<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

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    <periodOfReport>2007-06-26</periodOfReport>

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    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000107140</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WILEY JOHN &amp; SONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JWA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

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            <rptOwnerCik>0001202803</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KLINE CLIFFORD H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O JOHN WILEY &amp; SONS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>111 RIVER STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOBOKEN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07030</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
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            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Customer/Product Support</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            </transactionTimeliness>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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    </nonDerivativeTable>

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            </transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            </transactionDate>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            </transactionAmounts>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Josephine Bacchi Attorney in Fact for Clifford H. Kline</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-06-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-06-26
0
0000107140
WILEY JOHN & SONS INC
JWA
0001202803
KLINE CLIFFORD H
C/O JOHN WILEY & SONS INC
111 RIVER STREET
HOBOKEN
NJ
07030
0
1
0
0
SVP, Customer/Product Support
Class A Common
2007-06-26
4
M
0
2000
23.5625
A
3584
D
Class A Common
2007-06-26
4
M
0
5000
23.4
A
8584
D
Class A Common
2007-06-26
4
M
0
4000
24.95
A
12584
D
Class A Common
2007-06-26
4
S
0
11000
47.141
D
1584
D
Non Qualified Option Right to Buy
23.5625
2007-06-26
4
M
0
2000
23.5625
D
2004-06-22
2010-06-21
Class A Common
2000
2000
D
Non Qualified Option Right to Buy
23.4
2007-06-26
4
M
0
5000
23.4
D
2005-06-21
2011-06-20
Class A Common
5000
0
D
Non Qualified Option Right to Buy
24.95
2007-06-26
4
M
0
4000
24.95
D
2006-06-20
2012-06-19
Class A Common
4000
2000
D
Josephine Bacchi Attorney in Fact for Clifford H. Kline
2007-06-27