How to Write a Review

Opinions: as half of the old saying goes, everyone’s got ‘em. Whether it’s on Twitter, on Yelp, or in Facebook posts from your great-aunt’s best friend, we’re constantly subjected to other people’s opinions—so if you want to share your take with a wider audience, it’s worthwhile to think about how to make it stand out. And if you zoom in on an opinion, build it out, and give it structure, you’ve got yourself a review.
You can review basically anything if you find the right outlet for it, but the best way to present your thoughts depends on what you’re writing about and who your audience is. But with most types of reviews, there’s a simple structure you can stick to in order to help you get started:
Before you write, make sure you know the general message you want to convey. A simple thesis will help keep your review from straying off-topic. This could be as straightforward as “I really liked this meal!” or as complex as “These shoes took a while to wear in.” Think to yourself: If I were telling a friend about this, what would I want their main takeaway to be?

2 Likes and dislikes
In the most glowing review, you may not include any dislikes. If the review is critical, try to find at least one positive to include, just to provide a break in between your incredible zings.
3 Your recommendation
A star rating may be the first thing most people see, but when folks skim your review, they’ll probably check the bottom for an idea of whether or not you’d recommend the meal, album, hike, or movie to others. You could also include a short explanation, like “I knocked it down one star because my utensils were dirty,” or “I’d recommend this play, but only if you’re as big of a musical theater buff as I am.”
If you need more direction, Grammarly has a few great places to start.
Writing a book review ? Grammarly has tips and tricks for how to keep your review informative, enlightening, and kind.
Remember that you’re reviewing a book that another human poured their heart and soul into to write. Express your honest opinion, but don’t be nasty about it. Imagine if it were your book being reviewed, how would you want a reader to express their critique?
If you’re writing a movie review , Grammarly can help keep you from getting too stressed about how to rate the film you just watched:
Rather than grasp for an arbitrary value, state plainly what a movie called to mind, or how it didn’t quite land with you, and explain why.
Writing a review of your new favorite restaurant ? You may need to paint a bigger picture of your experience than for the review of the tub of cheese puffs you ordered on Amazon.
Avoid vague words and phrases like “The service was bad” or “The pie was great.” Instead, provide specific details like, “The server was friendly but inexperienced and botched our drink order” or “The lemon meringue pie had a wonderfully flaky crust, a tart and tangy filling, and dreamy melt-in-your-mouth meringue.”
No matter what kind of review you’re writing, here are a few more quick tips:
- Judge the product, restaurant, escape room, or dog park for what it is. If you’re reviewing a McDonald’s, don’t complain about how you weren’t waited on hand and foot. Write your review based on reasonable expectations.
- Assume the best. You’re often assessing someone’s execution of their vision or product of their hard work, especially when it comes to art or food. You’re also more than likely writing this review on the internet, where the creator could probably find and see it in just a few clicks. We’re all human—assume the people who made this thing weren’t out to get you.
- Check your writing. Reviews reflect back on you, and readers might not take your opinion seriously if your spelling is all over the place or you use the word “ambiance” three times in one sentence. Grammarly can help you make sure your review is as effective as possible.
More from #HowToWrite:
How To Write a Tweet
How To Write a Joke
How To Write a Blog
How To Write a Book Review
How To Write a Complaint

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Unit 5: Lesson 2
- The SAT Writing and Language Test: Overview
- The SAT Writing and Language Test: the passages
- Writing and Language Test: Expression of Ideas
Writing and Language Test: Standard English Conventions
- Writing and Language Test: The Format
- Mark up the test: Writing and Language Test edition
- SAT Writing and Language Test Tips Share Space
Standard English Conventions
Some sub-topics within standard english conventions:.
- Sentence Formation questions will ask you to correct problems with sentences, including issues with modifier placement, parallel structure, sentence boundaries, and subordination and coordination.
- Inappropriate Shifts in Construction questions will ask you to correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense, voice, and mood.
- Pronouns and Agreement questions will ask you to correct errors in pronoun use and agreement.
- Frequently Confused Words questions will ask you to recognize and correct instances in which a word or phrase is confused with another (e.g., accept/except, allusion/illusion).
- Logical Comparison questions will ask you to correct cases in which unlike terms are compared.
- Conventional Expression questions will ask you to correct cases in which a given expression is inconsistent with standard written English.
- Within-Sentence Punctuation questions will ask you to correct inappropriate uses of colons, semicolons, and dashes.
- Possessive Nouns and Pronouns questions will ask you to correct inappropriate uses of possessive nouns and pronouns as well as differentiate between possessive and plural forms.
- Items in a Series questions will ask you to correct inappropriate uses of punctuation (commas and semicolons) to separate items in a series.
- Nonrestrictive and Parenthetical Elements questions will ask you to correctly use punctuation (commas, parentheses, dashes) to set off nonrestrictive and parenthetical sentence elements as well as recognize and correct cases in which restrictive or essential sentence elements are inappropriately set off with punctuation.
- Unnecessary Punctuation questions will ask you to correct cases in which unnecessary punctuation appears in a sentence.
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Writing Conventions: What They Are & Why They’re Important

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Have you ever thought about what language would be like if there weren’t any rules or conventions?
This article will remind us all about the importance of writing conventions and how to make the most of them.
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What are Writing Conventions?
The phrase “writing conventions” may sound unfamiliar to some, but everyone knows what they are when they see them.
The four pillars include:
- punctuation
- capitalization
The writers in our very own content marketing agency use it on a daily basis.
Pro tip: Test — don’t guess
There are a plethora of affordable tools at your disposal, like Grammarly or Editpad , that can instantly help you spot and fix these common writing conventions.
So test, don’t guess!
These four conventions allow us to understand any text that we’re reading without having to decipher it first. Without them, you wouldn’t know where a sentence, or a thought, begins or ends.
They make a language clear and easy to follow. There are other, more complex conventions as well, but these are often only required for more advanced college writing skills. (Or by running them through a grammar checker like ProWritingAid .)
Why Do Writing Conventions Matter?
Did you know that nearly 40% of people say digital tools make people more likely to use poor grammar and spelling skills?
This is especially true in the context of online dating, where the written word is the starting point of any introduction and hence the first impression. So, if for no other reason, proper grammar and punctuation will increase your chances of finding a partner.
It sounds subtle. But just like the experts from our MasterClass review can attest, it’s the details that make all the difference!
Writing conventions such as grammar, punctuation, and spelling are also a big deal in academic writing.
Examples of Writing Conventions
Now we’re going to talk about the most important writing conventions and why each of them matters in particular. We’re also going to provide examples to help you understand better.
Spelling has taken some serious hits in the era of the internet. While it’s a cause for concern to some, others don’t pay too much attention to it.
You’ve probably read a misspelled tweet or text message without flinching. That’s because, according to research, as long as the first and last letter of the word is at the correct place, the reader will be able to understand the text.

Punctuation
Imagine if you’re reading: “I don’t know what I’m reading how about you do you think she knows.” That’s is not an easy string of text to follow. How many sentences are there? Where do they begin, and where do they end?
You would have to apply extra effort to understand what the person who wrote it was trying to say. Punctuation gives you pause and provides rhythm to reading and writing. Correct punctuation also dictates the intonation.

Grammar provides the basic structure for any language. It teaches us how to use the words we know and how to form sentences. Undoubtedly, grammar is a complicated area that often takes a while to grasp fully.
Almost everyone makes grammatical mistakes, and those that say they don’t aren’t being exactly forthcoming.
For the most part, grammatical mistakes tend to be repetitive , and it’s much easier to choose the wrong word when they’re similar semantically or phonetically:

Writing Conventions Use Cases
Let’s explore situations where knowing to use writing conventions correctly can be of great use. Remember, the writing process is not only about what you write, but how you write it.
Capitalization use
Of course, you should know that you need to capitalize people’s names and rivers and mountains. But capitalization is often confusing when you’re supposed to write a title or indicate something unique in the text. Topic sentences can be a bit confusing here too.
However, that doesn’t mean that you should randomly distribute capital letters. And one of the most important rules to follow here is to always capitalize the first letter of a sentence.
Grammar use
There are many uses of grammar, and it would probably take an eBook to highlight them all. But one of the more frequent areas of grammar is the definite and indefinite article distribution.
For people with a degree in English language , this can often be a sore spot. But for people who are learning English as their second language, that can be a downright nightmare.
However, for making your sentences sound smoother and more accurate, learning where to place articles is vital.

Punctuation use
Punctuation matters because it helps us understand the exact meaning of a sentence. And as we know, a misplaced or omitted punctuation can drastically alter the meaning.
Commas allow you to pause and quickly absorb the information. A dash, for example, indicated a significant break in the thought of a sentence. One thing to keep note of is that the comma is often used improperly. If you expect to be able to follow proper writing conventions, knowing how to use a comma is about the first thing you should learn.
And quotation marks are also relevant because they signify direct speech. Adding the right punctuation mark in the right place can make all of the difference.

Writing Conventions FAQs
What are common punctuation mistakes.
Everyone has their weak points in punctuation. Some people tend to overuse the comma, and others keep skipping them.
Another issue that has come up in recent years is the overuse of the exclamation mark. This practice can sometimes overwhelm the reader. As a writer, these are all mistakes that you need to avoid at all costs.
When to Check Your Grammar and Spelling?
When you’re writing, it’s easy to get overly focused on not making writing mistakes, especially in grammar and spelling.
Most good writing apps, like Scrivener, will also help you spot these as you write, too.
But mistakes will happen, and it’s probably best to wait until you’re done to read through and edit. You’re less likely to break your focus in that way.
How do You Improve Your Writing Conventions Knowledge?
Without a doubt, the most effective way to improve all the most important writing conventions is to read as much as you can.
As you read, that’s when you can pay closer attention to the spelling, grammar, and capitalization without any stress of making a mistake. Something else to familiarize yourself with is how to use pronouns and proper nouns!
What are Some Strategies to Help You Remember?
There are too many things about writing conventions, and you can’t merely memorize them all. The best course of action is to focus on whatever you’re having a difficult time with and practice relentlessly.
Over time, you will be less likely to repeat the same mistakes. You can also try taking online quizzes and tests.
The Beauty of the (Correctly) Written Word
Some people take to grammar and spelling naturally and don’t have too many issues with either. Others see capitalization and punctuation as something that’s just boring and irrelevant.
But everyone will agree with one thing. That there’s a significant difference in reading a book or an article where the author followed all writing conventions and those where the author didn’t.
You won’t need to stop every few sentences to understand them or wonder when the writer’s current thought ends, and the next begins. Following conventions inevitably lead to better communication between a writer and a reader.
As a student, you may be able to get away with not following proper writing conventions, but in writing, the further you get in your field, the better your spelling, grammar, and punctuation needs to be. Check out our Grammarly review today!
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Writing a review
Reviews are a staple of journalism. Almost anything can be reviewed: music concerts, films, video games, products, books or restaurants.
The aim is to offer an honest critique of the object under review, and to make a recommendation to your audience.
Writing a review demands a different skill from writing a news story. Whereas in a news story, you must be objective objective and balanced, in a review you can be subjective , giving your opinion.
You can also be more personal and informal in tone: you want to create a rapport with the audience.
Your role as a reviewer is to
Reviews can be positive or negative but it is important to back up your opinions with evidence. In this video Mark Kermode reviews the film Ratchett and Clank.
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- Include all the relevant detail such as film title, director, lead actors, date of release.
- Summarise the plot concisely, avoiding spoilers and plot twists. Don’t give away the ending!
- Select and use short extracts/ examples to illustrate what struck you most about the film. Was a particular scene particularly funny, or poignant ? Give an example of good (or bad) acting.
- Other aspects may be worth commenting on, for example music or special effects.
- Give your opinion, but always back it up with evidence. Be fair – don’t write off an entire film because you disliked one actor.
- Make a final judgement, for example you could rate it out of five stars.
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9 Most Common Writing Conventions Writers Must Follow
Writers must follow specific rules to make their writing make sense, and those rules are called writing conventions.
Writing conventions are rules that writers follow that give their writing meaning and clarity. Students often study these rules in school, but they also become part of test prep programs. All writers, even established ones, can benefit from brushing up on these writing conventions.
When studying writing conventions, writers should learn both the main writing conventions and ones for specific genres, such as narrative writing or letter writing. Once you grasp these rules fully, you will be able to make written works that people can understand clearly. There are nine writing conventions worth looking into as you learn to be a better writer.
1. Spelling
3. punctuation, 4. capitalization, 5. formal writing conventions, 6. letter writing conventions, 7. narrative writing conventions, 8. persuasive writing conventions, 9. instructional writing conventions, a final word on writing conventions, faqs about writing conventions.

Spelling errors make English writing challenging to understand. As part of the writing process, you must be able to spell correctly. Spelling is also one of the most important self-editing skills.
Correct spelling gets tricky when it comes to homophones, which are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. For example, you need to know the difference between which and witch when Halloween time rolls around, or you might confuse your readers.
Read our guide to common spelling rules .

Grammar refers to the sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, tenses, and other aspects of building sentences and paragraphs that make sense. The standard English grammar rules are something most people learn in middle school and high school, but they remain essential conventions of writing that help your written works convey meaning properly.
Some common grammar rules that you will want to follow as you build your writing skill include:
- Always writing complete sentences
- Having proper subject/verb and pronoun/antecedent agreement
- Avoiding passive voice, when possible
- Not writing run-on sentences
- Understanding parts of speech and using them correctly
- When to use “a” versus “an” to describe a noun
Tip: Buy the best grammar checker you can afford.
Knowing where to put periods, commas, question marks, semicolons, quotation marks, and exclamation points are all critical to correct grammar usage. You’ll also want to know where parentheses, dashes and ellipses go, and how to use them properly. This is one of the fundamental writing conventions because it is vital to the meaning of sentences.
For example, you could say:
- Let’s eat Grandma.
However, if you did, someone might call the authorities. If you say instead:
- Let’s eat, Grandma.
Then you will be a thoughtful grandchild inviting your grandmother to dinner.
Read our guide to grammar and punctuation .
Capitalization rules are the fourth of the four main writing conventions. In any piece of writing, you need to know when to capitalize. Common capitalization rules include:
- Capitalize the first word in every new sentence
- Capitalize acronyms
- Capitalize proper names and proper nouns
- Capitalize words in a title, except for short prepositions and articles
- Capitalize days, months and holidays
- Capitalize the first word in a quote after the quotation mark
- Capitalize most time periods and major world events
Writing formal text for academic settings has its own set of rules. While teachers and writing style guides set these, some that are common across different schools and guides include:
- Avoid contractions
- Avoid nicknames
- Avoid slang
- Follow the style guide for the particular class or setting
When writing a letter, follow the rules for letter writing. These include:
- Place the address in the top right corner of the page.
- Use the date
- Open with a greeting, such as “Dear Sir,”
- Sign the letter
A narrative is a short story or book that includes characters and dialogue. When writing this, you will follow a pattern that consists of the introduction, climax, resolution and ending. Use proper grammar to showcase speech, but don’t be afraid to include dialect to make it more realistic.
A persuasive text tries to convince the reader to agree with the author or to take action. It needs to have a clear point of view, and will often use emotive language or rhetorical questions to cause the reader to think. Typically, persuasive writing combines logic with emotion so to convince a reader of a point of view. It is common in personal essays, journalism and self-help.
Learn more about persuasive writing .
Instructional writing gives step-by-step instructions that tell the reader how to do something. Some of the conventions that apply to this genre include:
- Use chronological order
- Add imperative verb commands, like “make” or “stir”
- Write in numbered lists to help the reader follow the steps
Writing conventions make English writing understandable. By following these rules, you can make the right word choice and choose the correct sentence structure to make your writing understandable and clear.
While writing conventions may seem obvious, it’s always good to brush up on them before sitting down to write. They are also vital to most school exams and college placement tests, which makes writing conventions an important part of most test prep resources.
Whether you are a seasoned writer or a student, learning these writing conventions, and learning them well, will only serve to help you write more accurately.
What do writing conventions mean?
Writing conventions are the rules that writers must follow. They create clarity and give writing the correct meaning.
What are the conventions of writing?
The four major writing conventions include grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization. Writers also follow genre-specific writing conventions.
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11+ Writing Conventions: Checklist for Students and Writers
Learn conventions of writing definition , and review important writing conventions college students and young writers should follow.
Putting ideas on paper does not seem that complicated. However, the expression of thoughts has to be done in a certain way which might seem a bit difficult. Therefore, rules and conventions are used to improve your essay’s readability.
If you are new to writing conventions, go through this blog carefully to learn about common English writing standards and why understanding them is necessary. Especially if you are a student or a young writer, you will likely come across this term in your essay assignments.
What Are Conventions in Writing?
Writing conventions are linguistic rules that make a write-up easier for readers to comprehend. These conventions are the components that can assist you in making your work understandable and clear.
Conventions in writing provide the framework on which readers can perceive the message. Unfortunately, writing conventions may not be strictly enforced by teachers in middle school, although this changes as students upgrade.
Importance of Writing Conventions
Imagine reading a text with no proper punctuation, incorrect grammar and spelling. Oh, what a nightmare! All these conventions help the readers understand the text better and establish proper communication. Writing conventions include advantages like:
- Ensuring that readers grasp a text’s intended meaning
- Completing assignments in a learning environment especially higher education.
- Strengthening college and job applications, and carrying out professional writing-related tasks

11 Most Common Conventions in Writing
Conventions in writing are guidelines that authors abide by to make their writing meaningful and understandable. These regulations are frequently covered in class but also included in test preparation courses. Even professional writers can benefit from brushing up on these writing conventions.
1. Spelling
A text filled with spelling errors makes English writing difficult to understand. To write efficiently, you must be able to spell correctly. Words are spelled according to their dictionary definitions to make it easier for readers to understand.
In cases where there are differences in spelling between British and American English , a writer should choose one version of English and stick to it throughout the entire text for consistency.
2. Grammar (Important Writing Conventions)
Grammar refers to the study of how to construct sentences and paragraphs that make sense, including sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, tenses, and other elements. Most people learn the fundamentals of English grammar in middle and high school.
Still, they continue to be important writing standards to convey the intended meaning of your written works. As a writer, you must have clarity on different parts of speech –
Here are some common grammar rules to follow:
- Always write complete sentences
- Suitable subject/verb and pronoun/antecedent agreement
- Avoid passive voice and make use of active voice
- Avoid writing long sentences
- Understand parts of speech and use them in the right manner
- Use the right article to describe a noun
3. Punctuation
Correct grammar requires understanding all punctuation symbols, including periods, commas, question marks, semicolons, quotation marks, and exclamation points. Moreover, you should know where parentheses, dashes, and ellipses belong and how to apply them correctly. Given that it is essential to the meaning of sentences, this is one of the fundamental writing conventions.
Ex: Thank you for your donation. It helped someone. Get a job!
This above sentence is an example of using wrong punctuation marks in inappropriate places.
4. Capitalization
Capitalization indicates that a new phrase begins when a word has a proper name or title. It is easier to memorize long words when they are shortened with capital letters and condensed into short forms. Common capitalization rules are:
- Capitalize the first word at the beginning of every new sentence
- Capitalize acronyms
- Capitalize proper nouns
- Capitalize days, months and holidays
- Capitalize periods and major world events
5. Subject Verb Agreement:
Young writers often make subject-verb agreement errors. Here’s a simple Subject – Verb Agreement Rule to follow: If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular too. If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. Check out this detailed infographic on 7 rules of subject-verb agreement:
6. Paragraphs
Your professors expect you to develop thoughtful, multifaceted arguments using effective paragraphs. In academic writing, paragraphs are essential for creating structure, as they separate points and demonstrate how they connect to form the argument.
Paragraphs help you convey sequences of ideas and how they relate to one another. A clear structure for your paragraphs helps guide the reader through your writing.
7. Cohesion and Coherence
When a text is coherent, the ideas are logically arranged and make sense to the reader. Cohesion binds the elements of a text together (e.g., words, phrases, clauses, and sentences).
A text reads smoothly when it conveys a well-organised argument or analysis. Therefore, make sure you focus first on your ideas and crafting an ambitious analysis. Try to get your thoughts down on paper first and then refine your analysis by revising for coherence and cohesion.
Conventions in Writing for Specific Genres
8. formal writing conventions .
Academic writing comes along with its own set of guidelines for formal text. While teachers and writing style standards establish these, some common rules are given below:
- Avoid slang
- Avoid nicknames
- Don’t use contractions
- Follow the style guide for the particular setting
9. Letter Writing Conventions
Read some letters to understand the standard writing style of a letter. Some of the basic writing conventions are,
- Letters will have an address, date and greeting in the top left-hand corner.
- Letters are written in paragraphs.
- They usually end with a sign-off like “Yours Sincerely” or “Yours Truly.”
10. Script Writing Conventions
Script writing involves certain conventions that make it different from other forms of writing. It consists of a plot, dialogues, sequence of actions, conflict and climax. Scriptwriters usually follow this formatting style
11. Persuasive Writing Conventions
The objective of persuasive texts is to persuade the reader to agree with the author’s point of view. Having a clear point of view in the introduction and conclusion is the best approach in this case. The writing will also include emotive language and rhetorical questions, along with facts and data. It is common in personal essays, journalism, and self-help.
12. Narrative Writing Conventions
A narrative is a book or short story with dialogue and characters. You will write this in a pattern that includes an introduction, climax, resolution, and ending. You can learn more about how to write a short story here.

Writing Conventions Checklist
The best strategy to become a skilled writer is to plan and get started early. While elementary students need to be aware of some fundamental writing guidelines, it’s essential to have a firm understanding of these writing patterns for higher education.
A final convention checklist is crucial for determining whether your work is of great quality or needs work. This checklist should include the following items:
- Are your sentences whole and meaningful?
- Is there any run-on sentence(s)?
- Are the punctuation marks used correctly?
- Is there any subject-verb agreement?
- Are you using the verb tense consistently throughout?
- Are capitalization and paragraphs in the right place?
- Are the suitable articles placed rightly before nouns? Etc.

Key Takeaways
- Definition of Conventions in writing: Writing conventions are language rules that make your text readable.
- Common conventions in writing that writers must follow are spelling, grammar, punctuation and capitalization.
- Writing conventions for specific genres such as script writing, narrative writing, persuasive writing and letter writing.
- Go through a final checklist of conventions in writing.
FAQs on Writing Conventions
What is writing conventions examples.
Writing conventions are accepted guidelines used to make writing more understandable and clear. Capitalization, punctuation, and spelling are a few basic examples.
What are conventions in academic writing?
Academic writing is a formal style of writing. Some basic rules include avoiding slang, appropriate use of headings, spelling out acronyms properly, abstaining from using contractions and so on.
What are the five conventions?
The five components that make up the conventions trait are spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar/usage, and paragraphing.

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Engaging in Peer Review
There are times when we write in solitary and intend to keep our words private. However, in many cases, we use writing as a way of communicating. We send messages, present and explain ideas, share information, and make arguments. One way to improve the effectiveness of this written communication is through peer-review.
What is Peer-Review?
In the most general of terms, peer-review is the act of having another writer read what you have written and respond in terms of its effectiveness. This reader attempts to identify the writing's strengths and weaknesses, and then suggests strategies for revising it. The hope is that not only will the specific piece of writing be improved, but that future writing attempts will also be more successful. Peer-review happens with all types of writing, at any stage of the process, and with all levels of writers.
Sometimes peer-review is called a writing workshop.
What is a Writing Workshop?
Peer-review sessions are sometimes called writing workshops. For example, students in a writing class might bring a draft of some writing that they are working on to share with either a single classmate or a group, bringing as many copies of the draft as they will need. There is usually a worksheet to fill out or a set questions for each peer-review reader to answer about the piece of writing. The writer might also request that their readers pay special attention to places where he or she would like specific help. An entire class can get together after reading and responding to discuss the writing as a group, or a single writer and reader can privately discuss the response, or the response can be written and shared in that way only.
Whether peer-review happens in a classroom setting or not, there are some common guidelines to follow.
Common Guidelines for Peer-Review
While peer-review is used in multiple contexts, there are some common guidelines to follow in any peer-review situation.
If You are the Writer
If you are the writer, think of peer-review as a way to test how well your writing is working. Keep an open mind and be prepared for criticism. Even the best writers have room for improvement. Even so, it is still up to you whether or not to take the peer-review reader's advice. If more than one person reads for you, you might receive conflicting responses, but don't panic. Consider each response and decide for yourself if you should make changes and what those changes will be. Not all the advice you get will be good, but learning to make revision choices based on the response is part of becoming a better writer.
If You are the Reader
As a peer-review reader, you will have an opportunity to practice your critical reading skills while at the same time helping the writer improve their writing skills. Specifically, you will want to do as follows:
Read the draft through once
Start by reading the draft through once, beginning to end, to get a general sense of the essay as a whole. Don't write on the draft yet. Use a piece of scratch paper to make notes if needed.
Write a summary
After an initial reading, it is sometimes helpful to write a short summary. A well written essay should be easy to summarize, so if writing a summary is difficult, try to determine why and share that with the writer. Also, if your understanding of the writer's main idea(s) turns out to be different from what the writer intended, that will be a place they can focus their revision efforts.
Focus on large issues
Focus your review on the larger writing issues. For example, the misplacement of a few commas is less important than the reader's ability to understand the main point of the essay. And yet, if you do notice a recurring problem with grammar or spelling, especially to the extent that it interferes with your ability to follow the essay, make sure to mention it.
Be constructive
Be constructive with your criticisms. A comment such as "This paragraph was boring" isn't helpful. Remember, this writer is your peer, so treat him/her with the respect and care that they deserve. Explain your responses. "I liked this part" or "This section doesn't work" isn't enough. Keep in mind that you are trying to help the writer revise, so give him/her enough information to be able to understand your responses. Point to specific places that show what you mean. As much as possible, don't criticize something without also giving the writer some suggestion for a possible solution. Be specific and helpful.
Be positive
Don't focus only on the things that aren't working, but also point out the things that are.
With these common guidelines in mind, here are some specific questions that are useful when doing peer-review.
Questions to Use
When doing peer-review, there are different ways to focus a response. You can use questions that are about the qualities of an essay or the different parts of an essay.
Questions to Ask about the Qualities of an Essay
When doing a peer-review response to a piece of writing, one way to focus it is by answering a set of questions about the qualities of an essay. Such qualities would be:
Organization
- Is there a clearly stated purpose/objective?
- Are there effective transitions?
- Are the introduction and conclusion focused on the main point of the essay?
- As a reader, can you easily follow the writer's flow of ideas?
- Is each paragraph focused on a single idea?
- At any point in the essay, do you feel lost or confused?
- Do any of the ideas/paragraphs seem out of order, too early or too late to be as effective as they could?
Development and Support
- Is each main point/idea made by the writer clearly developed and explained?
- Is the support/evidence for each point/idea persuasive and appropriate?
- Is the connection between the support/evidence, main point/idea, and the overall point of the essay made clear?
- Is all evidence adequately cited?
- Are the topic and tone of the essay appropriate for the audience?
- Are the sentences and word choices varied?
Grammar and Mechanics
- Does the writer use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling?
- Are there any issues with any of these elements that make the writing unreadable or confusing?
Revision Strategy Suggestions
- What are two or three main revision suggestions that you have for the writer?
Questions to Ask about the Parts of an Essay
When doing a peer-review response to a piece of writing, one way to focus it is by answering a set of questions about the parts of an essay. Such parts would be:
Introduction
- Is there an introduction?
- Is it effective?
- Is it concise?
- Is it interesting?
- Does the introduction give the reader a sense of the essay's objective and entice the reader to read on?
- Does it meet the objective stated in the introduction?
- Does it stay focused on this objective or are there places it strays?
- Is it organized logically?
- Is each idea thoroughly explained and supported with good evidence?
- Are there transitions and are they effective?
- Is there a conclusion?
- Does it work?
Peer-Review Online
Peer-review doesn't happen only in classrooms or in face-to-face situations. A writer can share a text with peer-review readers in the context of a Web classroom. In this context, the writer's text and the reader's response are shared electronically using file-sharing, e-mail attachments, or discussion forums/message boards.
When responding to a document in these ways, the specific method changes because the reader can't write directly on the document like they would if it were a paper copy. It is even more important in this context to make comments and suggestions clear by thoroughly explaining and citing specific examples from the text.
When working with an electronic version of a text, such as an e-mail attachment, the reader can open the document or copy/paste the text in Microsoft Word, or other word-processing software. In this way, the reader can add his or her comments, save and then send the revised document back to the writer, either through e-mail, file sharing, or posting in a discussion forum.
The reader's overall comments can be added either before or after the writer's section of text. If all the comments will be included at the end of the original text, it is still a good idea to make a note in the beginning directing the writer's attention to the end of the document. Specific comments can be inserted into appropriate places in the document, made clear by using all capital letters enclosed with parenthesis. Some word-processing software also has a highlighting feature that might be helpful.
Benefits of Peer Review
Peer-review has a reflexive benefit. Both the writer and the peer-review reader have something to gain. The writer profits from the feedback they get. In the act of reviewing, the peer-review reader further develops his/her own revision skills. Critically reading the work of another writer enables a reader to become more able to identify, diagnose, and solve some of their own writing issues.
Peer Review Worksheets
Here are a few worksheets that you can print out and use for a peer-review session.
Parts of an Essay
- My audience is:
- My purpose is:
- The main point I want to make in this text is:
- One or two things that I would appreciate your comments on are:
- After reading through the draft one time, write a summary of the text. Do you agree with the writer's assessment of the text's main idea?
- In the following sections, answer the questions that would be most helpful to the writer or that seem to address the most relevant revision concerns. Refer to specific places in their text, citing examples of what you mean. Use a separate piece of paper for your responses and comments. Also, write comments directly on the writer's draft where needed.
- Is it effective? Concise? Interesting?
- Is there a conclusion? Does it work?
Finally, what are two or three revision suggestions you have for the writer?
Qualities of an Essay
- After reading through the draft one time, write a summary of the text.
- In the following sections, answer the questions that would be most helpful to the writer or that seem to address the most relevant revision concerns. Use a separate piece of paper for your responses and comments. Also, write comments directly on the writer's draft where needed.
- Is the connection between the support/evidence, main point/idea, and the overall point of the essay made clear?Is all evidence adequately cited?
Salahub, Jill . (2007). Peer Review. [email protected] . Colorado State University. https://writing.colostate.edu/guides/guide.cfm?guideid=43

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1.3: Reviewing Conventions
Learning objectives.
- Identify writing conventions for journalistic and academic writing
- Examine conventions for technical communication
What are Writing Conventions?
Every genre of writing has unique characteristics and rules, called conventions, that help readers classify a document as belonging to a particular genre. This also applies to film and music. Think about the last movie you saw. What type of movie was it? What about that movie gave you that impression? Did the characters wear Stetson hats, ride horses, and carry guns? Did they fly in space ships, encounter alien beings, and use futuristic technology? Those elements are typical conventions of Western and Science Fiction genres.
Non-fiction is a category that can be broken into various genres and sub-genres. The main types of non-fiction that are relevant to us are journalism (newspaper writing), academic writing (written by scholars and published in peer-reviewed academic journals or books), and technical writing. Before we get into the specific conventions that characterize technical writing, take a moment to think back to your academic writing courses and list some conventions typical of journalism (popular press) and academic writing for the criteria listed in Table 1.3.A.
What are Writing Conventions for Technical Communications?
Like journalism and scholarly writing, technical writing also has distinct features that readers expect to see in documents that fall within this genre. These include (a) use of headings to organize information into coherent sections, (b) use of lists to present information concisely, (c) use of figures and tables to present data and information visually, and (d) use of visual design to enhance readability.
In addition, technical documentation is intended to communicate information in a way that is clear and easy to read. Designing technical communication is like designing any other product for an intended user: the ultimate goal is to make it “user friendly.”
Keywords here are accessible , usable, clear, goal-oriented , effective , and reader-centred . The characteristics of technical writing support these goals and concepts.
If we filled in Table 1.3.A. with typical characteristics of technical writing, it might look something like Table 1.3.B:

Exercise 1.3.A: Examine the Conventions of Technical Writing
Read this technical writing piece and answer/discuss the questions that follow.
Brine Drainage Tube Modifications
During this period, we have continued to work on problems associated with the brine drainage tubes.
Previous Period: After minor adjustments during a month of operation, the drainage tubes and the counter-washer have performed better but still not completely satisfactorily. The screen sections of these tubes, as you know, are located at variable distances along the height of the washer.
Current Period: The screen portion of the brine drainage tubes have been moved to within 5 feet of the top of the pack. So far, no change in counter-washer performance has been observed. Production statistics at the end of this month (February) should give us a clearer idea of the effect of this modification.
Next Period: Depending on the continued performance of the screen in its current position in relation to the top of the pack, we may move the screen to within 3 feet of the top of the pack in the next period of testing. Although the wash ratio was greater with greater screen height, the washing efficiency seems to remain relatively constant; the production vs. compressor KW data for all screen locations so far has seemed to follow the same linear curve.
- What is the purpose of this piece of technical writing?
- Who is the intended audience?
- What writing style is it using?
- What tone does it have?
- What structure does it have?
- What formatting does it use?
- Are there any other features you notice about it?
References & Attributions
Attributions
Content on this page is adapted from Technical Writing Essentials by Suzan Last, which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Progress Report in exercise is taken from Progress Reports (from Online Technical Writing: Examples, Cases & Models ) by David McMurrey, which is licensed under CC-BY 4.0 International License .
Writing in a Technical Environment (First Edition) by Centennial College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
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- 1. Conventions of a Film Review Jaymelouise Hudspith
- 2. Where are They Found? Typically a film reviews were found in Newspapers such as The Sun and The Guardian; official magazines such as Sight and Sound; aggregate sites such as Rotten Tomato's and metacritic. Each form tackles the review and layout in various forms to incorporate their audience.
- 3. Newspapers Depending on the news paper will depend on the style of the review, for example a review from The Guardian will be much more sophisticated the a review from The Sun. Reviews from The Guardian will use formal language, they will focus on less mainstream films. However, The Sun for example is much less sophisticated and informal; using language such as “have a beer, grab a mate…”. So overall they will give completely different reviews of the same film as they have different audiences and conventions.
- 4. Example:
- 5. Official Magazines Purposely designed to be bold and stand out against the other text and the page to draw the reader in. The tag line often sums up the important details from the film and depending on the genre is a sometimes a play on words designed to be humours. Allows people to see the detail of the film like stars, director, etc. Giving people an insight into the film such as if its child appropriate, age restrictions, etc. The use of a dramatic photo like this is used with the purpose of forcing the audience into wanting to see it, wanting to know what is going on, about the plot and in turn forcing them to see the film. The synopsis of the film allows people to see a summary of the plot before they read the whole thing. This means they can decide if it is something they will enjoy before they waste their time. Other film reviews and topics present in the magazine helping the reader to quickly locate what they wish to find The critic will give the film a rating, usually out of five stars but it may, in this care be a summary in words of whether or not the film was worth watching. This helps the audience decided whether or not it is something they will enjoy.
- 6. Examples:
- 7. Aggregate Sites These sites combine the film review with the percentage or score the critic feels it deserves, the audience can leave reviews on their thoughts of the film and change the score showing how their views can make an influence. If the film scores over 60% it is considered a film worth watching and in Rotten Tomato’s case considered fresh and under 60% is considered rotten.
- 8. Example:
- 9. Film Name and Year Having the film name and year of the film release is conventional to any review as it allows the audience to understand the film genre, credits, details, director, screenwriter, cast, stars, soundtrack and much more information.
- 10. Quotes and Tag Lines More often then not a review will begin with a quote or a reference or a tag line from the actual film as a brief introduction into the film to grab the audiences attention, hence it is a common feature into reviews. Although it is not used by all short films as they may not have key quotations within them due to their length.
- 11. Introduction and Summary Its is very conventional for the first paragraph to contain a brief plot summary of the film, often written with the intention of leading the audience to want to see the film. The summary will include aspects of the timeline, location, narrative, cast performance, etcetera. This is often proceeded by a personal view of the film form the writers perspective.
- 12. Aspects It is convention to feature the positive aspects of the film by itself. This is often to create a personal opinion of certain points od interest can be focussed on within the production. This often focuses on points such as the story, mise-en-scene, set scenes, special effects used throughout, music, etcetera. This is then followed by the negatives of the film following the same points.
- 13. Characters It is sometimes a convention for short films reviews to focus on the protagonists in a film, explain how they’re good or bad, explore their qualities, personality, etcetera. However, this isn’t always present in a short film review because they have so few characters.
- 14. Ratings In film reviews it is conventional to summarise the review in a brief paragraph. Usually with a percentage or a rating out of five stars. However this isn’t always present as it is sometimes just apparent in the wording of the review and is therefore not needed.
- 15. Other Increased size of the first letter of the paragraph Image with captions and / or annotations Page numbers Italic for quotes The date Name of writer and publisher Index of other reviews or articles
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Essay Writing Guide
Writing Conventions

Rules and Writing Conventions For College Student
Published on: Nov 7, 2017
Last updated on: Mar 16, 2023

On This Page On This Page
As a college student, you will have to come across a lot of practices and conventions of academic writing. These rules and conventions are used to make your essay writing more readable.
You are most likely to come across this term in your written English language assignments.
At this point, you might be unable to define writing conventions, but putting ideas on paper does not seem very complicated, right?
If you are new to this concept, give this blog a thorough read to know what are standard English writing conventions and why mastering them is so important.
What Are Writing Conventions?
Writing conventions are language rules that help readers to understand the text easily. These conventions are basically those elements that can help you make your writing clear and understandable.
Conventions in writing serve as the basis for readers to understand the message. In middle school, teachers might not be very strict when it comes to writing conventions but later on, this is not the case.
If you are a high school or college student or planning to become one in the future, a good knowledge of grammar and type of sentence structure is a must.
With tough schedules and tons of assignments, it is not a surprise that students complain about learning subjects as they move through grades. They feel even more stressed when they have to find the right words to convey their message in their assignments properly.
Being required to follow some basic rules and writing conventions such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation is an additional task to carry out. For that reason, it is important to know when to plan ahead and what exactly you are trying to say.
Importance of Writing Conventions
Correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar are important because they help the reader understand what they are reading. If all of these were incorrect, no one would be able to read or enjoy the text.
Many school exams and tests are graded according to how well you follow the rules of grammar. This is an important skill to master.
Good writing skills are important for children throughout their school years and adulthood. For example, following the conventions for resumes - such as using correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar - can help when applying for a job in the future.
Basic Writing Conventions 2022
Although many students are not aware of the goal that is to make what they write easier to understand, they get plenty of instructions in each area of conventions. If you are struggling in any of these areas, learn why conventions are important to learn.
The main academic writing conventions include grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Each serves a different purpose and should be mastered for essays or any kind of other research paper to be of the best quality.
Spelling is a very important convention of writing. Students spell out words through the patterns of sound as they write. In this way, they break down words into syllables and map them alphabetically. So, spelling is an important convention that you need to pay attention to if you don't want to score poor grades due to silly spelling errors.
Punctuation
Your writing will not make any sense if you have not used proper puntuation. Have a look at the following sentence as an example,
She didn’t want to go, but she told me I had to; if I didn’t, I would never be able to find the truth. Not that easy to follow, right? Punctuation allows us to read something the way it is meant. Punctuation helps us to know when to stop, when to read, when to pause, and when to start a new sentence.
Capitalization
Capitalization tells that a new sentence starts when something is a proper name or a title. Capital letters help to show the importance of words and also help to shorten long words with acronyms that take less space and are more often easier to remember. Capitalization rules are quite simple; once learned, students will not face any difficulty using them.
Grammar means how to change the word structure to come up with a coherent and understandable sentence. Keep in mind that speaking and writing are two different things when it comes to grammar. You should be consistent in time usage and well versed in the present perfect and past simple. Otherwise, your reader might be unsure about the time frame or sequence of events described.
Writing Conventions For Specific Genres
Different genres have their own set of rules and principles to follow, but there are some common features that all texts share, such as spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Below are some common genres and their conventions for your help.
Narrative Writing Conventions
A narrative text is a type of text that tells a story. This might be in the form of a book, movie, or TV show. A story typically has characters, speech, and a clear structure.
Sometimes people plan their writing using a story mountain structure, which means that their narrative will have a clear introduction, build-up, climax, resolution, and ending. If you are reading a text and see these features, you can be sure that it is a narrative.
Persuasive Writing Conventions
Persuasive texts aim to change the reader's mind to agree with the author's point of view. The way to do this is by having a clear point of view in the introduction and conclusion. The text will also include facts and figures, emotive language, and rhetorical questions.
Letter Writing Conventions
When you are reading a letter, you can look for clues to help you understand what type of text it is. Letters will have an address in the top right-hand corner, as well as a date and a greeting. Letters are usually written in paragraphs, and they will usually finish with a sign-off such as “Yours Sincerely”.
Script Writing Conventions
Script writing is the process of writing down what happens in a movie, including the movement, actions, expression, and dialogue of the characters.
There are different ways to write a story. When you write for the screen, you need to use a certain formatting style. This is so that your story can be told visually.
Writing Conventions Checklist
To become a skillful writer, the best approach is to plan ahead and start early. For elementary students, it is important to be aware of some basic writing tips, but for higher education, it is essential to have a good grasp of these writing conventions.
To make sure your writing is of good quality or has a room for improvement, it is important to have a final convention checklist that should include:
- Are your sentences complete?
- Is there any run-on sentence(s)?
- Are the pronouns used correctly?
- Is there any subject-verb agreement?
- Is the verb tense consistent throughout?
- Are capitalization and paragraphs in the right place? Etc.
Writing Conventions Recommendations
Different types of writing have different rules. For example, how you write in a text message differs from how you write an essay. And how you write an essay is different from how you write poetry.
The following are some basic tips that you can use for your help.
- Do not use fragments in your writing.
- When mentioning a person's name for the first time, always spell it out in the full form.
- Consider punctuation marks when writing.
- Abbreviations should be avoided.
- Cite your sources correctly.
Now you know what the formal writing conventions in writing are. Keep in mind that the conventions checklist should be the final stage in the editing process. When you are done with the writing and revising process and are ready to hand in your essay, you should check your essay for writing conventions. In this way, you can avoid basic writing problems and ensure that your paper is as perfect as it can be.
Now you know what conventions are in writing. If you are still confused, why not contact our customer support team and clear your confusion.
Feel free to place your order at MyPerfectWords.com and get top essay writing service from top-notch writers with effective use of writing conventions. Do take this chance and see what proper writing conventions look like.
So contact us today to hire the best paper writer online!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 4 conventions of writing.
The four conventions of writing are;
- Spelling
- Capitalization
- Grammar
- Punctuation
Nova A. (Literature, Marketing)
Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.
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How to Write a Video Game Review
Last Updated: August 9, 2022
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden . Hannah Madden is a writer, editor, and artist currently living in Portland, Oregon. In 2018, she graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Hannah enjoys writing articles about conservation, sustainability, and eco-friendly products. When she isn’t writing, you can find Hannah working on hand embroidery projects and listening to music. This article has been viewed 259,224 times. Learn more...
The gaming industry is booming, and is expected to have a net worth of $137.9 billion as of 2018. [1] X Research source As such, video game reviews are becoming more and more prevalent. If you’d like to write a video game review of your own, play the game for about 10 hours, take notes on what you like and dislike, and give your own opinion on the game to create a comprehensive video game review.
Playing the Game and Taking Notes

- If the game has different levels, try to level up as many times as possible. If the game is an open world, explore as much of it as you can.

- Details as small as the trees waving in the wind or a character’s headband can help a reader envision the in-game world when they read your review.

Tip: Try to be specific. Instead of writing “The main character sucks!” try, “The main character didn’t have as many weapon options as I would have liked.” This will be helpful when you start writing.

- For example, you could say, “This racing game has more car model options, but less customizable pieces than their last release.”
Compiling Your Notes into a Review

Tip: If you are publishing a video game review on your own website or blog, you can choose your word count. However, your readers will probably appreciate a comprehensive review.

- For example, say something like, “After the success of Injustice, the newest game from the NetherRealm Studios is Mortal Kombat X. With this installment in the MK series, Nether Realm has mended all the shortcomings that Injustice had and added so much more. MK X is by far the best MK game we have seen in the series.”

- For example, “The movements of the characters and flair with which the executions and bonus moves are performed are one of the best we’ve ever seen. The blood and gore of MK coupled with the next generation graphics truly delivers an experience like no other.”

- For example, “This game breathes fresh air into the market by offering characters who each have a different playing style, offering you the opportunity to learn the combo moves of each character.”

- For example, “I certainly advise you to go pick yourself up a copy of this game. It might just be the best fighting game to come out in 2016. I rate it 8.8/10.”

- Your review may get sent back to you by an editor if it needs to be changed.
Community Q&A

- Avoid giving out obvious information about the game like the publisher, year, and developer, as this is a review of the game, not a summary of the game's statistics. ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

- ↑ https://newzoo.com/insights/articles/global-games-market-reaches-137-9-billion-in-2018-mobile-games-take-half/
- ↑ https://www.freelancewriting.com/freelancing/writing-a-video-game-review/
- ↑ https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/22/you-got-game-but-can-you-write
- ↑ http://gamersushi.com/2011/03/23/how-to-write-a-video-game-review/
About This Article

To write a video game review, you’ll want to give readers an overview of the game’s different elements and provide your personal opinion on how good it is. You’ll need to play the game for at least 7 hours to get a real feel for it. Try to explore as many different parts of the game as you can, like its main story, side quests, multiplayer, and challenges. While you’re playing, take brief notes on the things you like and things that don’t work so well to help you write your review. You’ll want to cover topics like graphics, sound design, story, game mechanics, and how well it runs. You can also compare it to other games in its genre to show readers what’s unique about it. Give it a grade out of 10 or a star rating at the end. For more tips, including how to edit and proofread your game review, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No
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Mohamed Abdalla
Aug 10, 2016
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Write your review based on reasonable expectations. Assume the best. You're often assessing someone's execution of their vision or product of their hard work, especially when it comes to art or food. You're also more than likely writing this review on the internet, where the creator could probably find and see it in just a few clicks.
Standard English Conventions On the SAT Writing & Language Test, you will encounter questions that will ask you to interact with and revise passages in different ways. Standard English Conventions questions ask you to make sentences consistent with standard grammar, usage, and punctuation conventions.
In most cases, though, following language conventions proves highly useful. When a writer fails to observe conventions, the reader is likely to be distracted, annoyed, or confused. When a writer does observe conventions, the reader's attention can be focused on the message being sent. In reality, though, conventions aren't truly separate from
The phrase "writing conventions" may sound unfamiliar to some, but everyone knows what they are when they see them. The four pillars include: spelling grammar punctuation capitalization The writers in our very own content marketing agency use it on a daily basis. Pro tip: Test — don't guess
review writing conventions 16,000+ results Sort: Relevance View: Practicing Writing Conventions By Writing A Review by Stapleton 5.0 (1) $1.50 Word Document File This one's pretty straightforward. The assignment simply requires that students write a review of something - of anything.
Writing Conventions. This style guide was developed to assist those who write on behalf of the University. It includes some commonly used AP style rules as well as style guidelines specific to Southwestern University. Other style guidelines may be more appropriate for special types of publications and audiences. Please also refer to the ...
Writing a review Reviews are a staple of journalism. Almost anything can be reviewed: music concerts, films, video games, products, books or restaurants. The aim is to offer an honest critique...
Writing conventions are rules that writers follow that give their writing meaning and clarity. Students often study these rules in school, but they also become part of test prep programs. All writers, even established ones, can benefit from brushing up on these writing conventions.
The conventions in writing usage chapter of this College Composition Help and Review course is the simplest way to master conventions in writing usage. This chapter uses simple and fun videos that ...
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Aspects It is convention to feature the positive aspects of the film by itself. This is often to create a personal opinion of certain points od interest can be focussed on within the production. This often focuses on points such as the story, mise-en-scene, set scenes, special effects used throughout, music, etcetera.
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1. Aim to write about 1,000 words in your review. If you are submitting your review to a gaming site, they will most likely want between 800 and 1,000 words in your review. Indie games or mobile apps can be on the lower end, while popular games should be more in-depth and closer to 1,000 words. [6]
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