Comments for the authors
While you can feel free to express reservations,
doubts and feelings in confidential remarks to the editor,
you should try to provide a constructive evaluative report
for the paper author(s). Since most authors will be asked
to carry out revisions and a considerable number of authors
will have their submissions rejected, the aim is to provide
comments and suggestions which will enable authors to improve
the submission and possibly publish elsewhere if not in the
journal originally selected.
Comments for authors vary enormously from a
few words to two or three pages of advice. (Although the latter
is uncommon). Some journals always compile a reply which includes
both reviewers' and editor's comments in one report - and
sometimes this is necessary if reviewer's reports are inappropriate.
However, other journals like to forward the reports along
with a letter from the editor. As long as comments are relevant,
clearly expressed and polite, they are likely to be appreciated.
Try to avoid negative generalisations which
are not linked to the text submitted. For instance, one reviewer
wrote: 'This paper reads like an undergraduate essay'. Another
reviewer returned a paper from a non-English speaker with
the comment, 'Until this is written in proper English, I do
not think it should be reviewed'. Although such remarks may
be warranted, they are not helpful and can not be forwarded
to authors. Take the utmost care to comment upon the manuscript
that has been submitted and not upon the authors; do not make
critical remarks about their capability, competence, or knowledge
of the subject.
One important point, is to take account of the
author(s)' intentions. It is not helpful to be told that you
should have used a control group if you state that, for whatever
reason, you decided not to do so! If the author(s) report
that the study concerned women's smoking habits, it may not
be possible to comply with a request to compare female with
male smoking habits….and so on.
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