Complaints and appeals

An author may appeal any editorial decision, including a desk rejection. Write to [email protected] within 30 days of the decision, quoting the reference number, and set out specifically what in the assessment you believe is mistaken.

An appeal must engage with the reasons given. A restatement of the paper's importance is not an appeal. New data, a correction of a factual error in a review, or evidence that a reviewer misunderstood the method all are.

1. Acknowledged within five working days

   You are told the appeal has been received and who is handling it.

2. Considered by someone who did not decide

   The appeal is assessed by an editor who took no part in the original decision. Further independent review may be sought.

3. Answered in writing

   You receive a reasoned decision. The decision of the editor-in-chief on an appeal is final, and there is one appeal per submission.

Complaints about the conduct of the series, its staff, its editors or its processes go to the editorial office at [email protected], and are acknowledged within five working days.

Where a complaint concerns the editor-in-chief, or where the complainant is not satisfied with the answer, it is escalated to the publisher at [email protected], which will respond independently of the series.

Where a complaint cannot be resolved between us, it may be taken to COPE flowcharts for guidance, or raised with the authors' or complainant's institution where that is the appropriate forum.