- General Policy
- What kinds of corrections can be made at the proof stage?
- Who should I contact for proof-related issues?
- When will I receive my proof?
- Who receives the proof?
- Can the corresponding author share the proof link with other authors?
- Can proof link be sent to other non-corresponding authors?
- I forgot to include a correction after submitting proof.
- How can I know if my proof corrections have been received?
- Will I receive the proofed version of my article before publication?
- What if I miss the proof deadline?
- Is the proof link protected by a login?
- Is Springer Nature account required to access the proof link?
- The proof link does not work.
- What happens after proof corrections are submitted?
- How long after proof correction will the article be published?
- Will I receive the proofed article version before publication?
- Do all articles need to be proofed before publication?
- If an article has been removed from the production process, will the proof link still be accessible?
- Proofing Platforms FAQ
- User Guide for Eproofing platform:
- User Guide for Proof Editor platform:
- Can I save corrections and come back later?
- Does the proof link expire?
- Can multiple authors edit the proof at the same time?
- Can I make changes if I am not sure whether they are allowed at the proof stage?
- What should I do if the proof is displayed in Chinese or another language?
General Policy
What kinds of corrections can be made at the proof stage?
General principle:
At the proof stage, authors are generally allowed to make minor corrections that do not change the scientific content or findings of the accepted article. These typically include:
1) Typographical and formatting corrections
Spelling, capitalisation, punctuation, and formatting errors.(Formatting may also depend on Springer Nature or the journal's specific guidelines.)
2) Production-related corrections
Errors introduced during typesetting or production.
3) Figure replacements
Replacing an existing figure with a higher-resolution (or colour/black and white) version.
Supplying a figure in response to an Author Query (AQ).
4) Minor title corrections
Correcting spelling or capitalisation.
Adding or removing articles (e.g. a, an, the) where the title remains fundamentally unchanged.
Changes that are generally not permitted:
The following changes are generally not permitted at the proof stage:
- Adding new figures that were not included in the accepted manuscript.
- Changes to the author group (e.g. adding or removing authors, changing author names, or changing the author order). Correcting spelling of author names is permitted (eg Thomson -> Thompson)
- Substantial changes to the article title that alter its meaning (e.g. adding or removing adjectives or adverbs).
- Any other substantial changes that may alter the scientific content or conclusions of the accepted article.
Who should I contact for proof-related issues?
Please contact the Production Editor regarding any proof-related issues. Even for technical questions, authors should contact the Production Editor.
When will I receive my proof?
Proofs are normally sent to the corresponding author after typesetting has been completed. In most cases, this takes approximately two weeks, although timing may vary.
Who receives the proof?
The corresponding author. There is no manual selection of specific proof recipient involved in peer review stage.
Can the corresponding author share the proof link with other authors?
Yes. The Corresponding Author can share the link with co-authors who need to review or correct.
Can proof link be sent to other non-corresponding authors?
- If you are not the corresponding author, please obtain the proof link from the corresponding author as the Corresponding Author is the default proof recipient and can share the proof link.
- If you are the Corresponding Author and cannot receive the proof link email, or requests that the proof link be resent or sent to a different email address or recipient, please contact the Production Editor for assistance.
I forgot to include a correction after submitting proof.
Please contact the Production Editor as soon as possible.
How can I know if my proof corrections have been received?
A confirmation email will be sent to the corresponding author once the proof corrections have been submitted. If you would like to confirm whether a specific correction has been submitted successfully, please contact the Production Editor.
Will I receive the proofed version of my article before publication?
No. If you need the proofed version for checking, please contact production editor.
What if I miss the proof deadline?
"Please submit your corrections within 2 working days", this is the proof deadline indicated in the proof link email. However, late submission may still be possible. If you miss it, please complete the proof as soon as possible.
Is the proof link protected by a login?
No. The proof link is not protected by a login. Anyone who has access to the link can open and edit the proof.
Is Springer Nature account required to access the proof link?
No. A Springer Nature account or login is not required.
The proof link does not work.
Please contact the Production Editor.
What happens after proof corrections are submitted?
After proof corrections are submitted, the proofing platform will automatically send a confirmation notification to the corresponding author. The corrections are then reviewed and processed by the Production team. The article will subsequently proceed through the remaining production workflow toward publication.
How long after proof correction will the article be published?
Publication timelines vary between journals and production workflows. If you would like further information about the expected publication date or publication schedule, please contact the Production Editor, who may be able to provide the most up-to-date information available. However, please note that even the Production Editor cannot provide an exact publication date.
Will I receive the proofed article version before publication?
No. Please review and correct the article carefully during the proof stage. The proofed version will not be sent back to author for final confirmation prior to publication.
Do all articles need to be proofed before publication?
Yes, though certain journals have different ways of proofing.
If an article has been removed from the production process, will the proof link still be accessible?
Usually not. If an article is removed from production, the proof link is typically deactivated and is no longer accessible.
Proofing Platforms FAQ
User Guide for Eproofing platform:
The author can see the guide by clicking the question mark when using the eproofing platform.
User Guide for Proof Editor platform:
Can I save corrections and come back later?
Yes. Please remember to use the 'Save' icon to save all changes to the article during correction.
Does the proof link expire?
Proof link expires after the article is published. Until then it’s active in view only mode after submitting.
Can multiple authors edit the proof at the same time?
The authors can share the link with other authors, but at a time only one author can have the link open and edit it. Simultaneous editing is not allowed.
Can I make changes if I am not sure whether they are allowed at the proof stage?
The proofing platforms may technically allow authors to submit such changes. However, all requested changes are subject to review. If a requested change is not permitted at the proof stage, the Production Editor may contact the corresponding author to discuss the request.
What should I do if the proof is displayed in Chinese or another language?
If this happens, please disable any browser translation plug-ins and use an incognito/private browsing window to access the proofing platform. If the issue persists, please contact the Production Editor (PE) for assistance. Opening the proof in an incognito or private browsing window may prevent browser extensions, cached data, or saved settings from affecting how the content is displayed.