Last updated: April 2026 · 7 min read · Audience: Authors, students, early-career researchers · Reading level: Introductory
Introduction
Most authors will encounter journals of varying credibility during their careers, including some that are genuinely predatory. Verifying credibility before submission takes about 30 minutes per journal and prevents serious mistakes.
This page sets out the practical verification process. The checks are widely accepted in the field and apply across disciplines.
Five verification checks
| Check | Where to look | What confirms legitimacy |
|---|---|---|
| Indexing | Scopus, Web of Science, DOAJ, PubMed | Listed in at least one major database |
| Editorial board | Journal's About page; institutional pages of listed editors | Members verifiable; affiliations match institutional pages |
| Peer review process | Editorial policies page | Documented model, timeline, reviewer count |
| Fee transparency | Author guidelines or Fees page | Single, consistent fee schedule including ancillary charges |
| Recent activity | Recent issues / continuous publication articles | Substantive recent articles; consistent quality |
Practical guidance
- Search the journal's name in DOAJ for open-access verification.
- Search in Scopus or Web of Science for indexing.
- Pick three editorial board members and search their names + institution; their faculty page should mention the editorial role or at least be consistent.
- Read the editorial policies page in full. Watch for vague language and missing specifics.
- Sample three recent articles. Read the abstracts and check publication dates; gaps in recent publication or templated articles are warning signs.
- Confirm fee disclosure. Reputable journals state fees clearly; venues that obscure fees are unreliable.
Common red flags
Other patterns: solicitation emails for submissions you did not request; promised acceptance within hours or days; journal names suspiciously similar to well-known journals; impact factors quoted without source; logos of indexing services pasted on the journal site without verifiable links.
Decision guidance
Spend 30 minutes verifying any journal before submission. The verification cost is small; the cost of a mistake (lost time, lost manuscript, worthless publication record) is large. Authors developing experience can verify faster, but the same checks apply.
Example scenarios
Scenario: a master's student receiving a solicitation email
Solicitation emails ('We invite you to submit your paper to our journal') are a common predatory pattern. Most legitimate journals do not solicit submissions; they are submitted to. An unsolicited invitation should be verified through the five checks before any response.
Scenario: a PhD researcher considering an unfamiliar journal
PhD candidates expanding their target list often encounter unfamiliar venues. Running the five checks on each takes about half an hour and quickly distinguishes credible new journals from unverifiable ones. Investing the time is far cheaper than later regret.
Scenario: an early-career researcher under time pressure
Time pressure is when predatory venues are most appealing — they promise speed and acceptance. The verification cost remains 30 minutes regardless of urgency. Skipping verification under pressure is the most common path to predatory publication.
What to do next
If a target journal has been identified, run the five checks before submitting. If any check raises doubt, take an extra hour to verify; do not submit on uncertainty. Authors targeting EP Journals Group venues can confirm details on each journal's site or contact the editorial office directly.
Frequently asked questions
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Related reading and next steps
- Submission portal — Submit a manuscript through the central form
- Journals list — Six peer-reviewed journals across disciplines
- How to check journal legitimacy
- What is indexing in journals
- Reputable vs predatory
- High acceptance rate journals
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