Which author is normally responsible for sharing reprints of a publication with readers?
The corresponding author is normally responsible for sharing reprints. This author manages manuscript submission, editorial and peer-review correspondence, and post-publication requests, including sending reprints or PDFs to readers who ask for a copy of the article.
The answer
The corresponding author is normally responsible for sharing reprints of a publication with readers. This is the author designated as the primary point of contact for the manuscript — before, during, and after publication. Their contact details (usually an email address and often a mailing address) are printed with the article precisely so that editors, other researchers, and the public know where to send inquiries and reprint requests.
Historically, when journals mailed physical "reprints" (professionally printed copies of an article), a reader would write to the corresponding author, who kept a supply and mailed one out. Today the request is almost always for an electronic copy or PDF, but the responsibility hasn't moved: the corresponding author fields those requests and shares the article, subject to the publisher's copyright terms.
Why the other options are wrong
Exam versions of this question typically offer first author, senior/last author, and co-author as distractors. They describe real roles, but none is the default contact for reprints:
- First author — usually the person who did the most hands-on work and drafted the manuscript. Prominent, but not automatically the correspondent. The first author can also serve as corresponding author, but the two roles are distinct.
- Senior (last) author — typically the lab head or principal investigator who supervised the work and secured funding. They provide intellectual leadership, yet routine reprint requests are not their designated job unless they are also the corresponding author.
- Any co-author — co-authors share accountability for the content, but readers are directed to one named contact, not the whole author list, to avoid confusion.
The bigger picture
Think of authorship as a set of overlapping responsibilities rather than a single ranking:
- The first author earns the top byline for the largest contribution and writing.
- The senior author anchors the end of the list as the supervising/guarantor figure.
- The corresponding author is an administrative and communication role: submitting the paper, signing copyright and ethics forms, handling reviewer correspondence, managing revisions, coordinating co-author approvals, and answering post-publication questions — including reprint sharing.
One person can hold more than one of these roles, and a paper may occasionally list more than one corresponding author (co-corresponding), for example on large multi-institution collaborations. But when a question asks who "normally" shares reprints, the answer is the role built for reader communication: the corresponding author.
| Corresponding author | Marked with an asterisk/envelope symbol | Submission, correspondence, post-publication contact | Yes — normally |
| First author | Listed first | Did most of the work; wrote the draft | Only if also corresponding |
| Senior author | Usually listed last | Supervised the study; PI/guarantor | Only if also corresponding |
| Co-author | Middle of the list | Contributed to specific parts of the work | No |
Frequently asked
What is a corresponding author?
The corresponding author is the author designated as the manuscript's primary contact. They submit the paper, communicate with editors and reviewers, handle revisions and copyright forms, coordinate co-author approvals, and answer post-publication inquiries such as reprint requests. Their contact details are published with the article.
What is the difference between the first author and the corresponding author?
The first author typically performed the most hands-on work and wrote the initial draft, earning the top byline. The corresponding author handles communication and administration for the paper. The same person can hold both roles, but they are conceptually separate.
What is a reprint of a publication?
A reprint is a copy of a published article shared with readers who request it — traditionally a professionally printed paper copy, now almost always an electronic PDF. Readers request reprints to read work behind a paywall or to build a reference collection.
What are the responsibilities of the corresponding author?
They submit the manuscript, serve as the editorial point of contact, manage peer-review correspondence and revisions, sign copyright and ethics declarations, ensure all co-authors approve the final version, and respond to post-publication questions and reprint requests from readers.
Can there be more than one corresponding author?
Yes. Many journals allow co-corresponding authors, which is common on large or multi-institution collaborations where two senior contributors share responsibility for communication. Each is listed with their own contact details, and either may field reader inquiries and reprint requests.