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Editorial WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR MANUSCRIPT? Authors who submit manuscripts to a journal have generally made a huge investment of thought and time in their proposed publication. Their manuscripts deserve a fair, prompt appraisal . The Annals, like most professional publications , sends each manuscript to two reviewers who have competence in the subject area of the manuscript. If both reviewers agree on whether or not the manuscript should be published, their recommendations are implemented by the editor . If there is disagreement between reviewers, either the editor decides or a third review is requested . The editor may, on occasion, have to overrule reviewers' decisions if the backlog of articles is too great. When manuscripts are accepted there is rarely any problem with the author. When articles are rejected, it is painful for the writer and for the editor. As a person who publishes extensively, I face about a 50% rejection rate for my own manuscripts . Knowing how I feel when my papers are rejected, I hate to have to turn down someone else's work. It is especially hard when the manuscript is an initial effort at publication by a young author. There is always the danger of discouraging further efforts. Most authors take rejection amazingly well. Only about 2-3% write hostile letters or call to argue the decision. Of course, most authors disagree with the publication decision. They would not have submitted their paper if they did not feel it deserved publication. Smart authors who have been rejected submit their paper to another journal. For example, I have had papers harshly rejected by one journal and later accepted by a far superior journal. Undoubtedly , the Annals has made grevious errors in rejecting manuscripts which later were published elsewhere. It is ironic, but the most vociferous complaints from rejected authors are usually from those who do not subscribe to the Annals or belong to the organizations that support the journal. Yet, they are outraged that the Annals will not accommodate their needs on their terms. Our hope is that readers of the Annals will contribute to the journal. The purpose of the Annals, in the final analysis, is to serve deaf youth and the professionals who work with them. To that end the Review Board and the Editor of the Annals make every effort to fairly evaluate each manuscript submitted. McCoy Vernon, Ph.D. Editor A. A.D. ι'October 1985 261 ...

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