Faster Is Better

A pervasive advertisement on American television asserts that “faster is better” in the world of cellular telephones. With the assumption that cost and reliability are comparable and reasonable, few would disagree that speed is good. When it comes to the publication of scientific articles, we also believe that faster is better. Authors want to get their work out as quickly as possible, and readers want new information that will help them achieve better outcomes for their patients. But, as with most important issues, balance is necessary. It takes time to obtain expert reviews, for authors to make appropriate revisions, and for the publisher to complete high-quality production work. Speed is desirable, but not at the risk of overlooking—or even causing—errors that may have real-life consequences. Conversely, perfection is not always achievable, even with monumental effort, so editors aim for a Voltairean balance between prompt publication and a good but less-than-perfect product.