Theories of lexical access are generally concerned with the process of access and not with the information, or products, recovered when this process is accomplished. An analysis of the products of access suggests two criteria for theories of comprehension. First, a theory must specify what information belongs in the mental lexicon. Second, a theory must indicate what part of this information is ordinarily made available by the access process. A brief examination of alternative theories of comprehension exposes flaws that are due to inattention to these issues.