Is it necessary to provide the suggestions of peer reviewers when submitting a manuscript?

No, authors are generally not required to submit peer reviewer suggestions alongside their manuscript submission. Journals often prefer, or only accept, suggestions made through their formal submission system or specified channels if invited. Providing unsolicited reviewer suggestions within the manuscript file itself is typically unnecessary and discouraged. Reviewer nominations are usually managed separately via the journal's online portal during submission, or handled via direct communication if explicitly requested by the journal office. Confidentiality concerns also exist, as including suggestions in the manuscript file potentially exposes confidential editorial processes. Authors should instead consult the specific journal's author guidelines for their preferred procedure regarding reviewer recommendations. If a journal explicitly requests potential reviewer nominations, authors should provide them separately as requested, often including the reviewers' names, expertise, institutional affiliations, and contact details. Submitting reviewer comments as part of a formal response letter only occurs during the revision stage, upon the journal's explicit invitation after initial peer review has taken place. This ensures proper process flow and confidentiality.