Funny Things Peer-Reviewers Are Saying Behind Your Back

Peer-reviewers are a pain. After weeks or months of perfecting that manuscript, count on peer-reviewers to make you feel suicidal or (if they are in a good mood) condemn you to your computer for frantic rewriting and editing. What's with all their pointless questions and comments, seriously?

But while their communications to you, the author, may be cordial or intimidatingly formal, behind the scenes, discussions between peer-reviewers and editors are much more casual. And by casual I mean mostly hilarious or mocking or hilariously mocking. The journal, Environmental Microbiology, every year publishes some of the best of its peer-reviewers' quotes-a sort of anthology of mockery if you will. The list has some hilarious quotes (see below) although it may get you donkey-depressed if you've just had a paper rejected by Environmental Microbiology.

Below are some of the very very best quotes. You can get the entire list here (it's free).

The bad:

"The writing and data presentation are so bad that I had to leave work and go home early and then spend time to wonder what life is about."

"The biggest problem with this manuscript, which has nearly sucked the will to live out of me, is the terrible writing style ."

"The statement that glycolipids and phospholipids ‘may play an important role in stabilising the outer membrane' is odd because this they definitely do in all Eubacteria."

"Merry X-mas! First, my recommendation was reject with new submission, because it is necessary to investigate further, but reading a well written manuscript before X-mas makes me feel like Santa Claus."

"I have to admit that I would have liked to reject this paper because I found the tone in the Reply to the Reviewers so annoying. It may be irritating to deal with reviewer's comments (believe me, I know!) but it is not wise to let your irritation seep through every line you write."

The good:

"Very much enjoyed reading this one, and do not have any significant comments. Wish I had thought of this one."

"This is a long, but excellent report. I had considered asking for EMSAs [Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay], but these will not significantly improve the study. It hurts me a little to have so little criticism of a manuscript."

"I found the manuscript to be well performed in all aspects, from the experimental design to the writing of the manuscript. I wish all manuscripts I review were of this quality."

The fun:

"Season's Greetings! I apologise for my slow response but a roast goose prevented me from answering emails for a few days."

"Always dear EMI [Environmental Microbiology] takes care of its referees, providing them with entertainment for the holiday time in between Xmas and New Year. Plus the server shows, as usual, its inhuman nature and continues to send reminding messages. Well, between playing tennis on the Wii, eating and drinking, I found time and some strength of mind to do this work."

Image credit: Left: SPazzo (from flickr) Centre: Joe Andrews (from flickr) Right: Cranky Pressman (from flickr)

Editorial (2010). Referees' quotes - 2010 Environmental Microbiology, 12 (12), 3303-3304 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2010.02394.x