Responding to Editors and Referees

Abstract

You have sent a polished version of your manuscript to a journal, and after a few months, you will receive a packet with an editor's letter and anonymous reviews by 2–4 referees. Each review will be a critique that includes an overall evaluation and a list of items that need improving. Based on the reviews, the editor's letter will put your paper into one of three categories: The manuscript is accepted, pending specified changes. The manuscript requires revision and re-review. The manuscript is rejected. You should have started the road to publication by submitting your manuscript to a demanding journal, one with a high rejection rate. If your manuscript is rejected, use the referees' comments to make improvements, and submit the paper to another journal.