Sample Correspondence for Editors

The CSE Editorial Policy Committee, in collaboration with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), has developed sample correspondence that relates to specific situations that journal editors may face. These drafts are suggestions that we hope you will find useful. Feel free to copy and modify them to fit your own needs. We will be adding to this list throughout the year. Please send comments to CSE@CouncilScienceEditors.org.

Editor-to-Author Sample Correspondence

1. Manuscript Overlap (before publication)
2. Manuscript Overlap (after publication)
3. Figure Duplication
4. Request for Original Data
5. Request for a Revised Figure
6. Addition or Deletion of Author before Publication
7. Addition or Deletion of Author after Publication
8. Authorship Dispute
9. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest
10. Clinical Trial Not Registered
11. Request to Comply with RCT Reporting Guidelines
12. Incomplete Information about Human or Animal Research Protections
13. Reviewer Breach of Confidentiality
14. Manuscript on Hold Pending Further Investigation
15. Rejection of Manuscript after Journal Investigation
16. Response when Editor Remains Concerned after Author Responses
17. Response when Authors Have Responded Satisfactorily to Initial Concerns

To Other Journal re Duplicate Publication
Response to Allegation (General)
Request for Investigation by Author’s Institution
Request for Funding Agency Investigation
Response to Complaint about Reviewer
Request for Investigation by Reviewer’s Institution