ABSTRACT
English may be one of the most difficult languages to learn write as a foreign language because rules are so inconsistent, and the vocabulary is so large. In the experience, having advice from a ‘native English speaker’ is no guarantee to getting a well-written chapter or manuscript. Yet, rightly or wrongly, English is the language in which science is currently written. There turns out to be research suggesting why peer review is not the best way to improve writing. Peer review works much better at screening technical content than it does at improving the communication of that content. And this agrees with the opinions of some non-English speakers who ask for editors and reviewers to concentrate on the science. The non-English speaking editors often comment that a ‘native English speaker’ should read the text, simply underlines the problem that many editors themselves are incapable of knowing whether or not something is well written.
