Fun Reviews

Sarah's Mom · Dec 15, 2010

I thought we might like some holiday cheer and to know what kind of reviews come out of the PhD community when they review writing. (I also seem confused about what links are acceptable here, I am putting the info at the end and apologize if I have violated the forum standard, just wanting to give appropriate credit.)

Peer review: love it or hate it, it’s an integral part of every scientist’s life. The reviews are usually kept secret, but the editors over at Environmental Microbiology like to give a little back during the holidays, and have gifted the internet with a list of some of their favorite quotes from peer reviews done this year:

Here are some of our favorite catty reviewer quotes from this year’s list:

* This paper is desperate. Please reject it completely and then block the author’s email ID so they can’t use the online system in future.

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

* Ken, I would suggest that EM is setting up a fund that pays for the red wine reviewers may need to digest manuscripts like this one. (Ed.: this excellent suggestion was duly proposed to the Publisher. However, given the logistical difficulties of problem-solving within narrow time frames, combined with the known deleterious effect of transport on good wine, a modification of the remedy was adopted, namely that Editors would act as proxies for reviewers with said digestive complaints.)

* I suppose that I should be happy that I don’t have to spend a lot of time reviewing this dreadful paper; however I am depressed that people are performing such bad science.

* Reject – More holes than my grandad’s string vest!

* 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.
Click to expand...

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2010/12/15/years-best-peer-review-comments-papers-that-suck-the-will-to-live/

Mallory · Dec 15, 2010

Hahahaha nice. Thanks for sharing.

write_star · Dec 16, 2010

Totally made me laugh.

Newfable · Dec 16, 2010

These are amazing. God bless our scientific community for having a sense of humor at least.

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