Last updated: April 2026 · 8 min read · Audience: Authors, students, early-career researchers · Reading level: Introductory
Introduction
Academic publishing is full of received wisdom that is partially right and partially wrong. Authors making decisions based on simplified rules sometimes choose worse journals than they would with more nuanced information. This page examines the most common myths.
Five common myths
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| High acceptance = low quality | Sometimes; specialty journals with strong fit can have high rates |
| High APC = high quality | Sometimes; many low-APC and free journals are highly rigorous |
| OA = lower prestige | Field-dependent; many flagship journals are open-access |
| Subscription journals are obsolete | Many remain leading venues in their fields |
| Impact factor = quality | Correlates partially; many quality journals have modest IFs |
Examining each myth
High acceptance rate means low quality
Sometimes, but not always. Specialty journals with self-selecting submitter pools can have high acceptance rates legitimately because the submitters know the scope intimately. Predatory venues exploit this perception by claiming high acceptance — but real high-acceptance journals exist. The signal of weak quality is absent peer review, not the percentage accepted.
High APC means high quality
APCs reflect production cost, market position, and pricing power, not just quality. Many highly rigorous journals charge low or no APCs (subscription, diamond open-access, society publications). Many high-APC journals are excellent but so are many cheaper ones. APC is one input to journal selection, not a proxy for quality.
Open access means lower prestige
Field-dependent. In life sciences and many specialty areas, flagship journals are open-access. In some humanities and social sciences, subscription journals retain higher prestige. The trend is toward open-access, but the picture is uneven, and 'open-access' covers a wide range from diamond to flagship.
Subscription journals are obsolete
Many subscription journals remain among the most respected venues in their fields. Subscription is a business model, not a quality marker. Funder mandates and transformative agreements are shifting the field toward open access, but subscription publishing is not disappearing.
Impact factor is the right quality metric
Decision guidance
When evaluating a journal, look at substance: indexing in major databases, transparent peer review process, identifiable editorial board, recent articles of consistent quality, and clear fee structures. These signals are more reliable than any single metric.
Example scenarios
Scenario: a master's student choosing first journal
Students sometimes default to high-impact-factor journals as 'the best'. The better starting point is scope fit and substantive features. A specialty journal in the right scope with modest impact factor is often a stronger first publication than a flagship journal with poor fit.
Scenario: a PhD researcher considering open access
PhD candidates worried that open access will be perceived as lower-tier should look at their field's leading journals. In many fields, top venues are open-access. The perception is fading; the publication record matters more than the cost model.
Scenario: an early-career researcher comparing fees
Comparing journals on APC alone is incomplete. A USD 100 journal that is unindexed produces a publication record of limited value; a USD 1,500 journal that is widely indexed produces a strong record. Cost narrows the candidate list; substantive features choose.
What to do next
Evaluate target journals on substantive features rather than received wisdom. Authors targeting EP Journals Group venues can review each journal's editorial standards on the journal site.
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 impact factor
- 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