“review” vs. “revue”
Use "review" for critical examination, reassessment, or a published critique, and reserve "revue" specifically for the theatrical genre of sketch-and-song stage entertainment — both trace to the same French word, but only the theatrical sense keeps the French spelling.
review
"Review" functions as both noun and verb, meaning to look at or examine something again, especially critically — a book review, to review a contract before signing, a performance review at work. It comes from Old French "reveue," from "re-" (again) plus "veue" (a view or sight), ultimately from Latin "videre" (to see), the same root that gives "vision," "video," and "evident."
revue
"Revue" is a noun for a type of theatrical entertainment made up of short, often satirical sketches, songs, and dances loosely strung together around a topical theme, without a single continuous plot — a form that flourished on stages from Paris cabarets to Broadway in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. "Revue" is, remarkably, the exact same French word as "review" (both come from French "revue," itself from "revoir," to see again), but English borrowed it a second time, later and directly from French, specifically to name this theatrical genre, keeping the French spelling intact rather than anglicizing it the way the earlier borrowing became "review."
The real distinction
"Review" and "revue" are a genuine linguistic doublet — two different English words descended from the very same French original, borrowed at two different points in history for two different purposes, a pattern also seen in pairs like "chief" and "chef" (both from French "chef," borrowed centuries apart). The earlier borrowing gave English the anglicized "review," covering the broad senses of critical examination, reassessment, and published critiques of books, films, or performances. The later, more specialized borrowing kept the French spelling "revue" and narrowed to name specifically the light theatrical entertainment of songs and sketches, a genre popularized in venues like the Folies Bergère and later on Broadway and London's West End. Because "revue" is a far rarer word in everyday use, writers unfamiliar with the theatrical term sometimes default to spelling it "review" even when specifically discussing a musical stage show, not realizing the specialized spelling exists at all. A reliable test: if you're critiquing a book, film, restaurant, or performance, or re-examining something formally, you need "review"; if you're specifically naming the theatrical genre of a sketch-and-song stage show, you need the French-spelled "revue." Outside theater history and criticism, most writers will never need "revue" at all, making "review" overwhelmingly the safer default in ordinary writing.
Examples with “review”
- The critic's review praised the film's cinematography.
- She asked her manager to review the contract carefully.
- The restaurant earned a glowing review in the local paper.
- He conducts an annual review of the department's budget.
- The editor left detailed notes during the manuscript review.
- Her performance review highlighted strong leadership skills.
- The board will review the proposal at next week's meeting.
- The album received mixed reviews from critics.
Examples with “revue”
- The Broadway revue featured a dozen short comedic sketches.
- She performed in a satirical revue mocking local politicians.
- The cabaret's revue combined music, dance, and topical humor.
- Ziegfeld's famous revue ran for years on Broadway.
- The student troupe staged a lighthearted revue for graduation.
- The wartime revue used comedy to boost public morale.
- Critics called the revue a delightful, fast-paced variety show.
- The theater's annual revue spoofed the year's biggest headlines.
Memory trick
Remember that "review" and "revue" are actually the same French word borrowed twice — like distant cousins who took different paths in life. Think of "review" as the practical, hardworking cousin who examines books, films, and contracts, while "revue" is the flashy, theatrical cousin who kept its French spelling and only shows up on a stage full of songs and sketches. If you're writing about criticism or reassessment in everyday contexts, "review" is almost certainly correct; only reach for "revue" when you're specifically naming that particular genre of variety stage show. When in doubt while writing about theater history, checking whether the show has a single continuous plot (more likely a "musical" reviewed in a "review") or a loose string of sketches (a "revue" itself) can help confirm which word actually belongs in the sentence.