{"id":444,"date":"2026-07-07T12:24:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T12:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scopusjournalpublications.com\/blogs\/?p=444"},"modified":"2026-07-07T12:24:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T12:24:46","slug":"corresponding-author-vs-first-author","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scopusjournalpublications.com\/blogs\/corresponding-author-vs-first-author\/","title":{"rendered":"Corresponding Author Vs. First Author in Research Publishing\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first author is an early-career researcher in academic publishing. He is the one who conducts the experiments and writes the initial draft. On the other side of the coin, the corresponding author is usually the senior professor or lab director who funds the project and supervises the work. Also, he sometimes manages various administrative communications with the journal.<\/p>\n

The difference between a corresponding author vs first author is not a small detail. It determines who gets academic credit, who manages journal submission, and who stays accountable for the research long after publication.<\/p>\n

This guide covers corresponding author responsibilities, first author responsibilities, real examples, and a full comparison. For expert help, Journal Publication Services supports researchers from manuscript preparation through to acceptance.<\/p>\n

What is the Corresponding Author vs First Author<\/h2>\n

Who is the First Author?<\/h3>\n

To know exactly the details about corresponding author vs first author, you must first start looking at the very beginning of the credit line. To get the answer to \u201cwho is first author?\u201d, this line will provide you with the exact information. Order\/position of authors in this line carries the most visible academic credit; it is the name people see first in every citation, every reference list, and every academic profile.<\/p>\n

First authorship is not simply a reward for being the most senior member of the team. It is a reflection of intellectual and practical contribution to the research itself.<\/p>\n

Moreover, first-author papers also appear most prominently when your name is searched in citation databases like Scopus and Web of Science. Besides, it also amplifies your academic visibility significantly.<\/p>\n

Who is a Corresponding Author?<\/h3>\n

Wondering who is a corresponding author? The corresponding author is the team member designated to handle all official communication related to the manuscript, from the moment it is submitted to a journal until long after it is published. The asterisk (*) you see next to an author’s name in a published paper almost always marks the corresponding author.<\/p>\n

Their contact details appear on the published article itself, meaning they remain the permanent public point of contact for that research, sometimes for years or even decades after publication.<\/p>\n

The role of corresponding author does not end at acceptance. It is a long-term task or responsibility that particularly requires someone reachable, reliable, and committed to the research.<\/p>\n

Difference Between First Author and Corresponding Author<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Feature<\/strong><\/td>\nFirst Author<\/strong><\/td>\nCorresponding Author<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Primary Role<\/td>\nLeads the practical research and writes the initial manuscript draft.<\/td>\nManages all journal communication and oversees the submission process.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Listed Position<\/td>\nPlaced first in the author byline.<\/td>\nCan be placed anywhere in the byline, marked with an asterisk (*).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Writes Manuscript<\/td>\nYes, primarily responsible for the bulk of the writing.<\/td>\nNot necessarily, though they heavily review and edit it.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Communicates with Journal<\/td>\nNot directly involved in official journal logistics.<\/td>\nYes, they serve as the exclusive point of contact.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Handles Reviewer Comments<\/td>\nContributes content and data for the response.<\/td>\nCoordinates, finalizes, and submits the full response packet.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Receives Correspondence<\/td>\nNo.<\/td>\nYes, handles galley proofs and post-publication queries.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Primary Academic Credit<\/td>\nYes, universally recognized in most disciplines.<\/td>\nShared\/Varies: highly valued as a sign of seniority\/funding in many fields.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Long-Term Public Contact<\/td>\nNot required.<\/td>\nYes, their institutional email is permanently published on the paper.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Can Be the Same Person?<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Can the First Author and Corresponding Author Be the Same Person?<\/h2>\n

If we talk about the first author vs. corresponding author, in many research scenarios, especially single-researcher projects and early-career publications, they are the same person.<\/p>\n

When a PhD student designs and executes an entire study independently, writes the manuscript, and manages the submission process themselves, it is entirely appropriate for them to hold both designations simultaneously. Many journals explicitly support this and simply require the submission system to list one name in the corresponding author field.<\/p>\n

When they are different people, it is typically because a senior researcher, a supervisor, a department head, or a principal investigator takes on the corresponding role to manage journal relationships and institutional communication, while the first author focuses on delivering the intellectual content of the manuscript.<\/p>\n

There is no universal rule. What matters is that both roles are performed competently and that the designated corresponding author is genuinely reachable throughout the publication lifecycle.<\/p>\n

How is Author Order Decided in Research Papers?<\/h2>\n

Author order in research paper decisions are among the most sensitive conversations in academic collaboration, and the ones most likely to cause tension if left until the last minute.<\/p>\n

The most widely used approach is contribution-based ordering, where authors are listed in descending order of their intellectual and practical contribution to the study. The researcher who did the most work goes first; the researcher who contributed least goes last.<\/p>\n

Several other factors are there that influence research paper author sequence when applying practically:<\/p>\n