Withdrawal by authors
If authors wish to withdraw a manuscript, the corresponding author should submit a written request on behalf of all authors, briefly explaining the reason.
Before external peer review
Where a manuscript has not yet been sent for external review, a justified withdrawal request is normally handled administratively.
During peer review
Once review has begun, the journal considers work already undertaken, ethical obligations and confirmation that all authors agree. Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to another journal is not permitted.
After acceptance
Withdrawal after acceptance is considered only for serious and justified reasons. Where production work has already been undertaken, any actual and previously disclosed costs may be communicated separately.
Withdrawal by the journal
The journal may remove a manuscript from consideration where confirmed concerns involve misconduct, authorship disputes, duplicate submission, fabricated information or another serious integrity issue.
After publication
A published article is not removed through ordinary withdrawal; corrections and retractions are handled under the Corrections & Retractions policy.