Concluding Remarks

In the conclusion of your Comments to Authors, be very clear about what action(s) you would like the author to take based on your comments. You may want the author to:

• Do nothing. Although it is rare for a paper to be publishable as-is.
• Perform optional changes. In this case, your suggestions might improve the manuscript in some way but are not required for you to recommend publication.
• Perform required changes. In this case, there are concerns with the manuscript requiring minor or major revisions that must be addressed before you would recommend publication.

If you plan to recommend rejection, use language from the journal review criteria to explain your recommendation.

• For example, Optica papers should make a major impact, with the expectation that they will be highly cited and have the potential to transform their field. If your rejection decision is based on these criteria, explain how the paper fails to meet them and provide justification (such as citations that demonstrate the paper’s similarity to other published works, or limited interest in the field).
• If serious flaws exist, such as poor language, incomplete data, inappropriate methodology, or unsupported conclusions, document them thoroughly.

Be sure that your feedback is consistent. The comments you include for the authors should align with your ratings and recommendation to the editor.