Who is the Corresponding Author? The Complete Guide

Who Is the Corresponding Author?

In the academic publishing world, the corresponding author plays a crucial role in managing communication between co-authors, editors, and reviewers, and ensuring the manuscript is accurate and complete. In this blog post, we’ll delve into all the frequently asked questions about the corresponding author’s role.

What Is the Difference between the Corresponding Author and the Last Author?

While the corresponding author is in charge of the communications with the journal and coordinating the review and the publication processes, the last author is typically the project leader or the senior author who supervised the work. This author’s name often appears at the end of the author list, and it is an indicator of their leadership role in the research. While the corresponding and last author roles are distinct, they are usually filled by the same person.

How to Mention Corresponding Author in Paper?

To indicate the corresponding author in a paper, an asterisk symbol (*) is frequently used. The corresponding author’s name should appear with the asterisk symbol next to it on the title page of the article. The symbol is then repeated alongside the corresponding author’s contact details.

What Are the Benefits of Being a Corresponding Author?

Being a corresponding author comes with many benefits, including the status and recognition that come with being the main point of contact for the journal during the submission and publication process. It can also help establish your reputation within your field, build relationships with editors and other researchers, and offer an opportunity to be more involved in the publication process.

Can Two Authors Be Corresponding Authors?

Yes, it is possible for two authors to be corresponding authors, although it depends on the journal and their policies. Some journals allow for multiple corresponding authors, while others only allow for one. It’s important to check the specific guidelines of the journal you are submitting to and follow their requirements. If the journal permits multiple corresponding authors, it’s important to clearly mention the roles and responsibilities of each corresponding author in the paper and their contact information.

What Are the Corresponding Author’s Rights?

1. Authorship: The corresponding author has the right to determine who should be listed as an author on the manuscript, based on their contributions to the research.
2. Intellectual Property: The corresponding author has the right to retain intellectual property rights to the manuscript and to control its use and dissemination.
3. Publication: The corresponding author has the right to approve the final version of the manuscript and to ensure that it is published in a timely manner.
4. Attribution: The corresponding author has the right to receive proper attribution for their contributions to the research, including authorship and citation.
5. Corrections and Retractions: The corresponding author has the right to request corrections or retractions of the manuscript if errors or inaccuracies are discovered.
6. Copyright: The corresponding author has the right to grant or withhold permission for the reproduction or distribution of the published manuscript.
7. Access to the Published Manuscript: The corresponding author has the right to access and distribute copies of the published manuscript to co-authors and other interested parties.
8. Authorship Changes: The corresponding author has the right to request changes to the authorship of the manuscript if necessary, subject to the journal’s policies and guidelines.
9. Rejection Appeal: The corresponding author has the right to appeal a decision to reject the manuscript, although the success of such an appeal is usually dependent on the journal’s policies and guidelines.
10. Authorship Order: The corresponding author has the right to determine the order of authorship for the manuscript, although this should be based on the relative contributions of each author to the research.
11. Copyright Transfer: The corresponding author may be required to transfer the copyright of the manuscript to the journal or publisher, although this may vary depending on the journal’s policies and guidelines.
12. Article Metrics: The corresponding author has the right to request and receive information on the article’s usage and impact, such as download statistics, citation counts, and altmetrics.

What Are the Corresponding Author’s Responsibilities?

1. Manuscript Preparation: The corresponding author is responsible for regulating the preparation of the manuscript, ensuring that it is accurate, complete, and complies with the journal’s guidelines.
2. Co-Author Communication: The corresponding author is responsible for the communications between co-authors, ensuring that they are aware of the manuscript’s progress, and addressing any concerns or questions.
3. Correspondence: The corresponding author is responsible for the correspondence with the journal or conference throughout the review and the publication process, addressing any questions or concerns, and ensuring that any revisions or corrections are made promptly.
4. Ethical Conduct: The corresponding author is responsible for assuring that the manuscript complies with ethical standards for scientific research, including the use of appropriate methods, data, and analysis.
5. Funding and Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The corresponding author is responsible for disclosing any sources of funding that supported the research and any conflicts of interest that may have influenced the research or its results.
6. Data Availability: The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that the data underlying the research are available for review and replication by other researchers.
7. Co-Authorship Disputes: The corresponding author is responsible for addressing any disputes that may arise among co-authors regarding authorship, contributions, or other issues.
8. Compliance with Journal Policies: The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that the manuscript complies with the policies and guidelines of the journal, including formatting, word count, and submission deadlines.
9. Manuscript Revision: The corresponding author is responsible for overseeing revisions to the manuscript, ensuring that all comments and suggestions from the reviewers and editors are addressed appropriately.
10. Post-Publication Communication: The corresponding author is responsible for responding to any post-publication inquiries or comments regarding the manuscript, such as requests for additional information or clarification.

Conclusion

The corresponding author plays a critical role in the scientific publication process, with a range of responsibilities and rights. By ensuring that the manuscript is accurate, complete, and compliant with ethical standards, the corresponding author can help ensure the integrity of scientific research and publication. By exercising their rights to authorship, intellectual property, and attribution, the corresponding author can ensure that their contributions to the research are recognized and properly attributed. Overall, the role of the corresponding author is an important one, requiring careful attention to detail, strong communication skills, and a commitment to ethical conduct.

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Resources and Further Readings

[1] Weiss PS. Who Are Corresponding Authors? ACS Nano 2012;6:2861–2861. https://doi.org/10.1021/nn301566x.
[2] What is a corresponding author? | Elsevier Author Services Blog. Elsevier Author Services – Articles 2020. https://scientific-publishing.webshop.elsevier.com/publication-recognition/what-corresponding-author/ (accessed June 2, 2023).
[3] Responsibility of the corresponding author | JOURNAL OF GEOETHICS AND SOCIAL GEOSCIENCES n.d. https://www.journalofgeoethics.eu/index.php/jgsg/Responsibility-of-the-corresponding-author (accessed June 2, 2023).
[4] Librarians R. Research Guides: Organizing Academic Research Papers: 4. The Introduction n.d. https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803&p=185916 (accessed March 19, 2023).
[5] ICMJE | Recommendations | Defining the Role of Authors and Contributors n.d. https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/defining-the-role-of-authors-and-contributors.html (accessed June 2, 2023).
[6] Difference between Corresponding author and First author and what are all their responsibilities? ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/post/Difference_between_Corresponding_author_and_First_author_and_what_are_all_their_responsibilities (accessed June 2, 2023).
[7] Corresponding author: Roles, responsibilities, and more. AKJournals. https://corresponding-author (accessed June 2, 2023).