0

For a math journal, after 4 weeks of submission, the status went from "with editor" to "reviewer invited", and its been in that particular state for the past 3 months. If you have any editorial experience, I'd like to know when would this kind of state happens, and does it say anything about the manuscript content, especially why the editor is finding hard to get the reviewers accept invitation, or is it that the reviewers for the subject matter of the paper, are rare to find?

Edit : more informtion

I have enquired. The Editorial Manager assured me that the Editor is carefully following and taking good care of the review process. What I have seen in earlier communication with Editor, I have no reason to doubt his interest in the manuscript. He seemed very much interested.

Earlier communication with Editor in Chief

user102868
  • 938
  • 1
  • 10
  • 20
  • If the journal staff say there is no problem, then the editor is having a hard time finding a reviewer. Nothing much you, or anyone, can do, except grow a few grey hair worrying over your manuscript, or simply retract it. Not having seen your manuscript, I can't advise on that. ;-) – Karl May 24 '19 at 19:35
  • 1
    Been there. Likely trouble with reviewers. Nothing you can do but wait! I was in limbo for about 4.5 months for my last paper (the paper was accepted). – Shinobii May 27 '19 at 16:12
  • @Shinobii : For how much time it was in "Under review" after coming out of limbo? – user102868 Sep 13 '19 at 06:52
  • Finally it went into "Under Review" recently. – user102868 Sep 13 '19 at 06:55

1 Answers1

0

It means the editor(s) invited reviewers who have not accepted the invitation. If this status has remained the same for 3 months, it's not a good sign. Completing the review can take time, but agreeing to review should be much faster.

My guess is that the editor is either very busy or not very active. He/she invited reviewers and left the manuscript alone. Now would be a good time to nudge the editor and hint that they should be inviting new reviewers, since the currently-invited ones are not likely to agree to review.

Allure
  • 127,528
  • 50
  • 325
  • 493
  • It could also just mean that the status hasn't been updated in any visible way. – Buffy May 24 '19 at 14:47
  • @Buffy it could, but if these statuses are the ones I'm familiar with (using Editorial Manager), then once the reviewer agrees to review the status updates to "Under Review". – Allure May 24 '19 at 14:48
  • @Allure : I have enquired. The Editorial Manager assured me that the Editor is carefully following and taking good care of the review process. What I have seen in earlier communication with Editor, I have no reason to doubt his interest in the manuscript. He seemed very much interested. – user102868 May 24 '19 at 15:13
  • Earlier communication : https://academia.stackexchange.com/q/125267/102868 – user102868 May 24 '19 at 15:14
  • The reviewers could be busy themselves - other things might be higher on their priority list... – Solar Mike May 24 '19 at 15:15
  • @SolarMike : When the reviewer is invited, do they also recieve the manuscript, and reading which they take decision to whether accept the invitation for review. Or they are usually given just an abstract? – user102868 May 24 '19 at 15:19
  • @user102868 such a good question - probably depends on the editor... – Solar Mike May 24 '19 at 15:21
  • 2
    It could also mean that the reviewer has accepted the review, but he/she forgot to click on "accept", and for some reason the editor hasn't insisted. Possibly they met at a conference and the reviewer accepted verbally. – Federico Poloni May 24 '19 at 21:30
  • @SolarMike if that happens it's good practice to decline to review. – Allure May 24 '19 at 22:38
  • @user102868 yes, the reviewer receives the manuscript when they are invited - they wouldn't be able to tell whether or not it's interesting otherwise. – Allure May 24 '19 at 22:39
  • @Allure if all stuck to « good practice » then we would have a lot less questions... – Solar Mike May 25 '19 at 03:13
  • @user102868 Please edit the additional information into the question proper, so that people will know the context without reading comments to a currently downvoted answer. – Tommi May 27 '19 at 12:18
  • @FedericoPoloni : Finally it went into "Under Review" recently after being in "reviewer invited" state for close to 7 months. If it gets out of that quickly then probably your prediction is right! – user102868 Sep 13 '19 at 06:55