Frequently Asked Questions

• General Information
• Submission
• Copyright Assignment FAQs
• Author Services
• Post-Publication 
• Policy on retraction of articles and post-publication changes to online content 

General Information

How can I subscribe to Blackwell Publishing journals?

Subscription information for all journals, including online access and terms and conditions, is available on the individual journal home pages. For ordering information, claims and any enquiry concerning your journal subscription please contact your nearest office.

UK: Email: customerservices@blackwellpublishing.com ; Tel: +44 (0) 1865 778315; Fax: +44 (0) 1865 471775.
USA: Email: subscrip@bos.blackwellpublishing.com ; Tel: +1 781 388 8206 or 1 800 835 6770 (toll free in the USA); Fax: +1 781 388 8232.
Asia: Email: subs@blackwellpublishingasia.com ; Tel: +61 3 8359 1011; Fax: +61 3 8359 1120.

Where can I find pricing information for Blackwell Publishing journals?
Subscription information, including pricing for institutional and personal subscriptions, is available on all Blackwell Publishing journals' home pages.

Can I get more information about Blackwell Publishing publications?
Yes, you can sign up to receive eTOC alerts for all Blackwell Publishing publications. Please select the e-mail alerts menu option on the top left navigation menu.

What is your privacy policy?
For details of Blackwell Publishing's privacy policy, please go to: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/privacy.asp

I understand my journal is OnlineEarly. What does this mean?
Information about Online Early can be found here.

TopSubmission

How do I submit my paper?
Detailed instructions for article submission are available for all Blackwell Publishing journals. Author “Guidelines by Journal” are available on the Author Services site. Please select your chosen journal from the drop-down box in the right-hand section of the page, or from the “My Favorite Journals” link on the left-hand side if you have tracked production of an article in Author Services.

How do I contact the Editor of the journal to which I would like to submit my article?
Editorial contacts and information are available for all Blackwell Publishing journals. Author “Guidelines by Journal” are available on the Author Services site. Please select your chosen journal from the drop-down box in the right-hand section of the page.

How do I find guidelines or instructions for authors for my specific journal?
Author “Guidelines by Journal” are available on the Author Services site. Please select your chosen journal from the drop-down box in the right-hand section of the page.

What types of articles will the journal accept?
Full details of articles accepted and submission conditions are available for all Blackwell Publishing journals. Author “Guidelines by Journal” are available on the Author Services site. Please select your chosen journal from the drop-down box in the right-hand section of the page.

What electronic file types can I use to submit my article?
For information on article submission please refer to the guidelines for your specific journal using the drop-down box in the right-hand section of the site. There are also general guidelines on file types available at Contributing to Blackwell Journals .

I need help in supplying artwork for my article.
Information on artwork submission can be found in the Author Resources section available from the left-hand menu on this site.

Will original material be returned to me?
Blackwell Publishing has an author material archive policy. For the policy conditions relating to your journal, please refer to the author guidelines. Author “Guidelines by Journal” are available on the Author Services site. Please select your chosen journal from the drop-down box in the right-hand section of the page.

When will I know if my article has been accepted? What happens next?
You will be notified by the Editorial office once your article has been accepted. Your article will then be passed to Blackwell Publishing and put into production. If the journal is available in Author Services, you will receive an e-mail alert to indicate that your article has entered Production. If your journal is not included in Author Services, you will receive e-mail notification when your proofs are ready for correction.

How do I obtain permission to publish Blackwell Publishing material in my article?
A standard letter requesting permission can be obtained from the journal production editor. Please contact the journal e-mail address (available from the journal home page), stating you would like to receive a copy of the standard permissions letter.

How do I obtain permission to publish other publishers' material in my article?
To include work already published by another publisher in your article, you must obtain written consent and include this with your submission.

Where can I find more information about copyright and why must I complete a copyright form?
A copyright form can be downloaded from the author guidelines of each journal home page. Author guidelines by journal are available on the Author Services site in the right-hand section. Please select your chosen journal from the drop-down box.

Copyright assignment is a condition of publication and papers will not be passed to the publisher for production unless copyright has been assigned. Detailed information concerning copyright is included on the form.

What rights do I have as an author?
Information regarding the rights retained by the author is included on the copyright form. A copyright form can be downloaded from the author guidelines of each journal home page. Author “Guidelines by Journal” are available on the Author Services site. Please select your chosen journal from the drop-down box in the right-hand section of the page.

TopAuthor Services

How will I know if my article is included in Author Services?
If the journal that has accepted your article is already in Author Services, you will receive an introductory e-mail to state that your article has entered the production process. You will be given an opportunity at this stage to register and sign up for e-mail alerts for subsequent production stages. If your article is not included in Author Services, you will not be able to track all production stages online but you will receive e-mail notification when your article proofs are ready for correction.

Why should I register?
You need to register in order to add your article to the article tracking system and be able to track your article online. As well as tracking the production of your article online, as a registered author you can also:

• choose to receive e-mail alerts on article status
• get free access to your article when it is published online (both HTML and PDF versions)
• Authors, Editors and Contributors can receive a 25% discount on all Wiley books (including Wiley-Blackwell titles previously Blackwell Publishing)
• nominate up to 10 colleagues to be notified upon publication and also receive free access
• invite your co-authors to also track the article production
• keep a list of favorite journals with quick links to Author Guidelines and submission information

You can also register and choose not to receive e-mails, simply check progress online at your own convenience.

Can I track article progress without registering?
No, you need to register and add your article to the article tracking system using the direct link in your email. However, you can register and choose not to receive emails then simply check progress online at your own convenience.

What do I have to do to get e-alerts?
When you fill in the registration form you should tick the option to receive e-alerts. You can choose to receive them at all or specific stages.

What resources can I access online at Author Services without registering?
The Author Services site also contains author resources and links to specific journal guidelines which are available to all without registering. Author resources includes FAQs and tips on article preparation, optimizing articles for search engines and more. Further resources will be added over time.

I have forgotten my username/password. What should I do?
Use the Forgotten Password option on the right and you will be sent a reminder. Please ensure that you use the same e-mail address to which your original production status email for this article was sent.

What do I do with my unique ID?
If you click on the link in the e-mail you received about your article, then your article details will automatically be logged on Author Services ready for you to register. Simply register your details and the article will be automatically added to your profile. Once registered, you can view your article production status any time by logging in and clicking on My Publications Home . If you visit the Author Services site without using the link in your e-mail, you need to Register and then enter the unique ID contained in the e-mail you received to add your article to the tracking system. You only need use the unique ID once for each article.

I have lost my unique ID number. What should I do?
Use the help function on the website. Make sure you include your e-mail address, full name (as used in the article), the article title and the title of the journal.

Can I use any e-mail address to receive my e-alerts?
Yes, you can choose your preferred email address when you register. If you move during the production process you can update your email address in Author Services by clicking Amend Your Details on the bottom right of the My Publications screen. However, please be aware that you also need to alert the production editor if you have a new "corresponding author" e-mail address.

Can my co-authors register to track our article in Author Services?
Yes, co-authors can track production process separately from the corresponding author. The corresponding author simply needs to enter their co-authors’ details in Author Services and they will be sent an e-mail inviting them to track the production of that article.

Where is my article?
Once you have registered and added your article, you can check the status of your paper at any time by logging into Author Services and visiting the My Publications section.

What do the production stages mean?
View descriptions of production stages.

My article seems to be stuck at Stage 1. Why is it taking so long for it to be sent to the typesetter?
Some journals follow a slightly different production process whereby all articles for an issue are sent to a copyeditor en masse before the articles are sent to the typesetter. The copyediting for all the articles in the issue may take three to four weeks. When the articles are sent to the typesetter, the stage is updated in Author Services. If your article has been at Stage 1 for more than four weeks, contact your production editor at the journal e-mail address provided. Alternatively, use the help link, and make sure you include your e-mail address, full name (as used in the article), the article title and the title of the journal.

I have an article in production for a Blackwell Journal but have not received an e-mail about Author Services. Why not?
Author Services is not yet available for all Blackwell journals but new journals will be joining at regular intervals in the coming months. A few Blackwell journals are not able to benefit from online production tracking because the production process is managed offline.

Alternatively, it may be that your paper was already in progress before the journal was included in the Author Services system. Only articles entering production after Author Services has been launched for the journal can benefit from the article status tracking.

I've just received proofs for my paper. Why isn't it available in Author Services?
It may be that your paper was already in progress before your journal was included in the Author Services system. Only articles entering production after Author Services has been launched for that journal can benefit from the article status tracking.

In addition, Author Services is not yet available for all Blackwell journals but new journals will be joining at regular intervals in the coming months. A few Blackwell journals are not able to benefit from online production tracking because the production process is managed offline.

I have another article in a different Blackwell journal. Why is this not in Author Services?
Author Services is not yet available for all Blackwell journals but new journals will be joining at regular intervals in the coming months. A few Blackwell journals are not able to benefit from online production tracking because the production process is managed offline.

Is online production tracking available for the book I'm writing for Blackwell?
Online production tracking is not yet available for Blackwell books but is under discussion for future phases of Author Services.

How do I return my proof corrections?
You will be notified when your article proofs are ready for correction. Full information and contact return details will be supplied at this time.

I have received my proof but am unable to open the PDF file.
If you are unable to open the proofs of your paper, please contact the production editor at the journal e-mail address provided. If you are logged into Author Services, you can contact the Production Editor using the button to the right of the article on the My Publications page.

I have returned my proof corrections but this stage has not been updated on Author Services.
The Author Services web site is updated once per day and there can be a delay between receiving your corrections and this stage appearing updated on Author Services. If this stage is still not updated after a week, please contact the Production Editor using the button to the right of the article on the My Publications page.

I have returned my proof corrections and Author Services has been updated but I have received no further information.
Your corrections have been received and your article is awaiting publication in the next suitable issue of the journal. You will be informed when your article has been allocated to an issue in the stage 5 e-mail alert in Author Services, Issue to press'. If your article is publishing in a journal that is Online Early then you will receive an e-mail as soon as your article is available online.

What is EarlyView?
EarlyView articles are fully corrected, fully web-functional and complete articles published online as and when they are ready, prior to their ultimate inclusion in a print issue, thus enabling readers to access information faster. EarlyView is a feature of over 400 Blackwell journals. One of the benefits for authors registered in Author Services is that they can choose to receive an alert and then view their finished article as soon as it is available online, ahead of the issue publication date.

I have received an e-mail at stages 2 and 4 but not at stage 3 of my article tracking. Am I missing some information?
No, e-mail alerts are not sent at stage 3 Proofs sent' of the production tracking status. The e-mail that you receive to notify you when your article proofs are ready for correction is considered an alert.

When can I expect to receive my article publication details?
You will receive notification of your article publication details when your article has reached production stage 5 Issue to press' in Author Services or at the EarlyView stage if your article is publishing in a journal that is EarlyView. These details will be provisional at this stage and should not be used to provide citations. Confirmation will be provided at production stages 6 & 7 Issue published online' and Issue published in print'.

TopPost-publication

Will I receive offprints of my article?
Many journals offer the ability to link to the printer website to order printed offprints for a limited time. A link will appear in My Publications between stages 3 and 6 for all journals which offer this service. Additional journals are being added to this service over time. Offprint information for each journal can be found on the journal home pages. Contact details are available in the Author Resources option from the left-hand menu on the Author Services home page.

Where can I find information about reprints?
Information on reprints can be found in the Author Resources section available from the left-hand menu on this site, or select Reprint Information .

My article has been published but I have not yet received my offprints
It can take up to 6 weeks after publication for paper offprints to be delivered. If you do not receive your offprints 6 weeks after publication, please contact the Offprints Department. Contact information can be found in the Author Resources option from the left-hand menu on the Author Services home page.

How can I link to my article on Wiley InterScience from my own website?
To link to an article from the author's homepage, take the DOI (digital object identifier) and append it to "http://dx.doi.org/" as per following example:
DOI 10.1002/hep.20941, becomes http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hep.20941.
To include the DOI in a citation to an article, simply append it to the reference as in the following example:

Oestreicher, N., The cost of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early-stage breast carcinoma, Cancer 10(1), pp. 2054 - 2062, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.21464.

TopPolicy on retraction of articles and post-publication changes to online content

Can I change my article after it has been published?
Blackwell Publishing appreciates its responsibility towards maintaining the integrity and completeness of the scholarly record for researchers and librarians. The Company attaches the highest importance to maintaining trust in the authority of its electronic archive and of the journals that reside there. Changes to articles once published can therefore only be made under strictly limited circumstances, outlined in the sections below. This policy is based on current best practice in the scholarly and library communities (see also here). 

What if I find a mistake in my article?
Articles that have been published shall remain extant, exact and unaltered as far as is possible. Any corrections or amendments to an article following publication in print should be made by means of an erratum. This can be linked to the primary article in the online version of the journal. 

Will you ever consider withdrawing an article?
It is Blackwell policy strongly to discourage withdrawal of an article in line with standard industry practice (see 2006-03: STM Guidelines on Preserving the Record of Science, click here). 

However, very occasionally circumstances may arise where an article is published that must later be retracted or even removed. The practice of removal, deletion or obscuring of an article or portion thereof should be limited to circumstances such as:

• Infringements of professional ethical codes, such as multiple submission, bogus claims of authorship, plagiarism, fraudulent use of data and the like;
• Legal infringements, defamation or other legal limitations; and
• False or inaccurate data, especially those that if acted upon could pose a serious health risk. 

Even in these circumstances, bibliographic information about the removed article should be retained for the scientific record, and an explanation given, however, brief, about the circumstances of its removal.

What do you mean by retracted?
For most cases of infringement listed above, Blackwell recommends linking a retraction statement to the article in question, while retaining the article as first published. (This policy has been adopted by Science, for example, in the case of the original articles published by Woo Suk Hwang see here.) 

If the Editor of the journal believes there are irregularities with the content of the article then it is at the Editors discretion to print an appropriate statement in the journal. This can only take place after full investigation of the incident has taken place and the nature of the irregularity established beyond all reasonable doubt. 

Once an Editor has established the facts of the case, the following procedure will be adopted:

• The retraction will appear on a numbered page in a prominent section of the journal.
• The retraction will be listed in the contents page, and the title of the original Article will be included in its heading.
• The retraction must be signed by one of the following: the author, the author's legal counsel, the author's sponsoring institution, or the editor of the journal.
• The text of the retraction should explain why the Article is being retracted.
• The statement of retraction and the original Article must be clearly linked in the electronic database so that the retraction will always be apparent to anyone who comes across the original Article.