with the support of three reviews (minor, major and reject). In particular, he explained in the rejection letter that in his opinion the "minor revision" request was not reliable. I replied that I agreed, but that also "reject" review was not reliable becasue the reviewer comment was really poor (just a few lines of generic comments not supported by references). So the editorial board, after read my email where I analytically explained why "reject" review was not realiable, made the decision to assign our paper to a new editor. After a second review process the manuscript was finally published.
You can definitely appeal a decision made by an editor! Whether you should is another question. If you have a good reason why the paper should not be rejected and can respond to the comments of the editor/reviewer, I would definitely encourage appealing a negative decision. If your paper has been rejected based on scope and fit with the journal, it might be harder to convince an editor. We provide an Editor and Reviewer Response to help you with responding to an editor decision.
Of course everyone has the right to appeal against a decision.
But keep in mind that the decision of the editor is influenced from several factors:
- of course the quality of your paper on its own
- novelty of the paper compared to literature
- impact of the topic
- scope of the journal
- limitations from the publisher considering the total number of papers
Yes, you can ...but I suggest you to do it only if you have strong and unquestionable arguments to support your opinion. Actually, I can tell you about a personal experience, where I appealled editor decision of a high impact factor and reputed journal in the field of environmental science and technology. The editor made the decision to reject our submission with the support of three reviews (minor, major and reject). In particular, he explained in the rejection letter that in his opinion the "minor revision" request was not reliable. I replied that I agreed, but that also "reject" review was not reliable becasue the reviewer comment was really poor (just a few lines of generic comments not supported by references). So the editorial board, after read my email where I analytically explained why "reject" review was not realiable, made the decision to assign our paper to a new editor. After a second review process the manuscript was finally published.
Hi,
It depends on what grounds the paper was rejected. It it does not match the aims and scope of the journal, then you better find another journal that will be in your area of study. If the rejection is the result of referees' decision, and you think they are wrong, then you should approach the editor with well prepared arguments in favor of your paper, and maybe the editor will be willing to send your paper to other reviewers.
Yes You can. If you have a very valid reasons. But it depends on what ground the article was rejected. If its on technical ground then you can appeal.
Yes you can.
But you must go through review report of your paper and negative things mentioned about your paper you have to take it positively. You must think of improvements in old version of paper as per guideline given by reviewers. It may take some time, but you will definitely produce quality paper.
Yes , you can. But as previous commentators have indicated you need to have a strong and valid point to pursue the appeal to the editor's decision. The readiness of the editorial board to give attention to your case is also necessary. Another option could be that you respectively pinpoint your disagreement regarding the decision after which you send to another reputable journal.
It can be done but I don't encourage it. Editors may think you are a sore loser. Even if you protest the decision, it's likely that you will deal with the same editor again. My advice is don't do it. You don't want to build a reputation of an author who cannot accept rejection. Besides, there are many journals. Simply send the article to another journal.
Hi,
You can appeal the decision but you have to present all the facts to show why the editorial decision was not correct. If you will be convincing enough, the editors could find new reviewers for your paper so that your paper will be examined again.
Yes you can. As indicated by others, you need to be careful not to create a war environment with editors. You might just win battles but not the war. But definitely if you have a strong case, please table it and will most likely be considered.
The journals are open to all comments that mean improving their processes. Before appealing it will be necessary to know the rules and policy of the journal, in this case the type of review. If you do not agree with the opinions received, review the comments and suggestions well, and write a formal letter stating your argument. After that you will have to wait for the answer.
You can also accept the comments and suggestions of the opinions, accommodate your article and send it to another journal; Now if they also reject you, then the problem is the article.
if you strongly disagree with the editorial decision, you can appeal against it unless the editor has clearly specified otherwise. You can appeal to the editorial board, giving a point-by-point argument against the editor’s views. Make sure that your arguments are backed by solid evidence. Also, remember to be very polite in your communication.
You can appeal but mostly in the cases when a review made some unethical things in the review (demanded to cite his/her own paper which is 'forthcoming'), used the rude tone or presented herself/himself as an idiot pretending that he/his did not understand a commonly used terminology). Even in such cases the chances of changing the decision are close to zero if you are not a member of the editorial board of that journal and you are writing to the editor not about your particular paper but about the quality of the review process in general in the journal.
If you believe strongly that you should appeal against a journal editorial decision just do it. An initial editorial decision may be reversed, and, sometimes, this is the case.
Hi, can anyone explain, how much time an author have to file an appeal after rejection decision of the editor? I mean ideal gap between decision and appeal (one week, two weeks, a month etc.)
Hi Abid,
It should be as soon as possible but make sure you have gathered enough evidence to prove your point. Once your information to the editor is ready you can appeal.
Thank you
Does anyone have an example of this kind of letter? I got rejected by a journal based only on the editors decision, since all the reviewers recommended the paper for publication and the corrections suggested by the reviewers were minor, so I'm wondering how to start this kind of letter? Thanks for the help!
I do it, unfortunately, after 15 days I do not receive any feedback.
I also do it from 20 days ago and the editor didn't reply or give any feedback
Following the last two posts, editorial decisions usually are final and binding. However, editors are not gods and a strong appeal letter may be a good opportunity to improve their decision-making skills and bring to their attention facts they probably ignore.
Something is better than nothing (for both authors and editors).
Should we submit to another journal or wait for the editor's response to the appeal letter?
thanks your reply.
I would like to advise you, not to go in academic disputes. I hope at this stage your manuscript may be very well polished and mature after the reviewers comments. The best way is therefore, to submit it some where else and get quick acceptance.
It's better to just revise the manuscript and send it to another Journal for review.
Hany Kasban
Professor,
Its a wonderful question.
Just like the other great scientists and researchers who have written their answers here, my answer is also "yes". But before going ahead with any such appeal, I would request you to please consider the benefits of such an appeal. I think the responses of Nasrin Mohajeri and Ahmed Samy can be regarded as ideal in this case. The response of Muhammad Ali is of prime importance when he wrote that it is better to not go for any academic disputes.
To sum up, the conclusion is that you always can but there is no point in doing so.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Anamitra.
Hany Kasban , editorial decisions are final on most journals, particularly subscription impact factor journals (free), these journals have large number of submissions so the chances of editors responding to the appeal, in my opinion, are very low, maybe the case can be different with journals which do not have large number of manuscripts submitted.
Hi,
Yes, and in fact, if you are sure that you are right, and the editors are wrong, you should challenge their decision. i did this twice, and the editorial decision was changed.
I suggest to submit to another journal if the decision final because there is no benefit from appeal
I had this same experience recently -October, 2020. After 3 months of review, the reviewer suggested a revision. Yet, the editor unilaterally rejected the paper. I immediately wrote the journal asking why the editor should reject a paper even when the reviewer did not recommend so. Only one review result was sent to me.
Meanwhile, the four concerns outlined by the reviewer were are minor, even though he called it a major revision. Some of them were mere typo and others are simple assertions he couldn't see, even though they were there. It took less than an hour to correct and revise the paper.
After waiting for over one week without getting a response from the crazy editor, I resubmitted my work to another journal. Though, the editorial body was ready to resolve the impasse, I thought it doesn't worth it waiting.
This shit happens.
Yes, you can. I would recommend if you were quite sure, however submitting to another journal will be the easer solution.
Hi,
If you think that the editorial decision is a mistake, and you can prove it, then you should approach the editor about it. Maybe the reviewers were wrong, and your paper should be reexamined.
You could contact the Journal Editor with a rebuttal on the same. Most editors rely on reviewers for decision making. I think there shouldn't be a problem
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