Writing a response to the reviewers’ comments
The response to the reviewers’ comments is one of the most important parts of your revised manuscript
submission. This is where you should describe the work you have done in revision, and clear up any
points of misunderstanding from the first round of review. Writing an effective response helps the
reviewers and the Editor assess your revised manuscript, and it is important to make the most of this
opportunity to showcase how your study has improved.
How to structure your response
● The most effective way to respond to the reviewers’ comments is with a point-by-point
response. That is, you provide a specific response to each point made by each reviewer. This
allows the reviewer and the Editor to easily see how you have addressed each issue that was
raised.
● While point-by-point detail is critical, it is also important to provide a concise overview of the
most important revisions made. This should be provided as an introduction to the more
detailed response, with the purpose of telling the reviewer and Editor what you focused on
when revising the manuscript.
Tips and suggestions
● In your overview, be sure to address any points that were specifically flagged by the Editor in
the decision letter.
● When writing your point-by-point response, include all of the reviewers’ comments as they
provided them. After each reviewer comment, provide your response before moving onto the
next.
● Make sure to respond to all points. If you were unable to address a particular point, provide a
brief rationale for why.
● You may not agree with all of the reviewers’ points, and it is fine to provide your perspective on
the issues raised provided you keep the tone of your response professional and constructive
and your arguments grounded in scientific reasoning.
● While specificity is important, so is brevity in presentation. Please keep your responses concise
and to the point.
● Rather than including figures or replicating blocks of text from the manuscript in your response,
point to the specific place in the revised manuscript that contains the relevant information.
