Concurrent submissions of a manuscript to multiple journals

An editor is informed that a manuscript submitted to their journal has also been submitted to other journals at the same time. The flowchart offers editors a step by step process when handling the issue, including action to take and who to contact.

Key points

• Editors may be prompted by another editor or reviewer, or by text matching software, of potential simultaneous submission of a manuscript.

• The review should be suspended while an investigation takes place.

• Manuscripts should be compared to identify how much content overlaps.

• Where there is evidence of systematic redundancy or overlap, indicating repeated dishonest or fraudulent practices, refer to COPE guidance on systematic manipulation of the publication process.

• A journal's instructions to authors should include a policy on concurrent submissions.

Related resources

• Systematic manipulation of the publication process
• Addressing concerns about systematic manipulation of the publication process
• Sharing of information among editors-in-chief regarding possible misconduct