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
