How do you write a review article?Here are eight key things to consider when writing a review article: Check the journal’s aims and scopeMake sure you have read the aims and scope for the journal you are submitting to and follow them Different journals accept different types of articles and not all will accept review articles, so it’s important to check this before you start Define your scopeDefine the scope of your review article and the research question you’ll be answering, making sure your article contributes something new to the As award-winning author Angus Crake told us, you’ll also need to “define the scope of your review so that it is manageable, not too large or small; it may be necessary to focus on recent advances if the field is well ” Finding sources to evaluateWhen finding sources to evaluate, Angus Crake says it’s critical that you “use multiple search engines/databases so you don’t miss any important ”For finding studies for a systematic review in medical sciences, read advice from NCBI Writing your title, abstract and keywordsSpend time writing an effective title, abstract and This will help maximize the visibility of your article online, ensuring the right readers find your Your title and abstract should be clear, concise, accurate, and For more information and guidance on getting these right, read our guide to writing a good abstract and title and our researcher’s guide to search engine Introduce the topicStart with an overview of the topic and give some context, explaining why a review of the topic is Gather research to inform your introduction and make it broad enough to reach out to a large audience of non- This will help maximize its wider relevance and Don’t make your introduction too Divide the review into sections of a suitable length to allow key points to be identified more Include critical discussionMake sure you present a critical discussion, not just a descriptive summary of the If there is contradictory research in your area of focus, make sure to include an element of debate and present both sides of the You can also use your review paper to resolve conflict between contradictory “Once you have the core review section written, take a step back and look for common trends that Highlight key advances that have been made and areas where more focused research may lead to high These are crucial to show where the field is heading, and any common pitfalls people have struggled ” – Angus Crake, Sum it upThis can include making suggestions for future research on the topic as part of your “You should aim to write a review that leaves a clear impression of what is ‘well understood’, and what still remains a ‘mystery’ to be ” – Diptak Bhattacharya, Use a critical friendOne last Always perform a final spell and grammar check of your article before You may want to ask a critical friend or colleague to give their feedback before you If English is not your first language, think about using a language-polishing Find out more about the Taylor & Francis Editing STo get the latest news, insights, tips and more straight to your inbox, sign up for the Taylor & Francis Insights