What should reviewers include in their review comments?

Paige Watson

Updated on 10 March 2026

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Reviewer comments play a crucial role in the peer review process. Constructive feedback helps program chairs make informed decisions and helps authors improve the quality of their research.

When writing review comments, reviewers should focus on providing clear, objective, and helpful feedback about the submission’s strengths, weaknesses, and potential improvements.

Key Elements of a Good Review

• Summary of the Paper – Briefly describe what the paper is about to demonstrate your understanding of the work.
• Strengths – Highlight the positive aspects of the research, such as originality, methodology, or contribution to the field.
• Weaknesses – Point out areas that need improvement, such as unclear methodology, missing references, or insufficient analysis.
• Suggestions for Improvement – Provide constructive recommendations that can help the authors improve the manuscript.
• Final Recommendation – Provide your recommendation based on the evaluation criteria (e.g., accept, revise, or reject).

Best Practices for Writing Review Comments

• Be objective and focus on the research, not the authors.
• Use clear and professional language.
• Provide specific examples when pointing out issues.
• Explain why certain improvements are necessary.
• Ensure your feedback aligns with the conference evaluation criteria.

Things to Avoid

• Avoid personal criticism or harsh language.
• Do not reveal your identity if the conference uses a double-blind review process.
• Avoid very short comments that do not provide meaningful feedback.
• Do not include confidential information in comments shared with authors.

Helpful Tip

• Try to balance critical feedback with positive observations to help authors understand both strengths and areas for improvement.

Well-written reviewer comments help improve research quality and ensure a fair and transparent peer review process for the conference.