How to Check That Every Reviewer Comment Was Addressed

Short answer: before resubmitting, run two separate checks. First, does every reviewer comment have its own answer in the response letter? Second, does every change the letter promises actually appear in the revised manuscript? Revisions often fail on one of these two, not on the science.

ManuVera editorial team · Revision guide

Why a second round goes wrong

A revision usually involves several co-authors, two or three reviewers and weeks of edits. Along the way, a minor comment gets merged into another answer, or a sentence promised in the letter is cut in a later draft. Reviewers read the response letter next to the revised manuscript. When the two disagree, they notice — and an answer that says "revised" with nothing to show for it costs more trust than an honest "we could not do this, because…"

Check 1 — Every comment has its own answer

1. Number every comment. Split the reviewers' reports into individual points: R1.1, R1.2, R2.1 and so on. A paragraph that raises three issues is three comments.
2. Copy each comment into the letter. Quote it in full above your answer, so the reviewer does not have to search for what you are responding to.
3. Count both sides. The number of comments in the reports should equal the number of answers in the letter. Any gap is a missed comment.
4. Watch for grouped answers. "We addressed comments 3–6 together" is where points get lost. If you group, list each point and say how it was handled.
5. Do not skip the comments you disagree with. Answer them with evidence or a citation, politely. A comment left without an answer reads as ignored.

Check 2 — Every promised change is in the manuscript

1. List each promise. Go through the letter and mark every sentence that says something was added, removed, clarified or reanalyzed.
2. Find it in the revised file. For each promise, locate the change in the tracked-changes version. The page and line numbers in the letter should point to it.
3. Compare the wording. If the letter quotes a new sentence, the manuscript should contain that sentence, not an earlier draft of it.
4. Re-check after the last edit. Line numbers move when co-authors keep editing. Do this check on the final file, after everyone has finished.
5. Check the knock-on effects. A new analysis can change numbers in the abstract, a table and the Discussion. Confirm that they still agree with each other.

A quick self-test

• Can you point to a location in the manuscript for every "we have revised"?
• Do the numbers of comments and answers match for each reviewer?
• Do the line numbers in the letter match the final tracked-changes file?
• Does the resubmission cover letter summarize the main changes and give the manuscript ID?