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Contents

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  1. Accept
  2. Minor revision
  3. Major revision
  4. Reject (and desk rejection)

Academy · Concepts & Definitions · Peer review decision tree

The Peer Review Decision Tree: The Meaning and Common Misinterpretations of Each Decision

Each of the four decision types has a specific meaning and, equally importantly, a specific implication that it does not carry.

Pubrica AcademyWritten by a journal operations specialist Reviewed byan editorial consultant Published10 October 2026 Last checked10 October 2026 Reading time6 minutes Sources1 peer-reviewed

A peer review decision letter commonly falls into one of four categories (accept, minor revision, major revision or reject), each with a distinct meaning regarding the current standing of the manuscript, and each commonly misinterpreted in a specific and consistent way.

Learning objectives

  • The meaning of each of the four common decision types.
  • The misinterpretation commonly associated with each decision type.
  • The position of desk rejection within the decision tree.

Common misconceptions

  • “Minor revision indicates that only trivial wording corrections are required.” ‘Minor’ refers to the decision category rather than necessarily to the amount of work involved; a minor-revision decision may still require a substantive response, even if no new data or analysis is required.
  • “Major revision is close to rejection.” Major revision is a distinct, standard outcome that keeps the manuscript in the review process; many manuscripts that receive this decision are eventually accepted.

Accept

Means: the manuscript, as submitted or with only copyediting-level changes, is approved for publication. Doesn't mean: that no further editorial correspondence will take place — proof corrections and production queries remain normal after acceptance.

Minor revision

Means: the manuscript is likely to be accepted once specific, bounded changes (clarifications, additional citations, wording fixes) are made, generally without requiring a new round of full peer review. Doesn't mean: that the required changes are necessarily trivial or quick — "minor" describes the decision category, not the workload.

Major revision

Means: substantive changes (which can include new analyses) are needed, and the revised manuscript will likely be sent back for further review. Doesn't mean: the manuscript is being rejected, or that acceptance is unlikely — major revision is a standard and common route to eventual acceptance.

Reject (and desk rejection)

Means (post-review rejection): reviewers identified concerns, methodological or otherwise, that the editor judges cannot be resolved through revision for this journal. Means (desk rejection, before review): the editor judged that the manuscript did not fit the journal's scope or significance threshold, and full peer review did not take place. Doesn't mean (either type): that the underlying research is necessarily flawed — a desk rejection in particular often reflects fit rather than quality, and even a post-review rejection can mean the work would fit better, or be judged differently, at another journal1.

Key points

Key points

Accept, minor revision, major revision and reject each carry a specific, distinct meaning regarding the standing of the manuscript, and each is associated with a common misinterpretation: ‘minor’ does not refer to workload, ‘major’ does not indicate near-rejection, and a rejection (particularly a desk rejection) does not necessarily reflect the quality of the research.

Practical application

Practical application

  1. ‘Minor revision’ should be interpreted as a decision category rather than an estimate of workload. Time for the response should be planned accordingly, rather than on the assumption that it will be brief.
  2. ‘Major revision’ should be regarded as a normal path toward acceptance rather than a reason to abandon the manuscript. Many manuscripts in this category are subsequently accepted.
  3. When next steps are decided, the probable fit or scope basis of a desk rejection should be distinguished from the probable methodological basis of a post-review rejection. This distinction determines whether the appropriate response is to select a different journal or to revise the work substantively.

Frequently asked questions

Yes — some journals use additional or combined categories; this reference covers the four most common, but the exact wording and requirements of the specific letter should always be read.

Not necessarily — it can mean new analysis of existing data, additional literature engagement, or other substantive but not data-collection-requiring changes, depending on what reviewers specifically requested.

Wording and specific criteria are set by individual publishers and journals rather than a single universal standard; the specific journal’s own guidance should be checked.

References

  1. Wiley Author Services. Peer review process and timeline. read 10 October 2026. View Wiley Author Services guidance

Every source above is a peer-reviewed article, a publisher’s record of one, or a standard issued by the body that owns it. Each carries the date it was last read. Where a standard moves, this article is revised rather than left up with a note.

How to cite this article

Pick your referencing style and copy it. Your university or target journal may vary the punctuation — check its guide if it has one.

Pubrica Academy. (2026, October 10). The Peer Review Decision Tree: The Meaning and Common Misinterpretations of Each Decision. Pubrica. https://pubrica.com/academy/infographics/peer-review-decision-tree-info/

This article is written to be learned from. Cite it if you are referring to what it says; if you are using the evidence behind it, cite the sources listed above instead.

Decision-letter quick reference

Any decision letter may be read against this reference.

Accept: approved, pending only copyediting/production
Minor revision: likely accept after bounded changes, no guarantee of a light workload
Major revision: substantive changes needed, standard path, not a near-rejection
Reject (post-review): unresolved concerns for this journal, not necessarily a verdict on the research
Desk rejection: scope/fit decision before review, says little about research quality

Pubrica AcademyWritten and maintained by Pubrica’s subject matter experts. Articles are revised when the underlying standards change, and each article states the date on which it was last reviewed.

How Pubrica can help

Pubrica assists authors in interpreting decision letters accurately and in planning the appropriate next step, whether revision or submission to a different journal, according to what the specific decision type indicates.

Submit an enquiry Request assistance in interpreting a decision letter

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