How to write a rebuttal letter for an academic journal?

Once an author submits a research paper for review, it is either rejected or accepted by the editorial board. The peer reviewers send their feedback and comments to the original author based on their assessment. The main task starts right after the author receives feedback from the peer reviewers. Writing a rebuttal letter will help authors address the queries and improvisations suggested by the reviewers to improve the quality of their paper.

The authors acknowledge the comments and suggestions provided by the reviewers through a rebuttal letter. In the process, the subject area experts review the content to ensure only good quality research is published in the journal. They also provide suggestions to make research engaging and easy to understand.

Tips for writing a rebuttal letter

Address: Go through the comments and feedback provided by the editor and address the points one by one. Copy the comments directly in the rebuttal letter to write your reply.

Response: Highlight the new information or data added later so that the editors can review it later. Write an appropriate response to every comment separately.

Categorization: Address each comment section wise. For example, if you want to add more data in the methodology section, then create a new category so that the editors can review the changes made.

Pointers: Change the paragraphs into pointers for addressing each point individually. If you do not understand any point, simply ask the editor by raising an inquiry.

Explanation: In case you do not agree with the reviewer’s comments, provide a clear and logical reason.

Tone: Address the comments and feedback politely. If there is a conflicting view, explain why you think your point is valid by providing supporting evidence by writing a strong statement.

Conclusion: After responding to the changes suggested by the reviewers, write a concluding statement.

What to include in a rebuttal letter?

A rebuttal letter helps the editorial board take the final decision of whether to publish a research paper or not. Make sure to include the following in your rebuttal letter:

• The main title of your manuscript
• The name of the author and co-authors
• A “thank you” note to the editor and reviewers
• A separate response for each comment

Do’s for writing a rebuttal letter

• Maintain a polite and respectful tone
• Include citations and supplementary material wherever required
• Give a reasonable explanation if you do not want to incorporate the changes given by the editor

Checklist for writing a rebuttal letter

• Create a list of all the changes suggested by the editor
• Add a thank you note addressed to the editor and reviewer
• Answer the comments in the same order as the comments
• Include line references and citations wherever required
• Use single spacing between the paragraphs
• Re-read your document to detect common grammatical and spelling errors