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Dealing with scathing comments on paper

6 replies

user157879792 · 23/07/2021 18:09

Well, I wrote a paper that I've been working on for many years and it's finally open for review and I've so far received some absolutely scathing comments on it and just been sent a message from a colleague to put my hard hat on because I'll be getting some pretty harsh comments soon! I have such bad anxiety right now. How do you deal with moments like this?

OP posts:
upthefrogs · 24/07/2021 13:38

To be honest, I don't know! One of the many reasons I don't publish that much is I live in terror of peer review. I am not sure what open to review means (other than submission to a journal) but the only thing I can say is that it helps me to remember that everyone gets harsh comments. Although I had one recently where the reviewer said my writing 'set their teeth on edge.' Academia is harsh. Good luck and I hope you get some helpful comments.

parietal · 24/07/2021 22:56

I think you just have to see the comments as part of the game. It is not a comment on you or saying you are a bad/ignorant person. It is like playing a game of chess and your opponent is making some good moves. So you respond with a better move. And that might include switching to a different journal etc.

my best paper was rejected from 6 journals before I got it published and I've been scooped on at least 2 other papers. the only thing to do is keep plugging away and get things out there.

MedSchoolRat · 26/07/2021 07:26

Do you have an internal pre-peer review system and need to keep a relationship with the reviewer, look them in the eye afterwards?

I suppose what you do is be determined to take the comments in a constructive spirit even if they are expressed in an unkind tone or seem utterly petty -- take all your emotions out of it. Be determined to see their comments as an opportunity.

If they were rude in what they say -- now you know they are rude. Good to have that intelligence. Ditto if they are petty or dogmatic. It's possible you'll decide most their comments are "fair enough:" so this is just part of your learning curve. We're all on a learning curve, every moment in life. Embrace it.

if they say something irrational, your response is "I must not have explained very well, how can I explain better?"

If they say something you bluntly don't agree with, then fine to respond with "They are wrong. How can I present this better so that someone else doesn't raise such an incorrect criticism?"

Little things like typos -- say "Thanks for reading carefully"

A comment like "set my teeth on edge" -- if there are specifics what they mean, then address each specific. If there is no further detail then your response is "I'll reread to make sure this is all in good plain English" and move on.

That said, I adored my colleague who wrote back in a cover letter once to a journal "THE REVIEWER IS WRONG" - (capitals mine). Colleague explained in 2 sentences why and that was that, quickly to publication went that article.

sonjadog · 08/09/2021 20:29

I think that firstly, if they are very rude in what they write, they are exposing themselves as unpleasant and unprofessional, so I would just shake that off. If you get someone like this, I recommend reading through, putting it away for a few days and then going back. It is clearer to see it objectively after you have processed it for a bit.

Secondly, you don't have to agree with the reviewer or make the changes they suggest. If you think they are wrong, then say so and explain why.

Thirdly, do as the poster above suggests. If you think they have misunderstood something, then maybe it isn't clear enough. If they have suggestions, think over them seriously, maybe they have a point. For small corrections on punctuation and grammar, say thanks. If you have done something stupid , apologize and thank them for noticing.

FinallyHere · 08/09/2021 21:42

Absolutely, wot @sonjadog said

Ignore anything negative or unkind in tone

Accept any kernels of truth, actual corrections or expansions as a gift which will make the end result stronger overall.

Make sure you have a method to switch off and bit think about it when you are not working on it.

GameofPhones · 08/09/2021 22:17

Some reviewers are notorious for being rude, so it's not necessarily about you (more about them). Also, it is worth remembering that some authors (succesfully) push back against negative reviews. You just have to keep going. Good luck.

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