Submit to a journal only when you have secured the agreement of ALL your co-authors.
As an author, you are accountable for the content in the paper and responsible for updating all your co-authors before, during, and after the publication process. Ensure you have met community standards for reporting and sharing your data. Respect the process, your co-authors and journal policies. Do not burn bridges and hurt your reputation.
WHY is it important to secure the agreement of your co-authors BEFORE you submit?
Authorship and credit for work done is the source of many disputes and accusations of misconduct. Know this: not everyone agrees to be on the author list because being an author comes responsibilities. And do not assume everyone will be happy to have another publication to their name.
Talk to all your co-authors and confirm they agree to be listed as an author, agree with the content, agree with the order of the author list and agree with the Author Contribution statement. If you are unsure who should be an author, consult your institution’s authorship guidelines. These are typically outlined in the Research Integrity Policy documents.
When you submit to journals, they assume these agreements have been met. Therefore, agree before you submit. Do not set yourself up to be accused of fraud.
Likewise, if you are a co-author, do your due diligence. Protect yourself and your reputation. Check the content, ask for a demonstration of the key claims, and agree only if you truly feel the work meets yours and the community’s standards. When matters arise, you will be accountable. When it comes to promotions and awards, it matters who did what.
