How to Respond to Peer Reviewer Comments

A revise-and-resubmit is good news. The decision now rests on how clearly and professionally you respond — not just on the science.

The golden rule: address every point

Editors and reviewers expect a point-by-point response. Copy each comment verbatim, then answer directly beneath it. Never skip a comment, even a minor one.

A format that works

For each comment:

1. Quote the reviewer's comment.
2. State your response — what you changed, or why you respectfully disagree.
3. Point to the change — quote the new text and give the page/line number.

Use a different colour or "Response:" label so the editor can scan it quickly.

Disagreeing gracefully

Sometimes a reviewer is wrong or asks for something out of scope. You can push back — politely and with evidence:

• Thank them for the comment first.
• Acknowledge the underlying concern.
• Provide a reason or citation for your position.
• Offer a compromise (e.g. adding a limitation to the discussion) where possible.

Tone

Reviewers volunteer their time. Stay courteous even when frustrated. "We thank the reviewer for this helpful suggestion" costs nothing and sets the right tone.

Speed it up

Scrivanta's Reviewer Response tool drafts a structured, professional rebuttal from your notes — keeping the point-by-point format editors expect while you focus on the substance of each reply.