You have spent months, perhaps years, meticulously researching, writing, and refining your manuscript, only to realize that the chosen journal may not be the perfect fit for your work.
Fear not, for withdrawing your manuscript from a journal is a common occurrence in the world of academic publishing.
Sample Letters to Withdraw Manuscript from Journal
In this article, we will explore 15 sample letters that will guide you through the process of withdrawing your manuscript with professionalism and grace.
Letter 1: Withdrawal Due to Scope Mismatch
Subject: Manuscript Withdrawal Request – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
After careful consideration, I have concluded that my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” may not be the best fit for the scope of your esteemed journal. I believe that my research would be better suited for a publication more closely aligned with the specific focus of my work.
Therefore, I would like to formally request the withdrawal of my manuscript from the submission process. I appreciate the time and effort your editorial team has invested in reviewing my work thus far, and I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Letter 2: Withdrawal Due to Simultaneous Submission
Subject: Request for Manuscript Withdrawal – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
I am writing to inform you that I have decided to withdraw my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” from consideration for publication in your journal. I recently discovered that I had inadvertently submitted the manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously, which goes against the submission guidelines of most publications.
I take full responsibility for this oversight and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused you and your editorial team. Please accept my withdrawal request, and disregard any further consideration of my manuscript.
Thank you for your time and understanding.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Letter 3: Withdrawal Due to Changes in Research
Subject: Manuscript Withdrawal – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to request the withdrawal of my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” from the submission process at your journal. Since the initial submission, my research team has uncovered new data that significantly alters the conclusions drawn in the manuscript.
In light of these changes, we believe it is necessary to conduct further analysis and revise the manuscript accordingly. We feel that withdrawing the current version is the most appropriate course of action to maintain the integrity of our research.
We appreciate the opportunity to have submitted our work to your journal and apologize for any inconvenience this withdrawal may cause.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Letter 4: Withdrawal Due to Authorship Disputes
Subject: Request for Withdrawal – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
I regret to inform you that I must withdraw my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” from consideration for publication in your journal. Unfortunately, there have been irreconcilable authorship disputes among my co-authors, and we have been unable to reach a consensus on the final version of the manuscript.
As the corresponding author, I believe it is in the best interest of all parties involved to withdraw the manuscript at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding in this matter.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Letter 5: Withdrawal Due to Funding Issues
Subject: Manuscript Withdrawal – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
I am writing to inform you of my decision to withdraw my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” from the submission process at your journal. Regrettably, the funding agency supporting this research has unexpectedly withdrawn its support, making it impossible for me to complete the necessary revisions and address the reviewer’s comments promptly.
Without the necessary resources to continue this research, I believe it is best to withdraw the manuscript at this stage. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for the opportunity to have submitted my work to your esteemed journal.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Letter 6: Withdrawal Due to Ethical Concerns
Subject: Urgent Manuscript Withdrawal – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
I am writing to request the immediate withdrawal of my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” from the submission process at your journal. It has recently come to my attention that there may be potential ethical concerns regarding the data collection methods employed in this study.
As a responsible researcher, I believe it is crucial to address these concerns thoroughly before proceeding with publication. I will be conducting a full investigation into the matter and will take appropriate action to rectify any issues that may arise.
I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding in this sensitive matter.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Letter 7: Withdrawal Due to Personal Reasons
Subject: Manuscript Withdrawal Request – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to request the withdrawal of my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” from consideration for publication in your journal. Due to unforeseen personal circumstances, I am unable to dedicate the necessary time and attention to the revision process at this time.
I appreciate the opportunity to have submitted my work to your journal and apologize for any inconvenience this withdrawal may cause. I hope to have the opportunity to submit my research to your journal in the future when my situation allows.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Letter 8: Withdrawal Due to Conflict of Interest
Subject: Manuscript Withdrawal – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
I am writing to inform you of my decision to withdraw my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” from the submission process at your journal. It has recently come to my attention that there may be a potential conflict of interest regarding one of the co-authors on this manuscript.
To maintain the integrity of the research and the publication process, I believe it is best to withdraw the manuscript at this time. I will be conducting a thorough review of the situation and will take appropriate action to address any issues that may arise.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding in this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Letter 9: Withdrawal Due to Lack of Response from Co-Authors
Subject: Request for Manuscript Withdrawal – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
I regret to inform you that I must withdraw my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” from consideration for publication in your journal. Despite multiple attempts to contact my co-authors for their input and approval on the final version of the manuscript, I have not received any response from them.
As the corresponding author, I do not feel comfortable proceeding with the publication process without the full participation and consent of all authors involved. Therefore, I believe it is best to withdraw the manuscript at this time.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding in this matter.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Letter 10: Withdrawal Due to Intellectual Property Concerns
Subject: Urgent Manuscript Withdrawal – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
I am writing to request the immediate withdrawal of my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” from the submission process at your journal. It has recently come to my attention that there may be potential intellectual property concerns regarding the content of this manuscript.
To avoid any legal complications and to protect the rights of all parties involved, I believe it is necessary to withdraw the manuscript at this stage. I will be conducting a thorough review of the content and will take appropriate action to address any issues that may arise.
I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding in this sensitive matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Letter 11: Withdrawal Due to Changes in Institutional Affiliation
Subject: Manuscript Withdrawal Request – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to request the withdrawal of my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” from consideration for publication in your journal. Since the initial submission, I have accepted a new position at a different institution, and my current institutional affiliation no longer supports the research presented in this manuscript.
As a result, I believe it is necessary to withdraw the manuscript and re-evaluate the research in light of my new institutional guidelines and resources. I appreciate the opportunity to have submitted my work to your journal and apologize for any inconvenience this withdrawal may cause.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Letter 12: Withdrawal Due to Lack of Response from Journal
Subject: Request for Manuscript Withdrawal – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
I am writing to inquire about the status of my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” which I submitted to your journal on [date]. It has been [number of months] since the initial submission, and I have not received any communication from your editorial team regarding the progress of the peer review process.
Given the lengthy delay and lack of response, I am concerned that my manuscript may not be a priority for your journal at this time. Therefore, I would like to withdraw my manuscript from consideration and explore other publication opportunities that may be a better fit for my research.
I appreciate your time and consideration, and I apologize for any inconvenience this withdrawal may cause.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Letter 13: Withdrawal Due to Disagreement with Reviewer Comments
Subject: Manuscript Withdrawal – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to request the withdrawal of my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” from the submission process at your journal. After careful consideration of the reviewer’s comments, I have concluded that the suggested changes would significantly alter the original scope and intent of my research.
While I appreciate the time and effort invested by the reviewers, I believe that the proposed revisions would compromise the integrity of my work and the message I aim to convey. Therefore, I have decided to withdraw the manuscript and seek publication opportunities that better align with my research vision.
I thank you for the opportunity to submit my work to your journal and apologize for any inconvenience this withdrawal may cause.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Letter 14: Withdrawal Due to Delays in the Publication Process
Subject: Request for Manuscript Withdrawal – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the substantial delays in the publication process for my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” which was accepted for publication in your journal on [date]. It has been [number of months] since the acceptance, and I have not received any updates on the progress of the manuscript.
Given the time-sensitive nature of my research and the need to disseminate my findings to the scientific community promptly, I believe it is in my best interest to withdraw the manuscript from your journal and seek alternative publication options.
I appreciate the opportunity to have my work accepted by your journal, and I apologize for any inconvenience this withdrawal may cause.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Letter 15: Withdrawal Due to Changes in Research Team
Subject: Manuscript Withdrawal – “Title of Your Manuscript”
Dear Editor,
I regret to inform you that I must withdraw my manuscript, “Title of Your Manuscript,” from the submission process at your journal. Recently, there have been significant changes in my research team, with key members leaving the project and new collaborators joining.
As a result, we believe it is necessary to re-evaluate the research and make substantial revisions to the manuscript to reflect the new team dynamics and contributions. Therefore, I have decided to withdraw the current version of the manuscript and resubmit it once the necessary changes have been made.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding in this matter.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Conclusion
Withdrawing a manuscript from a journal can be a challenging decision, but it is sometimes necessary to ensure the integrity and quality of your research.
By using these sample letters as a guide, you can navigate the withdrawal process with professionalism and tact, maintaining a positive relationship with the journal and its editorial team.