Back to the to the Archive Page . As you requested, I offer here an analysis of Nature reviews and suggest future guidelines. Analysis is based on 39 reviews from 9 consecutive issues.
Reviewers prefer the more objective-seeming third person.
Some reviewers conclude with a shift from third to first. A few decline to acknowledge the role of personal opinion. Generally, reviews seem intended for lay readers with enough curiosity to compensate for ignorance of subject matter. Reviews usually introduce subject matter and related science, describe content, and assess an author's strengths and weaknesses. The balance and order of components vary, with introduction of the science or other background material sometimes assuming inappropriate weight.