One of the most common language-related comments in a journal decision letter is: “The English language requires improvement.” The comment may be brief, or reviewers may refer more specifically to grammar, readability, awkward phrasing, or the need for professional language editing.
A language comment does not automatically mean the research itself is weak. It does mean that the revised manuscript should address the language concern clearly and systematically before resubmission.
First, identify what the journal is actually asking for
Not all language comments mean the same thing. Look closely at the wording.
If the editor mentions spelling, grammar, punctuation, or minor language errors, the manuscript may need professional proofreading. If the comments refer to readability, unclear sentences, awkward expression, logical flow, or substantial language revision, academic editing may be more appropriate.
Examples of comments that usually suggest more extensive editing include:
- “The manuscript is difficult to follow in several sections.”
- “The English should be substantially improved for clarity.”
- “Many sentences require restructuring.”
- “The paper would benefit from professional language editing.”
- “The discussion is difficult to understand because of language problems.”
Do not revise only the sentences the reviewer highlighted
If a reviewer points out three grammar errors, it may be tempting to correct only those three sentences. That is risky. Reviewers usually provide examples rather than a complete list of every problem.
When a journal raises a general language concern, the entire manuscript should be reviewed for the same type of issue. If one paragraph contains article errors or unnatural phrasing, similar patterns may appear elsewhere.
Separate language revision from scientific revision
Decision letters often contain both content-related and language-related comments. Handle them as separate tasks.
First make any scientific changes that affect the manuscript’s content, such as new analyses, revised interpretations, additional limitations, or rewritten discussion points. Once those revisions are stable, complete the final language review.
This order avoids proofreading text that will later be deleted or substantially rewritten.
Protect the strength of scientific claims
Language revision should not accidentally change the research. This is especially important when an editor is improving sentence structure or making wording more concise.
For example, “X may contribute to Y” is not equivalent to “X causes Y.” Similarly, “was associated with” should not become “resulted in” unless the study design and author’s intended meaning justify causal language.
A professional academic editor should improve readability while preserving the original claim strength, numerical information, citations, and scientific meaning.
Check the response letter too
Authors often revise the manuscript carefully but submit a response-to-reviewers letter written under time pressure. That letter is part of the resubmission package and should be clear, polite, and precise.
Each response should make it easy for the editor or reviewer to understand:
- what change was requested
- what you changed
- where the change appears
- why you did not make a requested change, if applicable
If the journal has specifically criticized the English, submitting a response letter with obvious language problems can weaken the impression that the concern has been fully addressed.
Should you mention professional language editing in the response?
If you have had the manuscript professionally reviewed, it is reasonable to state this fact briefly when responding to the editor’s language comment. Keep the statement factual.
For example: “The manuscript has undergone professional academic English editing, and the language has been reviewed throughout for grammar, clarity, consistency, and academic style.”
Do not claim that professional editing guarantees acceptance. Language review addresses presentation. The editorial decision still depends on scientific quality, journal fit, reviewer assessment, and other factors.
What if the journal asks for a language certificate?
Some journals or editorial offices may ask authors to provide evidence that the manuscript has undergone professional language review. If that applies to your submission, ask the service provider whether they issue appropriate documentation.
CertifiedEditing can provide a QR-verifiable language certificate for eligible completed services. The certificate documents the language-review service. It is not a journal acceptance certificate and should not be presented as one.
Should you use proofreading or editing after reviewer comments?
If the manuscript was already written in strong English and the reviewer identified only minor errors, proofreading may be enough. If reviewers commented on readability, awkward expression, sentence structure, or overall language quality, editing is usually the more suitable level of support.
If you are uncertain, an assessment of the revised file is more reliable than guessing from the decision letter alone.
Do not ignore the comment because the reviewer understood the paper
Authors sometimes reason that if the reviewer understood the study well enough to evaluate it, the English must be acceptable. That is not necessarily true. A manuscript can be understandable but still require substantial effort from the reader.
Editors consider readability because published articles should communicate efficiently to the journal’s audience, not merely be decipherable.
Build language revision into your resubmission plan
A practical sequence is:
- complete scientific revisions
- update tables, figures, and references
- revise the response letter
- complete professional language review
- check that tracked changes and clean files match the journal’s requirements
- perform one final submission check
At CertifiedEditing, free language revision is available after journal reviewer or editor requests when the original content has not been materially changed and the request falls within the agreed language-service scope.
Have you received a language revision request from a journal? Submit the revised manuscript and, if useful, the relevant reviewer comment through our Get a Quote page. We can assess whether the file needs proofreading or more extensive academic editing before you resubmit.
