About The Criterion: An International Journal in English
Years of Continuous Publication
Reviewers Per Article
Issues Annually
Day Review Turnaround
Our Mission
The Criterion: An International Journal in English is a peer-reviewed international e-journal dedicated to advancing scholarly discourse in English studies, literary criticism, cultural studies, linguistics, and allied disciplines. Since our founding in 2010, we have maintained an unwavering commitment to publishing rigorous, original research that contributes meaningfully to the global conversation in the humanities.
We believe that quality scholarship should be accessible to researchers worldwide. Through our open-access model, we support the free exchange of knowledge and ensure that financial barriers never prevent brilliant ideas from reaching their audience.
What We Publish
The Criterion welcomes diverse scholarly contributions across English studies:
Research Articles
Theoretical and empirical scholarship exploring English literature (all periods and genres), world and comparative literature, Indian writing in English, postcolonial studies, literary theory, linguistics, English language teaching (ELT), digital humanities, and interdisciplinary approaches that illuminate questions in English studies.
Literary Contributions
- Poetry: Original and translated works
- Short Fiction: Up to 10,000 words
- Book Reviews: Critical assessments
- Author Interviews: In-depth conversations
Over the past 15 years, we have had the privilege of publishing interviews with distinguished authors including Anita Nair, Kavery Nambisan, Chitra Banerjee-Divakaruni, Mahesh Dattani, Manohar Shetty, K. Satchidanandan, and Abhishek Majumdar, among others.
Our Commitment to Quality
Rigorous Peer Review
Every research article submitted to The Criterion undergoes a thorough double-blind peer review process involving three independent reviewers. This ensures that published work meets the highest standards of originality, scholarly rigor, and contribution to the field. Authors typically receive decisions within 15–20 days following the submission deadline.
Editorial Independence
All editorial decisions are made independently by our Editorial Board based solely on academic merit, originality, relevance, and adherence to ethical standards. The publisher does not interfere with editorial judgment.
Publication Ethics
We uphold the highest standards of research integrity. All submissions undergo plagiarism screening, and authors are required to disclose any use of AI-assisted tools. We maintain transparency in our review processes and handle conflicts of interest with care. Full details are available in our Publication Ethics statement.
Open Access & Discoverability
Free for Readers, Accessible Worldwide
The Criterion operates on the Budapest Open Access Initiative model, providing free, unrestricted access to all published content. Readers may download, share, and cite our articles without paywalls or registration barriers. All research is published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, ensuring authors retain copyright while maximizing the reach of their work.
Indexed & Recognized
The Criterion is indexed/abstracted in leading international directories, including:
- MLA International Directory
- Google Scholar
- IndexCopernicus International
- Indian Citation Index (ICI)
- Library of Congress
- WorldCat
…and 20+ additional databases. View complete list
Supporting Scholars Globally
Affordable Article Processing Charges
We recognize that many researchers face funding constraints. Our transparent, equitable APC structure ensures that quality peer review, and long-term hosting remain accessible:
Indian Authors
Research Articles (Single): ₹1,500
Each Additional Author: +₹500
Poetry/Fiction/Reviews: ₹500
International Authors
Research Articles (Single): $50
Each Additional Author: +$25
Poetry/Fiction/Reviews: $10
Charges are requested only after acceptance following peer review. We never ask for payment upfront.
Responsive Publishing Schedule
We publish six issues annually (February, April, June, August, October, December) with consistent deadlines and rapid turnaround. View our complete submission guidelines and schedule.
Our Publisher
The Criterion is published by the Research Centre for English Language and Literature (RCELL), an independent academic publishing and research initiative established in 2012. RCELL is dedicated to advancing scholarship in English language, literature, and allied disciplines through ethical publishing practices, editorial independence, and long-term preservation of the scholarly record.
RCELL Contact:
📧 journals@rcell.co.in | 🌐 https://rcell.co.in
Learn more about RCELL’s commitment to Publication Ethics and Editorial Responsibility and Publication and DOI Policy.
Fifteen Years of Continuous Scholarly Publishing
Since 2010, The Criterion has served as a vital platform for scholarly exchange, publishing hundreds of research articles, creative works, and critical interventions. Our longevity reflects our editorial board’s dedication, our authors’ trust, and our reviewers’ generous expertise.
We are proud to have fostered a global community of scholars—from early-career researchers publishing their first peer-reviewed articles to established academics sharing groundbreaking work. Every submission receives thoughtful consideration, and every accepted piece contributes to the ongoing conversation in English studies.
Join Our Community
Whether you are seeking a venue for your research, looking for quality scholarship to inform your work, or interested in joining our reviewer network, we welcome your engagement.
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in articles and other content appearing in The Criterion are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or publisher. Authors submitting work for publication are responsible for obtaining necessary permissions for copyrighted material used in their articles. The Criterion and RCELL are not liable for any copyright infringement in published content.
The Criterion is indexed, abstracted, cataloged, or included in the following academic databases and library systems:
Major Indexes
- MLA International Directory
- Google Scholar
- IndexCopernicus International
- Indian Citation Index (ICI)
- Library of Congress
- WorldCat
International Recognition
- Directory of Open Access Scholarly Resources (ROAD)
- ResearchGate
- SPARC Europe
- Virtual Science Library
University & Library Collections
- Georgetown University
- University of Oxford
- University of Washington
- University of Hong Kong
- Saint-Petersburg State University
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Colorado State University
- University of South Australia
- National Library of Sweden
- BIBSYS (Norway)
- Vrije Universiteit (Brussels)
- Wells College, USA
- Western Theological Seminary
- University of Saskatchewan
- Emily Carr University of Art and Design
Specialized Directories
- Duotrope’s Digest
- Every Writer’s Resource
- The Knowledge Network
- ChaoYang University of Technology (Taiwan)
- Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology
- Kaohsiung Medical University
- Science Center Berlin for Social Research
- Manual Library
- eBooks Center, UK
Last Updated: February 5, 2026