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. 2024 Aug 22;22(8):e3002645. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002645

Table 1. Phrases and their definitions (italicised) from the eLife vocabulary representing 2 evaluative dimensions: significance and strength of support.

The significance dimension is represented by 5 phrases and the strength of support dimension is represented by 6 phrases. In a particular eLife assessment, readers only see 1 phrase from each of the evaluative dimensions. Phrases are accompanied by eLife definitions, but these are not shown in eLife assessments (though some words from the definitions may be used).

eLife vocabulary
Significance Strength of support
Landmark: findings with profound implications that are expected to have widespread influence Exceptional: exemplary use of existing approaches that establish new standards for a field
Fundamental: findings that substantially advance our understanding of major research questions Compelling: evidence that features methods, data, and analyses more rigorous than the current state-of-the-art
Important: findings that have theoretical or practical implications beyond a single subfield Convincing: appropriate and validated methodology in line with current state-of-the-art
Valuable: findings that have theoretical or practical implications for a subfield Solid: methods, data, and analyses broadly support the claims with only minor weaknesses
Useful: findings that have focused importance and scope Incomplete: main claims are only partially supported
Inadequate: methods, data, and analyses do not support the primary claims