Selection of Referees' Quotes from David White

Beautiful study, well written: I wish I could have done it.
This is a strongly written paper claiming elegance that is not backed up in the data.
How much triglyceride was in the wastewater? That would certainly foul up their attributions.
This is a paper written like a telegram.
Because bacteria are found together…does not establish they interact.
Well written paper with a poor method and a lot of conjecture. How about a little time off – I need to get some research done. (Ed: he was 73 at this point.)
Nice paper: he bit the Gordian knot!
This is a stinker! (Ed: paper on methlyotrophic microbes on feet, which he recommended for publication)
There is an obvious omission, the chemical structure … surely there is an NMR in Sydney!
This is the most convoluted paper I have seen in a long time.
Tank this turkey!
I like lipids, but they have their limitations, which appear to have been overlooked.
A terrible paper, not even a good science fair project. Please let me have some time to complete grant applications (Ed: he was 75 when he wrote this.)
They need to learn that the fatty acids are in the cell membrane not the wall: that immediately tips off the reader to stop reading.
This is an essentially unreadable paper sent to the wrong journal.
Wow: this is a clear keeper. Merry Christmas!
Giant step backwards.
Co-inertial is wonderful jargon for bad methods application.
When I saw the title and the author I could not put it down. Beautiful…thanks for letting me read it.
This paper has a grandiose title for a complex multifaceted test …It is no trichorder that one passes over the water and detects specific life.
What a beautiful paper….You certainly get better papers than the stuff Ken sends me!