Editorial Ethics Policy

1. Commitment to Academic Integrity

WORD: Journal of Language, Literature & Thought upholds the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and fairness in all aspects of its editorial and publication process. The journal adheres to the principles set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and promotes ethical conduct among editors, reviewers, and authors.

2. Editorial Independence

All editorial decisions are made independently of institutional, financial, or personal influences. The Editor-in-Chief and editorial team are committed to ensuring that every submission is evaluated solely on its academic merit, originality, and contribution to the field of language, literature, and thought.

3. Conflict of Interest

To maintain transparency and trust in the peer-review process, the following guidelines apply:

• Editor-Authored Submissions:

When a manuscript is authored or co-authored by the Editor-in-Chief or any member of the editorial board, that individual is excluded from all editorial decisions related to their submission. Such manuscripts are assigned to an independent editor or guest editor who oversees the peer-review and decision-making process.

• Reviewer Conflicts:

Reviewers are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest (personal, academic, or financial) that may influence their evaluation. Reviewers with conflicts will be recused and replaced.

4. Peer Review Process

All submissions undergo double-blind peer review, ensuring that neither authors nor reviewers are aware of each other’s identities. Editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly quality, methodological soundness, and relevance to the journal’s aims and scope.

5. Transparency Statement

When a published article involves a member of the editorial team, a disclosure statement will be included in the publication, such as:

“This article was handled by an independent/guest editor to ensure an unbiased peer-review process.”

6. Ethical Oversight

The journal maintains an active commitment to publication ethics and will take appropriate action in cases of suspected misconduct, including plagiarism, data manipulation, or breach of review confidentiality.

7. Contact

For queries regarding this policy, please contact: 

Editorial Office

WORD: Journal of Language, Literature & Thought

Email: wordjournalofllt@gmail.com