Submissions

Submissions refer to the act of presenting a work, proposal, data set, or other item to an organization or gatekeeper for consideration, processing, or approval. Submissions occur across many domains, including academia, publishing, grant making, government, business, and the arts. They typically follow a defined workflow that includes preparation, transmission, and a decision or response.

In academia and publishing, a submission usually means sending a manuscript or article to a journal or conference. Materials may include the main text, abstract, figures, supplementary data, and metadata such as author names and affiliations. Submissions are often routed through an online system and subject to a review process, which may be single-blind, double-blind, or open. Based on reviewers’ feedback, editors decide to accept, reject, or request revisions. Revisions may be submitted as new versions.

Beyond scholarly work, submissions cover grant proposals, patent filings, legal pleadings, and official requests to government agencies. In software, submissions can include code contributions, bug reports, or feature requests. Many submission systems require statements of originality, disclosures of conflicts of interest, and licensing terms. Data sensitivity, privacy, and copyright considerations are commonly addressed at submission time.

Outcomes of submissions include formal decisions, requests for further information, or public posting of accepted items. Maintaining version history, tracking deadlines, and ensuring accurate attribution are standard practices. Good submission practices emphasize clarity, completeness, and compliance with applicable rules and ethical standards.