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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001174453</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCKINNELL HENRY A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>PHANTOM STOCK UNITS</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>35.1</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>627</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>CLASS A COMMON</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>627</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10855.91</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The phantom stock units were accrued under the John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and will be settled 100% in John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc. Class A Common Stock upon the reporting person's retirement from the Board.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>JOSEPHIEN BACCHI ATTORNEY IN FACT FOR HENRY A. McKINNELL</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-03-10
0
0000107140
WILEY JOHN & SONS INC
JWA
0001174453
MCKINNELL HENRY A
1
0
0
0
PHANTOM STOCK UNITS
35.1
2005-03-10
4
A
0
627
35.1
A
CLASS A COMMON
627
10855.91
D
The phantom stock units were accrued under the John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and will be settled 100% in John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Class A Common Stock upon the reporting person's retirement from the Board.
JOSEPHIEN BACCHI ATTORNEY IN FACT FOR HENRY A. McKINNELL
2005-03-11