Withdrawal Policy

The Nature

At The Nature, we expect authors to submit their manuscripts with the full intention of publication. However, we recognize that in certain exceptional circumstances, withdrawal of a submitted manuscript may be necessary. This policy outlines the acceptable reasons and procedures for withdrawal.

Withdrawal Before Review

  • Authors may request withdrawal of their manuscript before the peer review process begins without penalty.

  • The corresponding author must submit a formal withdrawal request by email, clearly stating the manuscript title, manuscript ID, and the reason for withdrawal.

  • Withdrawal will be confirmed only after the editorial office acknowledges the request in writing.

Withdrawal During or After Review

  • Withdrawal requests made after the peer review process has started are discouraged and will only be considered for valid reasons (such as ethical concerns, major errors discovered by the authors, or duplicate submission).

  • If a withdrawal request is approved after peer review has commenced, an administrative fee may be charged to cover processing and reviewing costs.

Withdrawal After Acceptance

  • Withdrawal requests after a manuscript has been accepted are highly unethical and will only be entertained under exceptional circumstances.

  • In cases where withdrawal is requested post-acceptance without a valid reason, authors may face sanctions, including a ban from future submissions to The Nature.

Unauthorized Withdrawal

  • If authors do not respond to communication from the editorial office after submission and/or peer review and fail to provide a formal withdrawal request, the manuscript may be marked as “Withdrawn by Editorial Decision” after due process.

  • Unauthorized or unethical withdrawal actions (such as submission to another journal without formal withdrawal) may lead to blacklisting of the authors.

Formal Withdrawal Request

A withdrawal request must include:

  • Full manuscript title

  • Manuscript ID

  • Names of all authors

  • Detailed reason for withdrawal

  • Signed statement from the corresponding author (and all co-authors if possible)