How to Write a Constructive Peer Review

Constructive peer review is a craft. It requires judgment, discipline, and a structure that makes the review easier for editors and authors to use.

Start with the editorial question

Before writing line-level comments, identify the main decision-relevant issues. What must the editor know? What must the authors address for the work to be reliable, clearer, or more complete?

Use a layered structure

Begin with a short summary, then list major concerns, then minor comments. This makes the review easier to scan and prevents small edits from obscuring substantial scientific questions.

Write comments that can be acted on

A constructive comment names the issue, explains why it matters, and suggests what kind of clarification, analysis, or revision would address it. Not every problem has an obvious solution, but every comment should be understandable.