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Basic Technical

Editorial In-Principle Acceptance

noun phrase

Pronunciation: /ɛˈdɪtɔriəl ɪn ˈprɪnsəpəl ækˈsɛptəns/

A preliminary editorial decision indicating that a manuscript meets the journal's quality standards and is suitable for peer review, based on initial editorial assessment. This is not a final acceptance but signals advancement in the publication pipeline.

Plain English

An editor's initial approval that a paper is good enough to send to peer reviewers, before the final decision is made.

Etymology & History

Origin languageLatin, English
Rooteditus (brought forth) + in (into) + principium (beginning) + acceptare (to receive)
First recorded use2010s
Usage frequencyUncommon

Usage

"The manuscript received Editorial In-Principle Acceptance and was forwarded to three peer reviewers specializing in behavioral neuroscience."

Style guide notes: Use 'in-principle' with hyphen; capitalize 'Editorial In-Principle Acceptance' when referring to the formal decision type.

Also known as

preliminary acceptance desk acceptance editorial clearance

Contrasted with

desk rejection editorial rejection

Related Terms

Frequently Asked Questions

What does in-principle acceptance guarantee?

It guarantees the paper will be reviewed by peers, but peer feedback may still result in rejection or major revisions.

How long after in-principle acceptance is a manuscript reviewed?

Timeline varies by journal; typically 4-12 weeks depending on reviewer availability and manuscript complexity.

Why Test Candidates on This?

Useful for understanding publication pipeline stages and editorial decision hierarchy in academic journals.

Required skill level: Mid

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