A corresponding author is one of several authors who collaborated on a paper or report that has been submitted for review and publication to a journal or periodical. This is a common phrase in professional journals, particularly those in prestigious fields like psychology and medicine. When a group of researchers and authors collaborate on a paper, as is common in these fields, one of them is usually chosen to submit the paper to a journal or other publication. The corresponding author is the group member who is in charge of all communication and correspondence with the periodical they are contacting.
A corresponding author, also known as a “coauthor designee,” is not necessarily more important than any of the other authors of a paper, but simply takes on additional responsibilities when it comes to publishing that paper. If only one author worked on a project, that author is automatically designated as the corresponding author for any findings that he or she wishes to publish. This title is useful for projects or papers that are the result of a lot of effort from multiple authors who all want their work to be reviewed and published.
When a group of people wants to publish an article or a paper together, the members choose one of them to be the corresponding author. The term “corresponding” here refers to the person who is in charge of all correspondence and communication between the group of authors and the periodical. He or she is usually the one who submits the paper to the journal or magazine directly, often only providing his or her own contact information and not the names of the other authors. The corresponding author is the only person with whom the publication has direct communication once this contact is established.
Multiple authors can’t slow down the review and publication process using a corresponding author. Any questions or comments the publication may have about the submitted work can be directed to one author, who can then confer with the other authors and provide a unified, authoritative response. Any drafts and changes sent the publisher are usually reviewed the corresponding author. This is why choosing an author to act as a group’s voice is critical, because any errors or incorrect changes that make it to print are the author’s responsibility.