A word on the issue of redating manuscripts. If
revised within a reasonable time, a manuscript should retain the
original date of receipt with the addition of the last date of revision.
However, this gives authors who want rapid publication an indication of
the length of publication delays they might expect. Indeed, some
journals publish with each issue the average publication delay to
expect, presumably in the hope of attracting submissions.
Thus, there is pressure on journal editors to redate a paper, at the
least excuse. This is not always opposed by authors, because they want
it to appear that their manuscript was well-near perfect, and so was
accepted without delay.
This distorts the integrity of the publication process. Editors in
their Instructions to Authors should clearly set-out the conditions
under which a revised paper is redated.
Donald Forsdyke. Discussion Leader. bionet.journals.note
