How to Write a Commentary for Medical Journals in Six Easy Steps

Commentaries and editorials are among the most underrated and underutilized tools in healthcare writing. Writing a medical journal commentary is one of the best ways to break into academic writing, establish your voice in a particular field or topic area, and/or make a large impact for a relatively small investment of time and energy.

 While the idea of inserting opinions into professional writing might seem daunting, having a systematic approach to this form of writing can make the entire process easier. This article will explore the concept of the commentary and break down a simple approach to writing a commentary on any topic.

What is a commentary?

Commentaries are medical journal articles that contain the subjective thoughts or opinions of the author. A commentary typically intends to make a persuasive point or take a stance on an issue. They are sometimes called “editorials” or “perspectives” and these terms may be interchangeable or may denote different characteristics, depending on the publication. For instance, at JAAPA, an article is called a “commentary” if it is written by a guest author and it is called an “editorial” if it is written by a journal editor or member of the editorial board. These semantics shouldn’t distract you; you can think of a commentary as the medical journal equivalent of an op-ed or opinion column of a newspaper.

Despite their opinionated nature, commentaries should still be written with high standards. They should be well-written, carefully structured, and should have a focused thesis (the single, central idea) with supporting points. They often contain references, albeit far fewer than a review article, and should be thoroughly fact-checked. Commentaries may or may not reference material within the journal they are published and often incorporate the unique perspective of the author.

How to Write a Commentary (Video)

Types of Commentaries

Commentaries are written in diverse styles for a variety of purposes. There is no right way to write a commentary, but here are some unofficial “flavors” of commentaries that you might want to try:

Commentaries that refer to an in-journal article

For some journals, a “commentary” is an article that discusses another article within that journal. This type of commentary can serve a variety of purposes. It can add perspective or context to a non-editorial article—like a research article—or it can serve as a counterpoint to another editorial or opinion-based article. These are often written by members of a journal’s editorial staff or by invited authors, but journals might also accept unsolicited submissions. Like letters to the editor, these articles should very clearly state which article they reference and should be written and published along with, or soon after, the referenced article to maintain timely relevance.

Here’s an example of an editorial that commented on a research study published in the same journal. It offered a contrary opinion to the discussion of that research and elicited a response from the authors in the form of a letter to the editor. This back-and-forth allows readers to watch an academic discussion play out in real time. This particular author also seems to have fun creating waves.

How to write a commentary on another academic article:

1. Understand the target article’s context

Of course, you should read and understand the article on which you will write a commentary. But you should also seek to understand the background and context of that article so that you can intelligently comment on its place in the larger academic literature and conversation. Is this article consistent with previous research or is it groundbreaking? Does it contradict established knowledge? Is it absurd or iconoclastic? Is it written by a newcomer or an established giant in the field? Do your research so that you can speak from a place of authority.

2. Decide your stance

Commentary doesn’t have to mean criticism. You may offer counterpoints or criticism of the work, or you might want to elevate and elaborate on work that you find important. An above example shows how to use commentary as a rebuttal, but here is an example of a commentary article that simply elevated and expanded upon excellent research in an important field. No matter your perspective, be specific. Avoid general criticism or praise and take a stand on a particular element(s) of the article.

3. Play by the rules

Commentary articles often must follow the specific rules of the journal in which they appear. But here are some general rules to follow when drafting your commentary:

• Mention the original article within the first 2-3 sentences of your commentary and explain its relevance at the top of the commentary.
• Build up or connect to a larger idea, theme, or issue. Scientific articles are often very specific. A good commentator will provide broader context and connect a topic to a more expansive train of thought.
• Bring in 2-3 outside references that give additional context to the original article and/or your thesis.
• If you critique, do it respectfully without insulting or disparaging.

Commentaries that address current events

Some commentaries place major current political, economic, social, or environmental events in the context of medical practice and explore their impact on healthcare. Despite the broad reach of these topics, the editorial articles should still address the primary audience of the publication in which they are published and ensure they are relevant to the scope of that publication. For example, this NEJM Perspective article explores the impact that the end of Roe v. Wade has on the delivery of healthcare.

Commentaries that add nuance

Sometimes a topic that seems straightforward deserves deeper exploration and analysis. A commentary is an excellent way to show new sides of a particular topic, problem, or event. When scandal ravaged the Veterans Health Administration in 2014, I wrote this commentary article with an investigative slant that attempted to add an element feared by writers and readers alike: nuance. It won an ASHPE Silver Award for Best Commentary.

Commentaries from a deeply personal perspective

An author’s personal perspective may be the most important element in an editorial. For some articles, this perspective might rely on extensive experience or expertise. In other cases, the key ingredient is much more personal. Some commentaries pull from deeply personal experiences in an author’s personal and professional life. This NEJM commentary written by Dr. Justin Bullock, for example, details a young doctor’s journey through medical training with bipolar disorder.  The raw, personal humanity of his story makes his advocacy much more potent.

Differnt Types of Commentary Articles (Video)

The 6 Easy Steps to Writing a Medical Journal Commentary

1. Choose the subject matter

The first step may be the most important. Choose a topic that is relevant to the audience you want to reach, that meshes with your knowledge, experience, or expertise, and for which you have a particular passion. Subjects that personally resonate with the author tend to produce better commentaries.

If you’re struggling to think of or narrow your topic, try the free guide below. The First Five Steps to Publication for Healthcare Professionals walks you through the entire process of finding and narrowing a topic that will appeal to readers and editors.

2. Conduct the research

How much research do commentaries require? It’s a tough question and the answer varies by the subject, perspective, and purpose of the article. Wise authors will conduct a focused literature review to address their blind spots, but most commentaries include only a few references in the final version.

To make my commentaries stand out, I like to get creative in the research phase. For my commentary on the VHA scandal, among other things I interviewed a former Veterans Affairs employee (see my chaotic early research in the photo below). For this NEJM blog on toxic workplaces, I researched a relevant high-profile incident in a different industry. And for this editorial on advance directives, I read 50 advance directive forms on the AARP website, just so I could say that I did it.

3. Write a thesis statement

The thesis statement is the single, central idea of the entire commentary. It is more than just the topic; it is the stance you are taking on that topic. The central idea should stand on its own and the rest of the article exists to support this main point. If you are having trouble coming up with just a single thesis statement, it might mean you might need to narrow your article’s focus.

For example, this article tackles some complex ideas, but the main, singular point is focused enough to fit right in the title: “Healthcare owes us real mental health support.” You can tell the subject matter, and the author’s stance, in just seven words. This editorial similarly dives into tricky waters, but the entire article hangs on a central thesis that also appears right in the title: “Diversity requires an admissions process overhaul.” Your thesis does not need to appear in the commentary’s title, but it should be big, bold, and obvious before your start writing.

(Note: Creating a thesis could easily have been Step 2 of this process, but I like to go into the research phase with an open mind just in case I discover information that might change my initial view of an issue.)

4. Outline the supporting evidence

Write down two or three main points that support your thesis. Below each of those, write down the evidence that backs up these points. Just like that, you have now created a mini-outline for your commentary and you are ready to start writing.

5. Create a hook

Commentaries are one of the few types of academic writing that rely on their audiences’ rapt attention and emotional investment. Authors need to grab their readers from the start. Spend some time brainstorming and writing an opening that:

1) Captures reader attention

2) Demonstrates the topic’s importance

3) Invests the reader in the outcome

Personal stories (real or hypothetical) are often effective at doing all these things. And if your subject matter is very abstract, you may want an opening grounded in vivid, concrete details. Here’s one example of this and then another.

6. Call for action

Typically, you will write about a topic or problem because you want to create change or have an impact. After all, the main difference between complaints and advocacy is the presence of a solution. Once you have described a problem and laid out a stellar persuasive account of the situation, call on your reader to help you fix it. Offering a solution to every problem might seem daunting, but you can keep this vague and simple if you don’t have the space for specifics. Perhaps awareness is part of the solution. Maybe additional dialogue is the remedy. Or an issue might need more funding or changes to regulations. Due to the space limitations of the format, commentaries are more likely to spark a conversation than offer a comprehensive guide to a solution.

This essay offered very specific solutions to a widespread problem, while this one offered something more radical: burn it all down.

Final Tips of Writing Commentaries for Medical Journals

Use commentaries to stake out territory– if you want to establish yourself as an expert within a topic area, but your next research project is months or years away, write a powerful commentary to plant your flag on your target topic.

Use commentaries to publish in your “reach” journal– Is there a journal that you think would never accept your work? Try getting your foot in the door with a commentary or perspective piece. Journals are often willing to take more risks in the editorial departments.

Use commentaries to build relationships with journals and editors– There’s nothing journal editors love more than a reliable writer who can turn in a commentary on short notice. Publishing a commentary is a great way to network with journals and their editors; once you’ve published one, you’re likely to get an invitation for a second commentary.

Use commentaries to embrace controversy– commentaries are a great opportunity to engage with controversial topics, but remember to do so with fairness and professionalism. Avoid insulting those with whom you disagree, “punching down” on vulnerable groups, or “trolling” others by stirring an emotional response for no constructive reason.

Examples of Editorial and Commentary Articles In Healthcare and Medicine

“Big Med” by Atul Gwande, The New Yorker

“How Doctors Die” by Ken Murray, Zocalo Public Square

“The End of Roe v. Wade — States’ Power over Health and Well-Being” by Zita Lazzarini, NEJM

“Healthcare Owes Us Real Mental Health Support” by Harrison Reed, JAAPA

“It’s not me, it’s you: Should we abandon the idea of burnout?” by Harrison Reed, JAAPA

“The End of Roe v. Wade — States’ Power over Health and Well-Being” by Zita Lazzarini, NEJM

“Desperate measures: Probing the incentive for scandal in the VHA” by Harrison Reed, JAAPA

“Suicide — Rewriting My Story” by Justin Bullock, NEJM

Frequently Asked Questions

Commentaries are just one type of article you can write for medical journals. For a breakdown of different types of articles you can submit to medical journals, click here.

If you are still feeling stuck, I created this guide to walk you step-by-step through the first stages of the writing process: