When reviewers send comments, they're inviting you back — a rejection would have ended it. How you respond often decides the outcome. The goal is a structured, courteous, point-by-point reply that shows you engaged seriously with every concern.
Build a response letter
- Copy each reviewer comment verbatim, then write your response beneath it.
- State exactly what you changed and where (page and line/section).
- Thank reviewers for points that genuinely improved the paper — many will have.
- Where you disagree, explain your reasoning respectfully, with evidence.
Tone matters as much as content
Reviewers are usually unpaid experts giving their time. Defensive or dismissive replies rarely end well. Even when a comment feels unfair, respond calmly and make the case — editors read the exchange, and professionalism counts.
You can decline a change — but you must justify it clearly and politely, ideally with evidence or citations. A well-argued 'we respectfully retained X because…' is far stronger than silently ignoring a comment.
Turn revision into acceptance
Revision is a skill, and it's learnable. Work through the publication checklist before resubmitting, and for help framing responses and strengthening the manuscript, see publication mentoring and Scopus paper mentoring. For the wider process, revisit how to publish in a Scopus-indexed journal.
Frequently asked
What does 'revise and resubmit' mean?+
It means the journal is interested but wants changes before deciding. It is not an acceptance, but it is a strong, positive signal — most published papers went through at least one round of revision.
Can I disagree with a reviewer?+
Yes, respectfully and with justification. If you believe a requested change would weaken the paper or is based on a misunderstanding, explain your position with evidence in the response letter. Editors weigh reasoned disagreement seriously.
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