Guide
How to Read Review Times and Acceptance Rates
Tell publisher-reported processing times from community reports and single submission stories, so an average is never mistaken for a promise.
Last updated:Know which milestone a time measures
First decision, completed peer review, acceptance and online publication are different stages. "Review takes three months" without saying which milestone cannot be compared reliably.
Sample size matters more than a single number
Community reports depend on the article type, the editor and the reviewers. Look at the sample size, the time window and the quartiles together, and don't treat one case as a promise from the journal.
In a hurry? Still check the scope
Speed does not replace topic fit, indexing status and submission requirements. Rule out the journals that clearly don't fit first, then compare how fast the remaining candidates are.