Editorial. Problems in Reviewing Manuscripts - Analytical Chemistry

Lawrence T. Hallett. Anal. Chem. , 1965, 37 (10), pp 1185–1185. DOI: 10.1021/ac60229a600. Publication Date: September 1965. ACS Legacy Archive...
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ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

Assistant Editors: John K. Cmm, Patricia A. Morgan, Josephine Pechan, Virginia E. ' Stewart Vditorial Assistant: Mary Ann Wingard Contributing Editor: R. H. Miiller Production Staff A r t Director: Joseph Jacobs

Associate Editor: Charlotte C. Sayre Assistant Editor: Elizabeth R. Rufe Qdvisory Board: R. N. Adams, 0. U. Andera, F. C. Anson, G. H. A m , H. W. Nabgood, P. B. Hamilton, G. A. Harlow, D. M. Herculea, F. W. McLafferty, M. W. Mallett, G. H. Morrison, W. H. Reinrnqth, J. K. Taylor, R. E. ThierP J C. -?:'ic.e .MERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS Director of Publications, Richard L.Kenyon Assistant Director of Publications and Director of Research Journals, Richard H. Beknap Director of Business Operations, Joseph H. Kuney Executive Assistant to the Director af Publications, Rodney N. Hader Assistant to the Director of William Q. Hull

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Problems in Reviewing Manuscripts N AN ATTEMPT

to maintain a review system which is helpful to au-

I thors, reviewers, and the editor, we are always willing to consider comments and suggestions for improvement. Recently, two ideas have been brought to our attention. At the last Advisory Board meeting, one member felt it would be useful to include with a manuscript to be reviewed the results of a computer search of the literature. Facilities for such an undertaking are not currently available, but this, of course, does not preclude consideration of the idea in the future. The second comment was concerned with the Editor's Notes which are often directed to reviewers as a result of our preliminary study of a manuscript in this office. One reviewer recently questioned this practice because he felt such comments were prejudicial. We believe ourselves fortunate in that for the past year we have had the time and staff to study manuscripts more carefully from the standpoint of scope, pertinent references, and work with which we are familiar. Our limited study is done in the hope that it may give reviewers a clue as to possible weak and/or strong points of a paper. We then rely on the reviewer, as a specialist in the field, to substantiate or reject our impressions and to comment specifically on the originality, value to the field, technical content, and clarity. The final decision rests, of course, with the editor, but it seems to us that a fairer decision can be made if reviewers and editors work as a team.

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