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The Corresponding Author's Responsibilities

DE By Directive Editorial Team, Directive Publications ·6 Aug 2026 ·6 min read
The Corresponding Author's Responsibilities

On most papers, one author is marked with an asterisk and an email address: the corresponding author. It is easy to treat this as a formality handed to the senior person, but it is a genuine responsibility. The corresponding author is the journal's single point of contact and, in practice, the person who keeps the paper honest and moving. Take it on knowingly.

Who should take the role

The corresponding author does not have to be the most senior person — it should be whoever can reliably manage communication from submission through review and beyond. That means someone who will still be reachable after the paper publishes, and who has the standing to coordinate the co-authors. A shared or institutional email helps if a personal address may change.

Before submission

Your job starts before the manuscript goes anywhere:

  • Confirm that every named author qualifies for authorship and that no one who qualifies has been left off (see our guide on authorship and CRediT).
  • Ensure all co-authors have seen and approved the final version.
  • Check that affiliations, funding, and conflicts of interest are correct and complete.
  • Confirm any required ethics approvals and consent are in place and stated.

During review

You are the relay between the journal and your team. That means acknowledging correspondence promptly, coordinating a single, coherent response to reviewers rather than a patchwork of separate replies, and making sure revisions are agreed by the co-authors before you send them. If a co-author disagrees with a change, that is yours to resolve before the paper goes back.

After publication

The role does not end at acceptance. As the listed contact, you will field questions from readers, handle requests for data or materials, and — if an error comes to light — coordinate a correction or, in serious cases, a retraction. Handling that openly and quickly protects both the record and your co-authors' reputations.

In short: the corresponding author is accountable for the integrity of the submission and reachable for the life of the paper. If you cannot commit to both, it is fairer to everyone to pass the role to someone who can.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the corresponding author have to be the most senior author?
No. It should be whoever can reliably manage communication with the journal and co-authors through submission, review and after publication — often, but not always, the lead or senior author.
Am I responsible for my co-authors' contributions?
You are responsible for ensuring all named authors qualify for authorship, have approved the final version, and that the work is honestly reported. You cannot vouch for every technical detail, but you coordinate accountability for the whole.
What happens after the paper is published?
The corresponding author remains the contact point: fielding reader questions, handling data requests, and coordinating any correction or retraction. The role does not end at publication.
DE
Directive Editorial Team
Directive Publications

The editorial team at Directive Publications — an international open-access publisher of peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals.

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