Why Your Manuscript Is Stuck in Peer Review: Top 10 Reasons Journals Delay Decisions (and How to Fix Them)
If your manuscript has been “Under Review” for weeks or even months, you’re not alone. Peer review delays are one of the most common frustrations in academic publishing — and they’re becoming more frequent as journals struggle with reviewer shortages, editorial bottlenecks and rising submission volumes.
Here are the 10 most common reasons your manuscript may be stuck in peer review — and what you can do to move things forward.
1. The Editor Can’t Find Reviewers
This is the number‑one cause of delays. Reviewers decline invitations more than ever, and some fields have severe reviewer shortages.
What you can do:
Choose journals with strong reviewer pools
Ensure your manuscript is clear, polished and easy to review
Suggest qualified reviewers (if allowed)
2. Reviewers Accepted but Haven’t Responded
A reviewer may accept the invitation but then… disappear. Journals often wait weeks before reassigning.
What you can do:
Contact the editor politely after 6–8 weeks
Strengthen your manuscript to reduce reviewer workload
3. Your Manuscript Needs an Additional Reviewer
If reviewers disagree, the editor may invite a third reviewer. This adds weeks to the timeline.
What you can do:
Ensure your arguments are clear and well‑supported
Pre‑empt common reviewer concerns
4. The Editor Is Overloaded
Editors often manage hundreds of submissions. Your manuscript may simply be waiting in a queue.
What you can do:
Choose journals with transparent timelines
Avoid peak submission seasons
5. Your Manuscript Is Hard to Review
Poor writing, unclear figures or weak structure slow reviewers down.
What you can do:
Invest in professional editing
Improve figure clarity
Strengthen your methodology description
6. The Journal Has a Backlog
Some journals accept more papers than they can process.
What you can do:
Check acceptance‑to‑publication timelines
Consider journals with faster workflows
7. Reviewers Submitted Conflicting Reports
If one reviewer recommends “Accept” and another says “Reject,” the editor must intervene.
What you can do:
Prepare a strong, evidence‑based response
Address every comment clearly and respectfully
8. The Editor Is Waiting for a Senior Decision
Some journals require multiple editorial approvals.
What you can do:
Be patient — this stage is normal
Follow up politely if it exceeds the journal’s stated timeline
9. Your Manuscript Needs Technical Checks
Plagiarism screening, ethics checks, figure resolution checks — all take time.
What you can do:
Ensure your manuscript meets all technical requirements before submission
10. The Journal Is Experiencing Seasonal Delays
Summer, holidays and conference seasons slow everything down.
What you can do:
Submit outside peak periods when possible
How to Speed Up the Process
You can’t control the journal, but you can control the quality of your submission.
A polished, well‑structured manuscript with clear figures and a strong rationale moves through peer review faster — and receives fewer revision requests.
If you need help preparing or revising your manuscript, I offer:
Rapid manuscript editing (24–72 hours)
Peer‑review response editing
Figure redesign
Journal finder & submission strategy
Get in touch if you’d like expert support.