Last updated: 29 April 2026 · 8 min read · Audience: Authors, students, early-career researchers · Reading level: Introductory
The proliferation of online publishing has been accompanied by a substantial increase in journals that operate below accepted scholarly standards. The cost of submitting work to such venues extends beyond wasted fees: the resulting publications are frequently disregarded by hiring committees, funders, and indexing databases.
Indicators of legitimacy
- Inclusion in recognised indexing databases relevant to the field.
- A named editorial board with verifiable institutional affiliations.
- A transparent and documented peer-review process.
- Clearly stated publication ethics and a corrections / retractions policy.
- An ISSN registered with the relevant national agency.
- Compliance with COPE, DOAJ, OASPA, or equivalent standards where applicable.
- Realistic publication timelines (rapid acceptance within days is a warning sign).
Warning signs
- Unsolicited invitations to submit, particularly outside the recipient's field of expertise.
- Fees that are disclosed only after acceptance.
- Editorial board members who are unaware of their listing.
- Spelling errors and inconsistent formatting on the journal website.
- Promises of guaranteed acceptance or absurdly short review times.
- Generic email addresses (free webmail) used for editorial correspondence.
A two-step verification
- Search the journal title in two or more recognised indexing databases. Absence from all is a serious concern.
- Verify two members of the editorial board by visiting their institutional pages and confirming the affiliation.
Key points
- Legitimacy is best assessed against a structured checklist, not a single indicator.
- Indexing, editorial transparency, and ethics policies are the most reliable signals.
- Predatory journals frequently rely on unsolicited invitations and undisclosed fees.
- Two minutes of verification can prevent significant reputational and financial cost.
Frequently asked questions
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Editorial enquiries
Questions about this guide or about preparing a manuscript for submission may be directed to the editorial office. Where a query relates to a specific journal in the portfolio, please indicate the journal abbreviation in your message.
Email: editor@ep-journals.org