Publishing Process
The publishing process of Contemporary English Teaching and Linguistics (CETL) is structured to ensure fairness, transparency, and scholarly excellence at every stage. The journal adopts international publishing standards and aligns with the ethical and procedural guidelines of COPE, DOAJ, and Scopus. Each manuscript is handled with academic rigor and editorial care to guarantee the integrity of the publication.
The process begins with manuscript submission via the journal’s online submission system. Authors are required to follow the official journal template and author guidelines to ensure uniformity and clarity. At this stage, all submissions must represent original work that has not been published or submitted elsewhere. Submissions are expected to demonstrate relevance to the journal’s scope, which encompasses English teaching, linguistics, and applied linguistics.
After submission, the Editorial Office conducts an initial screening. This step ensures that manuscripts conform to formatting guidelines, meet the journal’s aims and scope, and are complete in terms of structure and references. To safeguard academic integrity, every manuscript is subjected to plagiarism detection software (such as Turnitin or iThenticate). Submissions with excessive similarity or those deemed outside the journal’s remit may be rejected without external review.
Following the initial screening, manuscripts are assigned to a Section or Associate Editor with subject expertise. Editors evaluate the scholarly merit, originality, and methodological robustness of the paper. Only manuscripts that demonstrate potential for significant contribution to the field proceed to peer review.
The journal employs a double-blind peer review process, where the identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed to maintain impartiality. Each manuscript is typically reviewed by at least two independent reviewers who assess the originality, methodological rigor, clarity of presentation, adherence to ethical standards, and overall contribution. Based on these evaluations, reviewers recommend acceptance, revision (minor or major), or rejection.
If revisions are required, authors are invited to address reviewers’ comments and submit a revised version along with a response letter detailing how each issue has been resolved. Revised manuscripts may be re-evaluated by the same reviewers or by editors to ensure that concerns have been satisfactorily addressed.
The final editorial decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief, who makes an informed judgment based on reviewer feedback, the quality of revisions, and the manuscript’s overall contribution. Authors are notified promptly of the decision, ensuring transparency throughout the process.
Accepted manuscripts then undergo copyediting and proofreading. Professional editors review the language, grammar, style, and formatting to ensure clarity and consistency. References are also checked for accuracy and adherence to citation guidelines. Authors receive galley proofs for review and are responsible for identifying and correcting any errors before final publication.
After proofreading, the manuscript proceeds to production and publication. Articles are assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) through CrossRef, formatted for online publication, and released in open-access format to maximize visibility and accessibility. CETL follows an online-first publication policy, ensuring that accepted articles are disseminated as quickly as possible before appearing in a scheduled issue.
To ensure long-term accessibility, published articles are archived and indexed in reputable databases and repositories. The journal actively works toward inclusion in Scopus, Web of Science, DOAJ, and other indexing platforms by maintaining international publishing standards and optimizing metadata for discoverability.
CETL also maintains a robust post-publication policy. If errors, ethical concerns, or evidence of misconduct arise after publication, the journal will act in accordance with COPE guidelines. This may include issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern. Readers and authors are encouraged to engage in post-publication dialogue through commentaries or responses, provided such engagement maintains academic integrity.
Through this structured and ethical process, Contemporary English Teaching and Linguistics ensures that every article published represents a rigorous, ethical, and meaningful contribution to the global fields of English teaching and linguistics.
