Say an author submits an essay to several journals. Even if the suggestions offered would clearly make the essay better, the faster path will almost certainly be chosen, if only because declining to revise will be easier than telling an editor that an accepted piece is being withdrawn. Nor do faster decisions necessarily mean faster publication. Rather than lose a borderline piece, editors might accept quickly, then delay publication for months, or even years, as better or more timely essays arrive. It's fair to say, however, that editors should reach decisions by a publicly-announced time limit, and that journal referees meet their deadlines.
Many editors announce their processing schedules in their journals, or on their homepages.
In addition, for many years, The Modern Language Association's Directory of Periodicals has provided addresses, acceptance percentages, and average decision times for thousands of journals. Determine whether a journal will accept a paper being submitted simultaneously elsewhere as an article or as part of a projected book. Unacknowledged multiple submission is a major breach of professional ethics. Check this box only if you would also like this submission to be considered for publication as a letter to the editor in the printed edition Chronicle. Be sure to include your name and affiliation.