Publication frequency in journals

In detail

Publication frequency usually means the working schedule of a journal. For example: monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, semiannual, annual, or continuous publication.

This matters to an author for two reasons

• 1. Frequency affects expectations about timing.
• 2. Frequency says something about source stability.

If a journal is published twice a year, then even after acceptance the final placement of an article into an issue may take longer than in a monthly journal.

For a scientific journal, regularity of publication is an important sign of normal publishing practice. In Scopus requirements, publication regularity also matters.

But there is an important clarification: today many journals do not work only under an “issue by issue” model. An article may appear online first and only later be assigned to an issue.

What this means for the author

• the journal schedule does not guarantee immediate publication;
• low frequency is not always bad;
• online first may speed up the appearance of the article on the site even if the issue comes later;
• the actual timing depends not only on periodicity but also on the editorial cycle.

What is important to remember

Publication frequency is the rhythm of a journal’s work, not an exact forecast of the release date of a specific article.