To address reviewer comments, reply point-by-point with evidence, note exact edits by section or line, and keep a respectful, solution-oriented tone.
Peer review can feel personal, yet it’s a craft. Editors look for calm replies, clean fixes, and clear reasoning. A sharp response letter often decides whether a rewrite moves to acceptance or goes back for another round. This guide gives you a practical playbook you can apply today—no drama, just steady progress.
What Editors Expect From A Response
Across journals, the recipe is consistent: acknowledge every point, show the change, and explain your thinking. Editors value concise replies that remove guesswork for the next read. A brief response beats a wall of text that hides the action.
Use this quick map to decode common comment types and decide your move.
| Comment Type | What It Usually Signals | Your Move |
|---|---|---|
| Minor wording or clarity | Reviewer wants smoother phrasing or a shorter path to the point. | Revise the sentence; quote the old and new lines; point to the page or line. |
| Missing citation or context | Background feels thin or a claim looks unsupported. | Add a source or rephrase the claim; list the exact reference you inserted. |
| Method detail | Steps, parameters, or materials aren’t fully described. | Add specifics to Methods or Supplement; show where the new text lives. |
| Stats or analysis | Model choice, tests, or reporting need work. | Re-run or justify; show outputs, CIs, and any preregistered plan if relevant. |
| Results interpretation | Overreach or ambiguity in the take-home. | Tone down claims or add limits; tie wording to the actual data. |
| New experiment request | Extra data might lift the paper. | Run it if feasible; if not, offer an analysis, subset check, or a limit note. |
| Formatting or policy | Journal style, data sharing, or ethics points. | Follow the rule and confirm compliance; link to a repository if required. |
Address Reviewer Comments With A Point-By-Point Plan
Start by pasting every remark into a tracker. Group similar points so you can fix them once in the paper and reference that fix across replies. Number each item in your letter to match the original list, keeping reviewer labels intact. Where two reviewers raise the same thing, say so up front in that item; editors like seeing alignment.
Build momentum with easy wins first. Then work through thorny items while the full set stays fresh. When a change touches many sections, write once and paste the updated passage into the most relevant reply. Always add the exact location of each edit—page, section, paragraph, figure, or line range.
Write A Clear Response Letter
Your letter stands beside the manuscript. Treat it as a polished document with headings, white space, and unambiguous labels.
Open With A Short Cover Note
Thank the editor and reviewers, state the main upgrades in one tight paragraph, and list any added data or files. PLOS suggests a compact cover note that flags major changes and clarifies tricky points, which you can read in their guidance on responding to peer review (PLOS advice).
Use A Tidy Layout
Quote each comment in italics, then write “Response:” on the next line. If you changed text, paste the exact new wording in quotation marks and point to its location. If you moved or removed material, say so plainly. Provide line numbers if the journal requests them, and keep reviewer numbering unchanged.
Show Evidence, Not Just Intent
Attach brief results that matter—plots with captions, a small table, or a link to a dataset—so reviewers don’t have to hunt. Nature Geoscience endorses complete yet concise replies that leave nothing unaddressed (Nature Geoscience).
When You Agree—What To Say And Show
Agreement is easy, yet it still needs proof. State that you agree, paste the revised sentence or paragraph, and cite its location. If a new reference solves the issue, add the full citation in the letter and note its spot in the reference list. For figure fixes, mention updated labels, units, and any changes to axes or color scales.
If you added analyses, include a one-line summary of the method and the headline number: effect size, p-value with test name, or a model comparison. Keep raw outputs in the supplement or a repository; share links here. Close the item by stating how the change improves clarity or accuracy.
When You Disagree—How To Do It Diplomatically
Disagreement isn’t defiance; it’s a reasoned stand with evidence. Start by thanking the reviewer for the point. Then explain the rationale with citations, a brief check you ran, or guidance from the journal’s methods section. Offer a partial change where it helps: a cautionary line, a sensitivity check, or a clearer boundary on claims.
Avoid loaded language. Keep pronouns neutral and stick to the science. If a request falls outside scope or time, justify the limit with a concrete constraint—sample access, cost, or risk to animals or participants—and propose a lighter test. Editors welcome firm yet fair replies that advance the paper.
Requests For Extra Experiments
Aim for the smallest action that addresses the concern. A power check or a pre-planned robustness test can be enough. If new data are needed, outline the design and timeline, then confirm what you completed for this round. If you cannot run the study now, add a limit note in the Discussion and—where allowed—share a preregistration link for planned work.
Tone, Style, And Phrases That Help
Civility moves your paper forward. Short sentences help readers scan. Avoid sarcasm and jokes. Use firm, plain verbs. The phrases below keep replies steady and specific.
| Phrase | Use When | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| “We thank the reviewer for this point.” | Opening a reply with goodwill. | Sets a constructive tone without overdoing praise. |
| “We revised the sentence to read: ‘…’ (Methods, p. 4).” | You accepted the suggestion and edited text. | Gives the exact new wording and the location. |
| “We agree that X needed context; we now cite Y (Ref. 12).” | A missing reference or thin background. | Names the fix and where it appears. |
| “We ran an added check: [brief method]. The result was [headline number].” | A data or analysis concern. | Summarizes the test and outcome. |
| “We respectfully disagree because [reason], backed by [citation].” | You decline a change. | Pairs a calm stance with evidence. |
| “This request exceeds the scope of the study; we added a limit note (Discussion, p. 9).” | A large new study is asked for. | States the boundary and the compensating edit. |
Polish The Revised Manuscript
After the letter is set, sweep the paper for alignment. Update titles, figure calls, table notes, and cross-references. Check that term choices match across Abstract, Methods, and Results. Regenerate any plots touched by the fixes and confirm units and uncertainty labels. Rebuild the reference list from your manager to prevent duplicate entries.
Final Checks Before Resubmission
Run a last pass using this checklist:
- Confirm every reviewer point appears once in the letter and is marked as addressed.
- Search the PDF for each changed phrase to be sure it appears exactly as quoted.
- Verify page and line references after exporting the final PDF.
- Name files clearly: “Response_to_Reviewers.pdf”, “Tracked_Changes.docx”, “Clean_Manuscript.pdf”, “Supplement.zip”.
- If data are public, include a working link with access rights tested by a colleague.
- Check journal policies on anonymization, blinding, and file types.
- Ask a coauthor to read the letter cold; if they can follow it, a reviewer can too.
Template You Can Adapt
Paste this outline into your letter and fill in the blanks:
Dear Editor, We thank you and the reviewers for careful reading of our work. Below we respond point-by-point and indicate all changes in the revised manuscript. Summary of major updates: • Added/updated: [analyses, figures, tables, datasets]. • Text edits: [sections or pages]. • Files supplied: [names]. Reviewer 1 Comment 1: [quote the comment] Response: [agree/disagree + action + evidence] Change made: [exact text or location] Comment 2: ... Reviewer 2 ... Editor [if the decision letter includes action items, list and answer them here] Sincerely, [Names]