Tips for Addressing Peer Reviewer Critiques as an Author [Recommended Actions and Pitfalls to Avoid]
Responding to Peer-Review Comments: Strategies for Academic Authors
Thousands of academics worldwide receive peer-review comments on their research manuscripts, and these feedbacks are essential in refining and improving the quality of their work. Follow these practical guidelines for a professional and effective response.
Rewarding Yourself for a Job Well Done
After making it through the initial round of peer-review, you'll likely face a multitude of comments. Congratulate yourself for reaching this stage, for your hard work is about to bear fruit. Take this moment to catch your breath before diving into the critique.
Adopting a Constructive Approach
Begin by assuming that the reviewers have your best interest in mind, and their comments serve to enhance the rigor and quality of your research. Embrace the process with a positive attitude, and remember that crafting a thoughtful response can significantly impact the success of your manuscript.
Making Sense of the Critique
Allow time to process the reviewers' comments. Read through the entire document, and take a step back to digest the feedback before diving into specific responses. After some time, review the comments again, discuss them with your co-authors, and formulate your replies.
Building Momentum
Allow yourself to build momentum by focusing on simple comments initially. This will help youImprove focus and prioritize your responses.
Organizing Your Thoughts
When the comments are complex or pertain to multiple aspects of your manuscript, break each down into smaller, manageable points. Discuss the respective points with your co-authors, and reach a consensus on the most appropriate way to respond. Keep track of concerned areas, such as sections that have received numerous comments, so you can focus on these areas first.
Seeking Expert Opinions
Reach out to experts and peers in your field for additional insights when interpreting peer-review comments. Their advice can help clarify reviewer intentions and provide you with the necessary guidance to build an effective response.
Communicating Professionally
Respond to each comment politely, keeping in mind that the reviewers are offering their time and expertise to improve your work. Clearly state your intentions and any disagreements, supporting your points with relevant literature and additional data, if necessary.Whether you agree or disagree with the comments, always respond to them.
Acknowledging Revisions
If the comments require additional references, include them, as reviewers may suggest references that are more recent, relevant, or helpful to the overall research. Include supplementary data if the primary data is insufficient to support your hypothesis or study design.
Highlighting Changes
Clearly indicate what has been changed in the manuscript in response to the reviewer's comments. You can do this by underlining or submitting separate files (edited and unedited). Highlight the page and line numbers where changes have been made for easier reference.
Revising and Proofreading
Revise your response, focusing on clarity and professionalism before submission. Double-check the document for grammatical, linguistic, and conceptual errors. Review the manuscript modifications for accuracy, and ensure they are appropriately highlighted in the appropriate places.
Conclusion
Navigating peer-review comments can seem daunting, especially for new authors. However, with a constructive attitude, an organized approach, and professional communication, you can successfully respond to peer-review comments and increase the likelihood of manuscript acceptance.
- After the initial review and receiving comments, take advantage of academic writing support to ensure submission readiness.
- To improve the quality of academic translation in your manuscript, consider language editing services to polish your work.
- As part of your education-and-self-development, engage in online-education courses on academic writing and learning strategies for responding to peer-review comments.
- Upon completing your responses, submit your journal manuscript with the academic writing revisions, and aim for language that demonstrates journal submission readiness.
