Understanding the decision
| Decision | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Accept | Only production edits remain. | Approve proofs carefully when asked. |
| Minor revision | Small, well-defined changes. | Address each point and return promptly, usually within the stated window. |
| Major revision | Substantial reworking or re-analysis. | Take the time needed; an invitation to revise is not a guarantee of acceptance. |
| Reject | The work as presented cannot proceed. | Consider the feedback for a future submission elsewhere. |
| Reject with encouragement to resubmit | The topic fits but the execution needs rethinking. | Treat as a fresh submission addressing the critiques. |
Writing the response letter
- Reply point by point, quoting or numbering each reviewer comment so nothing is skipped.
- State exactly what you changed and where (page and line numbers of the revised manuscript).
- Where you disagree, explain politely with evidence or citations; never dismiss a comment without reason.
- Highlight all changes in the revised manuscript or submit a tracked-changes version alongside a clean copy.
- Keep the tone professional throughout — reviewers volunteer their expertise.
Example response structure
Reviewer 1, Comment 1: "The sample size justification is missing." Response: Thank you — we have added a power-analysis justification on page 6, lines 12–18, and summarised it here…
Resubmitting
- Upload the revised manuscript, the response letter and any requested files through your author dashboard before the deadline shown there.
- If you need more time, contact the editorial office before the deadline expires — extensions are routinely granted when asked early.
- Revised manuscripts normally return to the original reviewers, who check whether their points were addressed.