We request that all journal editors make every effort to follow the ethical guidelines outlined for the Journal of Language & Education in handling articles worthy of peer review:

(1) Journal editors are responsible for everything published in their journals. This includes addressing the needs of both readers and authors, continuously improving the journal, ensuring the quality of published material, supporting freedom of expression, maintaining the integrity of the academic record, and preventing business interests from compromising intellectual and ethical standards. Editors must also be willing to issue corrections, clarifications, retractions, or apologies when necessary.

(2) Journal editors must evaluate each submitted manuscript impartially, judging it solely on its merits, without bias toward the author(s) based on race, religion, nationality, gender, seniority, or institutional affiliation.

(3) The decision to accept or reject a paper should be based on its significance, originality, clarity, the validity of the study, and its relevance to the journal’s scope. Editors should not reverse acceptance decisions unless serious issues are identified.

(4) Editors must ensure that all published research and reviews have been properly evaluated by qualified reviewers, including statistical reviews when needed, and clearly distinguish non-peer-reviewed sections in the journal.

(5) The peer-review process must remain confidential. Neither the editor nor the editorial staff should share any information about a submitted manuscript with anyone other than those directly involved in the review and publication process, such as the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, editorial advisers, and the publisher.

(6) If an editor receives a claim that a submitted article is under review elsewhere or has already been published, they must investigate the matter with the JLE Editorial Board.

(7) When ethical concerns are raised regarding a submitted or published paper, the editor should take appropriate action, which typically involves contacting the author and carefully considering the complaint or claim.

(8) Editors have the right to reject a manuscript without formal peer review if it is deemed inappropriate for the journal or outside its scope.

(9) Editors should make every effort to process submitted manuscripts efficiently and in a timely manner.

(10) If an original research article authored by a journal editor is submitted, the peer review responsibility should be delegated to a member of the JLE Editorial Board as appropriate.

(11) If convincing evidence is presented that the main substance or conclusions of a published article are incorrect, the editor, in consultation with the JLE Editorial Board, should facilitate the publication of a corrigendum or erratum.

(12) Editors must avoid handling manuscripts where they have conflicts of interest, such as competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with any authors, companies, or institutions related to the paper. In such cases, they should delegate the review process to another member of the editorial board.

(13) Any data or analysis from a submitted manuscript should not be used in the editor's own research without the author’s consent. Confidential information or ideas obtained through peer review must be kept private and not exploited for personal gain.

(14) Editors should be vigilant about intellectual property issues and work with the publisher to address any potential breaches of intellectual property laws and conventions.

(5) Decisions on which articles to publish should be based solely on quality and relevance to the journal, free from any influence by the journal owner or publisher.