Academic Polish

# Academic Paper Polish

Transform rough drafts into publication-ready manuscripts following Nature, Science, and top-tier journal conventions. Supports both English and Chinese academic writing.

## Description

This skill provides systematic guidance for polishing academic manuscripts. It covers abstract refinement, logical flow restructuring, academic tone calibration, and formatting compliance. Designed for researchers submitting to high-impact journals (IF > 5) who need their writing to meet rigorous editorial standards.

## When to Use

- Polishing a research paper draft before submission
- Refining abstracts for conference proceedings or journal submissions
- Improving academic English for non-native speakers
- Restructuring a manuscript for better logical flow
- Preparing cover letters or response-to-reviewer documents
- Translating Chinese drafts into publication-quality English

## Instructions

### 1. Analyze the Manuscript

Read the full text first. Identify:
- **Target journal** and its style requirements
- **Current stage**: rough draft, revision, or final polish
- **Main weaknesses**: grammar, logic, brevity, terminology, or all

### 2. Polish in This Order

#### Title
- Maximize information density (avoid filler words)
- Include key finding or method if space permits
- Keep under 15 words for most journals; under 10 for Nature/Science

#### Abstract
- Strictly follow structured format if required (Background, Methods, Results, Conclusion)
- Lead with the gap/problem, not general background
- End with specific impact, not vague significance
- Target 150-250 words depending on journal

#### Introduction
- Funnel structure: broad context → specific gap → your contribution
- Cite primary literature, not reviews, for specific claims
- State the hypothesis or research question explicitly
- Last paragraph should outline the paper's structure

#### Results
- Lead each paragraph with a finding, not a procedure
- Use active voice for your actions, passive for methods
- Present quantitative results with appropriate precision (significant figures)
- Reference figures/tables strategically, not redundantly

#### Discussion
- Open with the answer to the research question
- Compare with prior work specifically (not "previous studies have shown...")
- Acknowledge limitations honestly but without undermining your work
- End with a forward-looking statement (implications, future directions)

### 3. Language Standards

| Aspect | Rule |
|--------|------|
| Verb tense | Past for methods/results; present for established facts and implications |
| Voice | Passive for methods; active preferred elsewhere |
| Hedging | Use cautious language ("suggests," "may") for novel claims; be direct for established facts |
| Jargon | Define on first use; avoid unnecessary acronyms |
| Sentence length | Average 20-25 words; break any sentence over 35 words |

### 4. Chinese Academic Polish (中文论文润色)

For Chinese manuscripts targeting domestic core journals (中文核心期刊):
- Remove colloquial expressions and internet slang
- Ensure formal written Chinese (书面语) throughout
- Standardize terminology per national standards (GB/T)
- Tighten logic chains: each paragraph must advance one clear argument
- Avoid redundant modifiers (e.g., 坚决贯彻 → 贯彻)
- Check citation format per target journal (GB/T 7714 or specific style)

## Examples

**Before (Title):** "A Study on the Effects of Temperature on the Growth of Bacteria in Different Conditions"
**After:** "Temperature-dependent growth modulation of Escherichia coli across nutrient gradients"

**Before (Abstract opening):** "Bacteria are very important microorganisms that exist everywhere..."
**After:** "Despite the ubiquity of environmental bacteria, the mechanisms governing thermal adaptation remain unclear."

**Before (Discussion):** "Our results show that the method works well and is better than other methods."
**After:** "Compared with established protocols, the proposed method achieves a 3.2-fold improvement in detection sensitivity while reducing processing time by 40%."

## Tips

- Read the paper aloud — awkward phrasing becomes obvious
- Check every figure caption: a reader should understand the figure without reading the main text
- Verify all references are cited in text and vice versa
- Run a consistency check: same term for same concept throughout
- For Nature/Science submissions, prioritize brevity over comprehensiveness
- Use the journal's recent publications as style references