What is publication in a journal
Publication in a journal is the process of turning an author’s manuscript into an official scholarly publication after editorial processing and, as a rule, peer review.
In detail
Many authors perceive publication as the moment of uploading a file into the editorial system. In reality, publication is a longer and more formal process.
It usually includes
- preparation of the manuscript;
- submission to the journal;
- editorial screening;
- peer review;
- revisions;
- acceptance of the article;
- proofing and publisher preparation;
- online publication;
- assignment to an issue or publication as the final version.
Publication means that the article becomes part of the journal’s official scholarly record. Depending on publisher policy, this may occur at the online first stage, as article in press, upon final issue release, or at the publication of the version of record.
It is important not to confuse different statuses
- the text is written;
- the article is submitted;
- the article is accepted;
- the article is published;
- the article is indexed.
All of these statuses are different, and this distinction has practical significance for the author.
What is important to remember
Publication in a journal is not merely submission of an article, but the official inclusion of the work into the journal’s publication system.