In health research, target 20–40% of your paper for the literature review, adjusted by study type, journal limits, and degree level.
The size of a literature section in the health sciences isn’t one-size-fits-all. Journal rules, degree stage, and study design all shape the word count. The aim stays the same: give readers enough background to grasp what’s known, what’s missing, and why your study matters. The guide below shows practical ranges, how to choose a target, and ways to trim or expand without losing clarity.
Quick Benchmarks By Context
Use these ranges as a starting point, then check the target outlet or program handbook. Health fields vary, and many journals cap total words for the full paper, which squeezes the background section.
| Project Context | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Original Journal Article (Clinical/Epi) | 600–1,200 words | Often 15–25% of the main text; keep tight to the question. Journal word caps apply; see ICMJE-style instructions. |
| Short Report/Rapid Communication | 250–600 words | Compressed background that points straight to the gap; many outlets ask for a brief setup only. |
| Systematic Review/Meta-analysis | 1,000–2,500 words | Background + rationale that sets up methods; align with PRISMA reporting aims. |
| Scoping Review | 800–1,800 words | Frame scope and reasons for mapping; similar discipline norms to systematic reviews but often leaner. |
| Grant Proposal (Background/Significance) | 1–3 pages | Space-limited; tie directly to aims and impact. Agency templates control length. |
| Master’s Thesis (Health Sciences) | 3,000–8,000 words | Commonly ~20–30% of the thesis body; depth depends on program guidelines. |
| Doctoral Dissertation | 8,000–20,000+ words | Often the largest narrative chapter; breadth across subtopics is expected. |
| Protocol Paper (Background) | 600–1,200 words | Brief context to justify the planned methods; many journals set tight caps. |
Why Word Count Varies In Health Fields
Three levers drive the length. First, outlet format. Medical journals often cap the full text, which compresses the introduction and background. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors notes that journals set word limits to match article types, so authors should check the target journal’s rules before drafting. See the ICMJE guidance on manuscript preparation.
Second, study design. A methods-heavy trial can keep background lean and cite prior trials briefly. A review paper needs more scaffolding to explain scope and rationale. PRISMA helps here by clarifying what a review should report and why. See the PRISMA statement for the reporting aims.
Third, training stage. Degree work invites fuller surveys of a field. Programs in public health, nursing, and clinical sciences often expect a broad map of theories, measures, and debates before the methods chapter.
Ideal Length Of A Health-Field Literature Section
For most manuscripts in medicine or public health, aim for 20–40% of the main text. This rule of thumb keeps space for a clear rationale without starving methods and results. If the journal caps the total text at ~3,000–3,500 words, a 600–1,200-word background usually fits.
For graduate projects, proportions work better than fixed counts. A Master’s project often lands near 20–30% of the body text. A dissertation can stretch beyond that, especially when several sub-questions need coverage.
Pick A Target In Five Steps
1) Check The Destination First
Find the “Instructions for Authors” and note the main-text cap, any section caps, and reference limits. Some outlets, such as The BMJ and other medical journals, publish article-type pages that explain format and limits for original research, clinical reviews, and more.
2) Scope Your Question
Narrow questions need leaner background. Broad population-level questions need more space to cover measures, contexts, and prior syntheses. List the subtopics you must cover; drop anything that doesn’t set up the aims.
3) Audit The Evidence Base
If your topic has decades of trials and two recent syntheses, cite the syntheses and only the landmark trials that shift the story. If the area is young, you’ll need more primary sources to justify the gap.
4) Budget Words By Subsection
Use a rough split like this: two to three short paragraphs for the state of the field, one for recent syntheses, one for gaps, and one that lands on the aim. Keep paragraphs short and focused.
5) Draft, Then Cut For Focus
Trim anything that reads like a textbook. Keep citations current and selective. When a review or guideline summarizes a cluster of studies, cite that instead of every single trial.
What Editors And Reviewers Expect
Clarity beats volume. Editors look for a concise path from what’s known to the study aim. Reviewers check that you cited current, credible sources and framed the gap without straying into results or methods. Many outlets request a word count for the main text to help assess fit, as noted by ICMJE-style guidance.
Sample Outlines For Common Health Projects
Original Clinical Study
- Opening: One short paragraph stating the clinical burden or public health need.
- What’s Known: Two paragraphs that group high-quality studies by finding or method.
- What’s Missing: One paragraph that names the gap you will address.
- Aim/Objective: One final paragraph that links the gap to your research question.
Systematic Review Or Meta-analysis
- Context: One paragraph on why a synthesis is needed now (new interventions, methods, or signals of heterogeneity).
- Prior Syntheses: One paragraph noting earlier reviews and what they didn’t cover.
- Aim/Scope: One paragraph that sets the population, intervention, comparator, outcomes, and setting.
When writing a review, align background aims with PRISMA’s transparency goals. The PRISMA 2020 update explains the rationale for clearer reporting.
Calibrate Length With Journal Rules
Many medical journals limit the entire paper to a few thousand words, not counting abstract, tables, and references. That cap pushes authors to keep the background section tight. Check the outlet’s author pages; for instance, The BMJ lists article types with format notes and limits for each style.
Page Counts Versus Word Counts
Programs sometimes state page targets. Word counts are easier to manage. If your handbook lists pages, convert with a simple rule: one double-spaced page with 12-point font and standard margins holds about 250–300 words. That helps translate a “10-page chapter” into a 2,500–3,000-word target.
When You Need More Space
Some topics need extra depth: complex interventions, multi-level exposures, mixed-methods traditions, or cross-cultural measures and validation work. If you must go long, structure the section with clear subheads and signposts, and keep paragraphs short. Editors accept longer background sections when every line builds the aim.
When You Should Cut
Common bloat points include long histories of a disease, extended theory lectures, or laundry-list citations that don’t change the story. If a point doesn’t push toward the research question, prune it. Replace many thin citations with a recent high-quality review or a guideline.
How To Set A Personal Target
Use the planner below to set a range and guardrails before drafting.
| Project Type | Target Range | Evidence/Rule To Check |
|---|---|---|
| Journal Article (Original Research) | 600–1,000 words | Journal author page; ICMJE-style instructions on word counts |
| Systematic Review | 1,200–2,000 words | PRISMA aims; target journal limits |
| Master’s Thesis | 3,500–6,000 words | Program handbook; supervisor guidance |
| Doctoral Dissertation | 10,000–18,000 words | Graduate school policy; committee expectations |
| Grant Background | 1–3 pages | Agency FOA/RFP; page caps |
Tricks That Keep The Section Tight And Useful
Lead With The Claim, Then Cite
Open each paragraph with the take-home point. Follow with two to four targeted citations. That keeps the flow readable and shows you know the field.
Group Findings, Not Authors
Readers don’t need a tour of every paper. Group by method or result pattern. Cite the best exemplars within each group.
Prefer Recent High-Quality Syntheses
When a well-done review already covers a cluster of trials, cite that review and a small set of landmark studies. That frees space for your gap.
Use House Style For References
Match the outlet’s style for in-text and list formatting. Health journals often use numbered styles. University work often uses APA or Vancouver. Keep it consistent.
Red Flags That Stretch Length Without Adding Value
- Prolonged disease history that doesn’t shape the current question.
- Paragraphs that repeat the same point with new citations.
- Definitions copied from textbooks when a short, plain version will do.
- Off-topic theory that doesn’t feed your outcome or exposure.
Examples Of Right-Sized Backgrounds
Randomized Trial On A Common Therapy
Two paragraphs on current standard of care and unmet needs. One paragraph on prior trials and gaps. One paragraph that lands on the aim and hypothesis. Roughly 600–900 words.
Population-Level Cross-Sectional Study
One paragraph on burden. One or two on measurement choices and prior prevalence estimates. One on gaps and aim. Roughly 700–1,000 words.
PhD Chapter Surveying Multiple Subfields
Sectioned subheads for each subtopic, each with a mini-synthesis and link back to the central question. Roughly 10,000–15,000 words across the chapter, depending on committee guidance.
Quality Signals Reviewers Notice
- Citations include the newest high-grade studies and reviews.
- Claims match the strength of evidence.
- Clear hand-off to the study aim at the end of the section.
- Plain language that any clinician or researcher in the area can follow.
Step-By-Step Template You Can Copy
- Set A Target: Pick a word range from the planner table.
- List Must-Have Subtopics: Burden, prior syntheses, gaps, aim.
- Skim For High-Yield Sources: Recent guidelines, top reviews, large trials.
- Draft In Blocks: One idea per paragraph; short sentences.
- Trim Filler: Cut history lectures and redundant lists of citations.
- Check Fit: Recount words; adjust to outlet or program cap.
FAQs You Don’t Need—Because You’ve Got A Plan
When you set a target by outlet or degree stage, budget words by subsection, and prune for focus, length stops being a guessing game. You’ll ship a background that reads clean, sets up your question, and fits the rules of your journal or program.