Scientific Literature

Withdrawal Policy

Scientific Literature policy for author requests to withdraw manuscripts before and after editorial processing, acceptance, and publication.

SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE

Handling Manuscript Withdrawal Responsibly

Withdrawal requests should be made carefully because editorial and peer-review resources may already have been committed to a manuscript. The appropriate process depends on the stage of submission and publication.

Withdrawal Before Editorial Review

Authors who need to withdraw a newly submitted manuscript should contact the journal promptly and provide the manuscript ID, title, corresponding-author details, and a clear request for withdrawal. If editorial processing has not materially begun, the journal may close the submission after confirming the request.

Withdrawal During Peer Review

When reviewers or editors have already invested significant time, authors should explain the reason for withdrawal. The journal may confirm that the manuscript is no longer under consideration once the request is processed.

Authors should not submit the same manuscript elsewhere until withdrawal has been confirmed or the journal has otherwise closed consideration.

Withdrawal After Acceptance

Requests made after acceptance require particular care because editorial evaluation and production preparation may already have been completed. The journal may ask for a written explanation and confirmation from relevant authors before determining the next step.

Any administrative or production charges associated with late withdrawal should be governed by a clearly disclosed journal policy or agreement. Withdrawal should not be used to impose punitive charges that were not communicated in advance.

After Publication

A published article is part of the scholarly record and is not normally "withdrawn" simply because an author changes their mind. Material errors or integrity concerns should instead be assessed under the Correction and Retraction Policies.

Authorship Disputes and Withdrawal

If a withdrawal request arises from an authorship dispute, the journal may pause processing while the authors clarify the matter. Journals should avoid deciding institutional disputes that require investigation by the authors' institution or another responsible body.

How to Request Withdrawal

Provide the manuscript ID and full title.
Identify the corresponding author.
State clearly that withdrawal is being requested.
Explain the reason briefly and factually.
Confirm agreement of co-authors where requested.

The journal should confirm the status of the manuscript in writing once the request has been processed.