The Pros and Cons of Multiple Journal Submissions

The Pros and Cons of Multiple Journal Submissions

Introduction

Waiting for a response from a journal after submitting a manuscript is one of the most difficult and stressful parts of academic publishing. Whether a paper is ultimately accepted or rejected, authors often wait months—sometimes longer—before learning the outcome. In highly competitive fields, journals face an overwhelming volume of submissions each year, and the peer review system, though essential, moves slowly. As a result, authors may feel as if their work has been placed in limbo, unable to progress to publication or be shared effectively with the academic community.

With these long delays, it is understandable that researchers sometimes consider submitting their manuscript to more than one journal at the same time. After all, submitting simultaneously might seem like a way to “speed up” or bypass the notoriously slow publication cycle, ensuring that the research reaches readers as soon as possible. Yet while the idea may appear efficient, multiple submissions come with both advantages and risks, and in many cases can violate established academic ethics.

This article explores the complex issues surrounding simultaneous journal submissions. We will examine why authors feel pressured into this approach, what the ethical rules are, how journals typically respond, and in which rare circumstances multiple submissions might actually be permissible. The goal is to equip authors with the knowledge to make informed decisions and avoid mistakes that could harm their academic reputation or delay their research even further.

Why Authors Consider Multiple Submissions

The central motivation behind multiple journal submissions is no mystery: time. The longer a manuscript sits on an editor’s desk, the greater the risk that the research becomes outdated, overtaken by new findings, or irrelevant to fast-moving fields. Early-career researchers, who often need publications for job applications, promotions, or grant renewals, may feel these pressures more intensely than senior academics.

In some journals, typical review times range from 3–4 months; in others, 6–12 months is common. Some authors have reported waiting more than a year without receiving even a preliminary response. In extreme cases, authors’ follow-up emails remain unanswered for months, creating uncertainty and frustration. If the eventual decision is a rejection (which is statistically more likely than acceptance), the author must then start again with a new journal—resetting the clock.

With publication delays threatening academic progress and even career advancement, it is easy to understand why authors might consider simultaneous submissions as a strategic workaround.

The Ethical Landscape of Multiple Submissions

Despite understandable motives, most academic and scientific journals strictly prohibit multiple submissions. The reason is simple: peer review is a major investment of time and labour. When an author submits a manuscript, reviewers and editors assume the author genuinely intends to publish their work in that journal. If the manuscript has been simultaneously submitted elsewhere, reviewers’ efforts may be wasted.

Further complicating the matter, an author who receives several sets of peer review reports from multiple journals could choose to “cherry-pick” the easiest revision path—accepting the most favourable feedback while disregarding critical evaluations from other journals. This undermines the peer review process and potentially compromises the quality of the final paper.

For these reasons, simultaneous submissions are widely considered unethical and are explicitly prohibited in the submission guidelines of most reputable publishers. Authors who violate this rule risk:

• Having their manuscript automatically rejected by all journals involved.
• Being blacklisted or formally sanctioned by the journals.
• Damaging their professional reputation.
• Creating confusion about copyright agreements or publishing rights.

Because journals take multiple submissions seriously, authors must understand the consequences before acting on the impulse to submit widely.

Potential Benefits of Multiple Submissions

Although most journals prohibit the practice, it is important to acknowledge that authors sometimes have valid reasons for considering it. The potential benefits include:

• Reduced overall waiting time by prompting faster responses if one journal reacts more quickly than others.
• Broader exposure by testing the manuscript's appeal among different editorial teams.
• Strategic advantage when journals operate unpredictably or inconsistently in their review timelines.
• Rapid dissemination for research that is extremely time-sensitive or tied to urgent policy debates.

These benefits, however, must be weighed carefully against the ethical risks and disciplinary norms that govern academic publishing.

Why the Practice Can Backfire

While the idea of multiple submissions might appear efficient, it often creates more problems than it solves.

1. Reviewers may deprioritise your manuscript

Many journals ask authors to declare whether the submission is exclusive. If an author openly admits the manuscript is under simultaneous review elsewhere, editors may interpret this as a lack of commitment. As a result, they may assign the manuscript a lower priority or decline to review it altogether.

2. Ethical concerns may damage relationships

Academic publishing is a small world. Editors and reviewers within a field often know one another well. If a manuscript is submitted to multiple journals in a prohibited manner, word may spread quickly. Violating community norms can create lasting damage to an author’s reputation.

3. Journals may withdraw manuscripts

If editors discover a multiple submission after the review process is already in motion, they may terminate the submission immediately. This wastes time for everyone involved, including the author, and may delay the eventual publication even further.

4. Duplicate peer review is inefficient

Peer reviewers—who volunteer their time—may unknowingly review the same manuscript for different journals. This is inefficient and unproductive, contributing to reviewer burnout and slowing the entire scholarly communication system.

5. Copyright and legal issues may arise

Some journals require authors to sign preliminary copyright or conflict-of-interest agreements before review. If two journals begin processing a manuscript simultaneously, conflicting agreements may cause legal complications.

When Multiple Submissions Might Be Acceptable

Although simultaneous submissions are generally discouraged, there are rare situations where they may be permitted or even encouraged.

1. Journals that explicitly allow simultaneous submissions

A small number of journals—typically in the humanities or fields where review times are exceptionally long—may allow simultaneous submissions. Their policies will clearly state this. Authors must still disclose any additional submissions.

2. Preprint servers and open dissemination

Posting a preprint on a platform like arXiv or bioRxiv is not considered a multiple submission. Many journals now accept preprints, recognising their value for rapid dissemination. However, authors must always verify journal policies beforehand.

3. Early communications or “letters” journals

Some disciplines allow shorter preliminary versions of studies to be published in “communications” journals while the full manuscript undergoes review elsewhere. Again, transparency is essential.

4. When journals never respond

If a journal remains completely unresponsive for many months—failing even to acknowledge receipt—some authors may choose to withdraw the submission and submit elsewhere. This is not simultaneous submission, but rather sequential action in response to lack of communication.

Best Practices for Managing Submissions

To avoid the complications associated with multiple submissions, authors should adopt the following strategies:

• Read author guidelines carefully to understand each journal’s policy.
• Communicate transparently with editors if there are special circumstances.
• Use preprints responsibly to share research quickly without violating journal rules.
• Maintain detailed submission records to track dates, interactions, and decisions.
• Withdraw formally from one journal before submitting the manuscript to another.
• Prepare alternative versions tailored to different journals to avoid rushed decisions under time pressure.

Conclusion

Multiple journal submissions may appear to offer a faster route to publication, but they also present ethical dilemmas, potential reputational risks, and complications that can backfire. While there are limited circumstances where simultaneous submissions may be acceptable, the safest and most professional approach remains one journal at a time, combined with proactive communication, strategic journal selection, and patience.

Ultimately, transparency, professionalism, and respect for the peer review process are essential. By understanding both the benefits and consequences of multiple submissions, authors can make informed choices that protect their work, their careers, and their scholarly relationships.