how do you respond to reviewers who said the paper lacks originality?

Reviewer comments can be both useful and harmful to the authors of a manuscript. Generally the reviewer comments are constructive in nature and help the authors in improving the manuscript. However, in some cases, the comments can be unprofessional and harsh. Responding to such comments can be difficult. Even if you think that the reviewer lacks intellectual capacity, it is certainly not advisable in your interest to convey this impression to the reviewer. A comment stating “the paper lacks originality” should be dealt in a similar way. You can refer to studies or papers previously published in your field that have resemblance or are related to your study. Also highlight how your study aims to stand out within the studies referred and thereby establish the “originality”. Also keep in mind that if the reviewer failed to understand something, there may be some fault at your end in making the point clear enough. If the reviewer does not seem to be an expert in the area, remember that this level of expertise (or lack thereof) may be representative of many readers of the journal. Your goal is to make the work clear and accessible to all readers, not just to experts.

Enago also offers professional peer review of manuscripts within 7 days. Professional reviewers with specialized knowledge in your field of study will review your paper section by section to pinpoint areas for improvement and provide suggestions. Our experts will perform an extensive manuscript peer review. They will investigate every research element of your paper, such as soundness of study design, reporting of method, significance to field, ethical soundness, and sufficiency of data analysis. They will also provide a detailed check of journal compatibility to minimize chances of rejection.