Q: How do I write a summary letter?

Firstly, it’s great to know that you are at the revisions stage, which means that your manuscript is one step closer to publication. :-) Also, going by your articulation of your query, it seems you also have a handle on how to go about addressing peer review comments. So, we’ll just provide a pointer or two here (which are basically affirmations of what you’re already probably doing) and then refer you to some excellent resources on the site.

So, firstly, your responses need to be focused. You need to mention what exactly you have changed and the precise effect it has had (in all probability, positive). In case you haven’t made any changes, you need to provide a strong rationale for why you haven’t made the change. However, don’t get too long or defensive; try and be as succinct as possible, especially if you have a lot of comments to respond to (in case this is a minor revision). Sometimes, it helps to add additional information, which can add value to the exchange of communication between the reviewer(s) and you, especially as you are from the same field. But again, don’t overdo it.

For exactly how to go about doing the above, you may refer to the following resources:

• How to respond to comments by peer reviewers
• How to write a great rebuttal letter
• How to respond to peer reviewer comments effectively [Course]

We would especially recommend the course, as it’s by an experienced journal editor. For more information, you may look up the site using the relevant keywords.

Hope that helps. And all the best for the next stage(s)!