How to write a review in English?

14 August 2025

Readers-friendly

Oleksandra Kulish

Book expert

Every researcher who publishes articles in English in peer-reviewed scientific journals will sooner or later be asked to act as a reviewer.

Reviewing plays an important role in the scientific community: it helps improve the quality of scientific work and strengthens trust in the publication. For authors, it is an opportunity to receive valuable feedback that helps them improve their academic writing skills. For reviewers, it is a way to demonstrate their expertise, knowledge of the subject, and ability to conduct academic discussions in English.

And we are not just talking about scientific papers. Every day we encounter other people's opinions — in comments on social media, during coffee breaks, or in discussions under videos. But if such an opinion is clearly structured and supported by arguments, it can be considered a full-fledged review.

In this article, we will look at how to write a review in English: what the text should look like, what wording you can use, and what you should pay attention to.

Why write reviews and who reads them?

We rarely buy something without first reading other people's reviews. You probably know that you don't have to be a professional critic to share your opinion about a product or service — you just need to honestly describe your experience and help other users.

You can leave reviews for almost anything on the internet. For example:

Various products. This includes all physical products that can be purchased, used, and evaluated: clothing, cosmetics, electronics, household appliances, etc.
Services. These are most often reviews of hotels, restaurants, airlines, beauty salons, car rentals, or accommodation.
Entertainment. You can share your impressions of concerts, exhibitions, festivals, movies, books, theaters, video games, museums, or any other events you have attended.
Apps and programs. Reviews are also written for mobile apps, computer programs, and video games.

In fact, the list is endless, because you can write a review about anything. But for a review to be truly useful and understandable, it should be written according to a certain structure and following the basic rules.

How to write a review in English: what makes a good review

The main feature of a review as a genre of academic writing is its formal nature. There is a certain set of established phrases and a clear structure for the text. It is important to adhere to an academic style of speech — overly emotional, figurative, or complex language is inappropriate here. Those with a high level of English may find such a review boring, but for authors with an intermediate level of language proficiency, this clarity greatly simplifies the task.

Different platforms may have their own requirements for the length and content of reviews, so be sure to familiarize yourself with them before you start working — this will help you avoid wasting time.

The total length of a review usually does not exceed 3,500–4,000 characters for scientific work. However, reviews of products and services are usually shorter, up to 1,000 characters.

The structure of a review includes the following elements:

Introduction.

This is an important part of your review, which sets the tone for the entire text. Here you briefly explain what the review is about and provide some general context. If necessary, you can provide background information or a brief introduction to the topic.

Description.

In this section, you should briefly describe the product, service, or experience in question. You can highlight key features, advantages, or disadvantages — anything that will help the reader get an idea of what the review is about.

Your opinion.

Here, share your experience: what you liked and didn't like, what you think needs improvement or change. This is the place for personal impressions and constructive criticism.

Conclusion.

Summarize your main observations and provide an overall recommendation.

You can also mention who might find this product or service useful and who should avoid it.

Remember: these are just general guidelines. You can choose a different structure, but it is important to remain clear, honest, and polite in your wording.

How to make your review sound stronger and more convincing

To make your review truly useful, informative, and enjoyable to read, follow a few simple but effective guidelines.

Identify the main idea

Before you start writing, think about the main idea you want to convey. This will help you avoid digressions and make your text more coherent.

For example:

“This backpack is ideal for students — lightweight and roomy.”
“The straps of this backpack tore after two weeks.”

Both options are appropriate — the first focuses more on the advantages, while the second points out the problem. Think about what information you would like to read before making a purchase.

Write constructively

Describe your own experience:

How did it look?
How convenient or inconvenient was it?
Was there anything that surprised or disappointed you?

Point out both the pros and cons. For example:

✅ The massage chair was very comfortable and had multiple modes. The only downside — it was a bit noisy during operation.

❌ Well, okay, but it could be better.

Remember: even negative feedback can be presented constructively. Avoid emotional insults and profanity — your text will be read not only by the seller, but also by other buyers.

Check your language

Spelling and punctuation are important. A well-written review inspires confidence.

Avoid CAPS, do not insert links or contacts of third-party companies, and do not use profanity.

Justify your rating

Users usually look at the number of stars first. If you do not give 5 stars, explain why. For example:

I gave it 4 stars because delivery was two days late, although the laptop works perfectly.
The food was tasty, but the waiting time exceeded 40 minutes — that’s why only 3 stars.

When writing a review, follow a simple principle: be honest, clear, objective, and polite. This will help other users and business owners who are looking to improve their service.

Words and phrases that will improve your English review

Writing a review in English can be tricky, especially if you don't know where to start. To make the process easier, we've put together a selection of versatile phrases you can use in your own review — for both products and services.

Here are some good examples of phrases for positive reviews:

Overall, my experience with (product/service) was very pleasant.
Template:Overall, my experience with this language learning app was very pleasant. The lessons are engaging and well-structured.
The quality of (product/service) was better than I expected.
The quality of the backpack was better than I expected. Sturdy materials and waterproof zippers. I have been using it for over two years now.
I was pleasantly surprised by the level of care in packaging.
The ceramic set arrived in perfect condition, and I was pleasantly surprised by the level of care in packaging.
Customer service was friendly and effective.
I had to reschedule my booking, and customer service handled it within minutes. Very friendly and effective.
The layout and navigation of the website are intuitive and easy to follow.
I was able to complete my order in under two minutes. The layout and navigation of the website are truly user-friendly.
Based on my personal experience, I would absolutely recommend (product/service).
Template:Based on my personal experience, I would absolutely recommend this budget airline for domestic flights.

Here are some examples of negative reviews:

I faced several technical issues while using (product/service).
For example:I faced several technical issues while using the mobile banking app. Some features just didn’t work for two days in a row.
I found (product/service) unnecessarily complicated.
I found the online registration system unnecessarily complicated and confusing. The site was slow, constantly reloading, asking to enter a captcha every 5 minutes.
I can't honestly recommend (product/service) based on my experience.
I can't honestly recommend this earbud model — the sound quality was poor and the battery died fast.
The service was slow and unprofessional, which ruined the overall impression.
Despite the great location, the service at the restaurant was slow and unprofessional, which ruined the evening. We waited 25 minutes for the waiter and another 40 minutes for the Caesar salad to be served.

Share your impressions, justify them, and, if you wish, express your opinion on why you think the product or service was good or bad.
Now you know more about how to write a review in English. Don't be afraid to be unique and use your own style when writing a review. Your review can help others make the right choice: save them from losing money and having a bad mood, or, on the contrary, give them a pleasant day or evening with a book or movie.