Editorial. The Editorial Process - ACS Publications - American

---

analytical chemistry Editor: Herbert A. Laitinen EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone: 202-872-4570 Teletype: 7 10-8220 15 1

The Editorial Process

Managing Editor: Josephine M. Petruzzi Associate Editor: Andrew A. Husovsky Associate Editor, Easton: Elizabeth R. Rule Assistant Editors: Barbara Cassatt, Nancy J. Oddenino, Deborah C. Stewart Production Manager: Leroy L. Corcoran Art Director: John V Sinnett Designer: Alan Kahan Artist: Diane Reich Advisory Board: Donald H. Anderson, Richard P. Buck, Velmer Fassel, David Firestone, Robert A. Hofstader. Marjorie G. Horning, Philip F. Kane, Barry L. Karger, J. Jack Kirkland, Lynn L. Lewis, Harry 8. Mark, Jr., Walter C. McCrone, Harry L. Pardue, Eugene A. Sawicki, w . D. Shults Instrumentation Advisory Panel: Gary D. Christian, Nathan Gochman, Robert W. Hannah, Gary Horlick, Peter J. Kissinger, James N. Little, Sidney L. Phillips, R . K. Skogerboe. Donald E. Smith Contributing Editor: Claude A. Lucchesi Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, 1 1 1 . 60201 Published by the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 1155 16th Street N W Washington, D C 20036

Probably most readers would regard the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts as the primary, if not the only, essential function of the editor of a research journal. To be sure, this is the end result of a process, but the process is designed to accomplish more than simply to accept or reject. T h e first editorial decision is whether a manuscript falls within the scope of the journal. The cumulative result of many such decisions is to alter the breadth and direction of a journal and even to influence the definition of the research area it represents. The next step is a sampling of response from exceptionally well informed readers, through the peer review system. This step is designed to decide whether sufficient new information is presented to justify publication, and whether this information is presented in its best form and with due consideration of economy of space. It is this stage of negotiation and compromise, to which the reviewers make a substantial contribution, that represents the essence of the editorial process. Statistics show that some 80% of all accepted manuscripts undergo substantive revision before publication. By substantive revision is meant changes beyond routine corrections of spelling, grammar, or punctuation. The final step of copy editing is, of course, important to achieve uniformity of style and attractiveness of presentation, but it falls more within the realm of journalism than of science, and tends to be taken for granted. Essentially, then, the editorial process consists of a cooperative effort involving authors, editors, and reviewers to achieve the best usage of available space to present research findings falling within the scope of the journal.

Books and Journals Division Director D H Michael Bowen Editorial Charles R Bertsch Magazine and Production Bacil Guiley Research and Development Seldon W Terrant Circulation Development Marion Gurfein Manuscript requirements are April 1977 issue, page 686 publication (4 copies) should ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY at ington address

/&&-

published in the Manuscripts for be submitted to the ACS Wash-

The American Chemical Society and its editors assume no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced by contributors Views expressed in the editorials are those of the editors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the American Chemical Society

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 49, NO. 12, OCTOBER 1977

1649