Difference Between Critique and Review

Key Difference – Critique vs Review
 

To most people a critique and review hold no difference as they are both types of evaluations or assessments of a piece of work. This, however, is a misleading idea because a critique and review are two different things that share certain components. A critique refers to a critical assessment. On the other hand, a review also refers to a form of assessment. The key difference between the two is that a review can be compiled by anyone and consists of a subjective opinion of a work, unlike a critique which is written by an expert in the field with a technical comprehension.

What is a Critique?

A critique can simply be understood as a critical assessment. Unlike most reviews, critiques are written by experts in a particular field. Hence, critiques tend to be technical and objective. They do not provide an overall assessment but focuses on specific parts of a piece of work. It emphasizes both the positives as well as the negatives.

For instance, if it is a critique of a book, the individual critic would focus on the various literary techniques used by the writer, the development of characters, the setting, the plot, etc. So the critique tends to be much more in depth and professional than a mere book review. Critiques can be very helpful to the writer as it not only appreciates the efforts of the writer but also highlights what he needs to improve.

What is a Review?

A review refers to a formal evaluation of a particular work. In magazines and newspapers, you may have seen various reviews such as book reviews, film reviews, restaurant reviews, music, etc. These are written by lay persons in the form of an assessment of something. For an example, let us take a book review. In a book review, the individual first reads the book, understands and assesses it, then he compiles a review. In this review, the writer presents a holistic view of the book. He does not analyze each and every segment separately but presents an overall assessment. This can be either positive or negative.

Nowadays, we can find reviews even for various home appliances, technical gadgets, phones, etc. These are known as user reviews. Other than this, there is another category known as peer reviews in academia. This is another type of reviews used by scholars to assess the works of their colleagues.

What is the difference between Critique and Review?

Definitions of Critique and Review:

Critique: A critique is a critical assessment.

Review: A review is a formal evaluation.

Characteristics of Critique and Review:

Nature:

Critique: A critique tends to be objective.

Review: A review is more often than not subjective.

Technical Basis:

Critique: A critique usually has a sound technical basis.

Review: A review lacks a technical basis.

Writer:

Critique: A critique is written by someone who has a lot of experience and expertise of a particular genre.

Review: A review can be written by anyone. Expertise in a field is not required to write a review.

 

Image Courtesy:

1. Le Grand Dictionnaire Geographique Et Critique – Tome 7 – Titre [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons

2. Yellow review logo By EditorE (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons