Initial evaluation of manuscripts
Initial evaluation of manuscripts
Editor Center > Invitations to handle manuscripts > Initial evaluation
Our guidance on evaluating manuscripts, from checking key criteria and reviewing editorial notes to deciding on peer review, rejection, or transfer.
As an Academic Editor, you play a crucial role in assessing whether a submitted manuscript meets the necessary standards for publication. Before proceeding, ensure you are familiar with your journal’s scope, publication criteria, and past studies, which can be found on your journal’s website.
Once you have agreed to handle a manuscript, you should determine your next steps within four days. Please follow our guidance on how to evaluate whether manuscripts should be peer reviewed, rejected without peer review, or rejected and transferred to another of our journals.
These are the key considerations to keep in mind when you are evaluating a manuscript, with journal-specific guidance to help you determine your next steps.
Manuscripts must meet the following publication standards:
- All experiments, statistics, and analyses were conducted to high technical standards and described in sufficient detail.
- The conclusions are presented appropriately and supported by data.
- The manuscript is written in standard English and is intelligible.
- All research meets all ethical standards and research integrity guidelines.
- The manuscript adheres to reporting guidelines and community standards for data availability.
For PLOS One, PLOS Climate, PLOS Global Public Health, PLOS Mental Health, and PLOS Water
This guidance applies only to these journals
During your evaluation, remember that all submitted manuscripts are evaluated based on scientific validity and ethical and technical rigor, not on the perceived importance or novelty of findings.
Read more about your journal, including article types considered, submission guidelines, and policies on your journal’s information page.
For PLOS Aging and Health, PLOS Complex Systems, PLOS Computational Biology, PLOS Digital Health, PLOS Ecosystems, PLOS Genetics, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, PLOS Pathogens, and PLOS Sustainability and Transformation
This guidance applies to only these journals
- Represent high methodological rigor.
- Be of interest to the research community.
- Fit within the scope and publication criteria.
Reviewing notes from the journal office
For PLOS One, PLOS Climate, PLOS Global Public Health, PLOS Mental Health, and PLOS Water
Before you make your decision, please check for any additional editorial guidance:
- Take a look at your confirmation emails—these include instructions and any notes left by the journal office.
- Visit the Information for the Editor section on the Details page—notes from the journal office can be found in Editorial Manager.
Proceed with peer review if:
- The manuscript meets the publication criteria and would be publishable after external reviewer evaluation and revision. Please note that the minimum number of reviews needed depends upon the journal.
- PLOS One, PLOS Climate, PLOS Global Public Health, PLOS Mental Health, and PLOS Water: Manuscripts must be evaluated by at least one external reviewer (preferably two) before acceptance.
- PLOS Aging and Health, PLOS Complex Systems, PLOS Computational Biology, PLOS Digital Health, PLOS Ecosystems, PLOS Genetics, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, PLOS Pathogens, and PLOS Sustainability and Transformation: Manuscripts must be evaluated by at least two external reviewers (preferably three) before acceptance.
Reject without review:
You can proceed to a reject decision at this stage if:
- Serious methodological or analytical flaws are present and cannot be addressed through peer review.
- The conclusions are not supported by the data.
- Elements such as the hypothesis, rationale, methods, or results are flawed or insufficiently detailed for proper evaluation.
- The study is redundant without discussing existing literature (Exception: replication studies or reanalyses that explicitly reference past research.)
- Required revisions will take longer than a few months, such as extensive reanalysis or new experiments, or major reframing.
Reject and transfer
If you determine that the manuscript is not suitable for your journal but you believe it may be appropriate for another of our journals, you can proceed with this decision. In Editorial Manager, you will be asked to select which journal you are recommending the manuscript is transferred to. This option is not applicable for PLOS One manuscripts.
Open a discussion
For Academic Editors of PLOS Aging and Health, PLOS Complex Systems, PLOS Computational Biology, PLOS Digital Health, PLOS Ecosystems, PLOS Genetics, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, PLOS Pathogens, and PLOS Sustainability and Transformation only.
If you would like a second opinion, open a discussion from the manuscript action links in Editorial Manager with the Section Editor or another Academic Editor.
What is next:
Finding and securing reviewers
Related editorial resources
Guide to Editorial Manager
Frequently asked questions
