The Philosophers' Cocoon

2 responses to “Submissions stuck at “submitted” stage?”

1. Anonymous

   October 1, 2026

   This happened to me at a different (very reputable and popular) journal. It took two emails to the journal’s admin side to resolve (which is not that bad?). Apparently there was a “glitch” in the system and the main journal editor quickly sent my paper out for review after the glitch was discovered (after my two emails). But what it looked like on my end was just that it was assigned to an area editor who did nothing for three+ months (no rejection, no referees assigned).

   So I don’t know about APQ. But if it’s possible to email a journal administrator then perhaps that is the way to go. In that case, it won’t “bug” any editor that a paper is being inquired into so soon.

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2. Anonymous

   October 1, 2026

   Sometimes they got stuck at a stage like for months. It depends on how the internal management system is designed, and how long it takes before a managing editor might screen it (depending on their backlog, who is assigned it, etc.), and sometimes it even merely reflects how long it can take to find say 2 referees to agree (which can take upwards of 6 months sometimes). I tend to think it best not to obsessively check a submission portal. But before withdrawing you could at least send a message to the managing editor to ask if this is normal, or if it somehow got lost track of.

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