A recently published paper [D. Jiang, K. Thomson, J.D. Kuntz, J.W. Ager, A.K. Mukherjee, Scripta Mater. 56 (2007) 959] presents a discussion regarding the controversy surrounding toughening in alumina/single-wall carbon nanotubes composites, with specific reference to an earlier paper [X. Wang, N.P. Padture, H. Tanaka, Nature Mater. 3 (2004) 539] co-authored by one of us. Here we present a clarification contending that some of the arguments presented in that discussion are invalid. (c) 2008 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.