Review Process

A process, in time

Review has four stages; the first decision is given by week five at the latest. Review is double-anonymous.

whole view
preliminary review article editor-in-chief reviewer assignment field editor review at least two reviewers, from different institutions decision accept · revise · reject t 0 1 2 3 4 +1 week 5 weeks first decision online publication t 0 1 2 3 4 5 weeks first decision +1 week: online publication preliminary review article editor-in-chief reviewer assignment field editor review at least two reviewers, from different institutions decision accept · revise · reject

To see the stages one by one, click “Watch the process” or a stage.

Review is double-anonymous: authors and reviewers do not know who the other is. One of the editors-in-chief looks after each submission. The times below do not include the time the author spends on revision.

StageTimeWhoWhat happens
Preliminary review1 weekResponsible editor-in-chiefScope, the Knot section, format and anonymity are checked; a similarity check is run.
Reviewer assignment1 weekField editorAt least two reviewers from different institutions are assigned.
Review2 weeksReviewersThe reviewers write their reports on a set form.
Decision1 weekField editor and responsible editor-in-chiefThe field editor gives an opinion and the editor-in-chief decides: accept, revise or reject.
Production1 weekEditorial board and language editorsLanguage editing, typesetting, author approval, DOI and online publication.

The first decision is given within five weeks of submission at the latest. An accepted article is published online within one week at the latest.

The revised article goes back to the field editor, who consults one of the reviewers again if needed. An article that has to be rewritten from scratch is rejected; the author may send it as a new submission. If the reviewer reports contradict each other, the field editor asks a third reviewer.

What do reviewers look at?

Reviewers look at four things: is the Knot clear and to the point, are the data accurate and sufficient, where does the article stand in the literature, and does its length suit its content? The Knot matters most; a well-written description is not enough for acceptance on its own. Reviewers do not ask for experiments or speaker surveys for data based on the author's language judgements.

Articles by editors, and appeals

Articles by editors and board members are handled by an editor who has no conflict of interest with the author. An editor who is an author cannot see the review records of their own article. Over the last two issues, articles with at least one author who is an editor, board member or reviewer make up no more than 25%. Authors may appeal a decision by stating their reasons; the appeal is examined by an editor-in-chief who took no part in the original decision.