Managing Revisions and Resubmissions
This article explains how editors request revisions from authors and handle the resubmitted manuscript in JAMS. For the author's side of this process, see Submitting Revised Manuscripts.
Revisions are a normal part of the editorial process. In JAMS, a manuscript can be sent back to the author for revision at two points: after the pre-checks, or after peer review as part of the final decision. This guide covers both, and what happens when the author resubmits.
When a revision can be requested
There are two stages where you can ask an author to revise their manuscript:
- After pre-checks - if the manuscript does not yet meet the journal's requirements, you can return it before it goes to peer review.
- After peer review - as part of the final decision, based on the reviewer reports and any Academic Editor recommendation.
Both stages are described in Pre-Checks and Final Decision. The steps below focus on the revision itself.
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Requesting a revision after pre-checks
Open a newly submitted manuscript from the Handling Editor dashboard. When you reach the requirements question, select 'No' on Requirements Satisfied to request a revision.
This will send an email to the author which you can preview and write any requirements they must reach before sending. The email has a link for the author to reupload their revised manuscript. They will also review any comments left by the Academic Editor if they were invited for recommendation.
💡Top Tip: In the email to the author, set out exactly what needs to be changed. The clearer your instructions, the fewer rounds you are likely to need.
Press 'Submit' to send the request. The pre-check will begin again automatically once the author resubmits through the link in their email.
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Requesting a revision after peer review
Once peer review has closed, you move to the final decision. The system will automatically prompt you to ask an academic editor for a decision. The Handling Editor or Journal Editor can also make this decision, detailed how in this article here.
You can invite the AE, make the decision yourself to revise the manuscript, or even configure the system to show parallel author revision and editorial decision options. This way, if you know already a revision is needed, you can do this before getting a final decision. You can change this in the Application Features by enabling the choice 'Parallel Author Revision and Editorial Decision'.
Either way, request a revision in the final decision. This will prompt an email which you can preview and specify to the author what they need to revise. The email will contain a link for the author to read and respond to reviewer and academic editor comments before uploading their revised manuscript.
💡Top Tip: In the email to the author, set out exactly what needs to be changed. The clearer your instructions, the fewer rounds you are likely to need.
Handling the Resubmission
When the author resubmits, the manuscript reappears in your queue with the revised files and the author's responses to the reviewers.
Open the manuscript and review the changes against your original request.
- If you requested the revision after pre-checks, the pre-check runs again. If the requirements are now satisfied, the manuscript proceeds to peer review.
- If you requested the revision after peer review, review the author's responses and decide how to proceed. You can send the revised version back to the original reviewers for another round, make a new decision, or request further revisions.
You can repeat this cycle as many times as the manuscript needs. When you are satisfied, proceed to your final decision to accept the manuscript, or see Rejecting or Withdrawing a Manuscript if it is not suitable for publication.
A note on communication
Every revision request is sent to the author by email from within JAMS, so the request and your instructions are always recorded on the manuscript. If you would like to adjust the standard wording your journal uses for these emails, see Email Templates Management.