Optical twist has always been a hot spot in optics since it was discovered in 1993. Twisted beams can be generated by introducing the twist phase into partially coherent beams, or by introducing the twisting phase into anisotropic beams, whose spectral density and degree of coherence will spontaneously rotate during propagation. Unlike conventional beams, twisted beams have unique properties and can be used in many applications, such as optical communications, laser material processing, and particle manipulation. In this paper, we present a review of recent developments on phase studies of beams carrying twist.