nature-polishing

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English
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Translation

Chinese

Nature-Style Academic Polishing

《Nature》风格学术文稿润色

Use this skill to improve scientific writing at two levels:
  • main strategy
    : paper architecture, section logic, reader workflow, evidence thresholds, and ethics
  • reference support
    : reusable phrase families, move patterns, transitions, and style checks
The main strategy should come from the course notes in
Chapter1-Week1-7
. The reference wording layer should come from
Academic Phrasebank
.
使用本技能从两个层面提升科学写作质量:
  • 核心策略
    :论文架构、章节逻辑、读者阅读流程、证据阈值及伦理规范
  • 参考支撑
    :可复用短语库、步骤模式、过渡表达及风格检查
核心策略需源自
Chapter1-Week1-7
中的课程笔记,参考措辞层面需源自
Academic Phrasebank

Default stance

默认准则

  • Language serves argument. Do not polish sentences while leaving the reasoning broken.
  • Write with empathy for the reader: relevance first, then novelty, then trust, then reuse, then meaning.
  • There should be no mystery for the writer, but there may be one for the reader.
  • Do not invent data, references, mechanisms, or novelty claims.
  • Do not let AI draft the paper's core scientific argument from scratch.
  • If the draft is Chinese or structurally rough, reconstruct the logic first and the prose second.
  • 语言为论证服务。不可在逻辑不通的情况下仅润色句子。
  • 写作时需共情读者:先体现相关性,再突出创新性,接着建立可信度,然后展示复用价值,最后传递核心意义。
  • 作者对内容应无疑问,但可给读者留有余地。
  • 不得编造数据、参考文献、机制或创新性声明。
  • 不得让AI从头起草论文的核心科学论点。
  • 若草稿为中文或结构粗糙,需先重构逻辑,再润色文字。

When to open extra files

何时打开额外文件

These files are reference support. Use them after the section's rhetorical job is clear.
FileOpen when
references/section-moves.mdYou need section-specific move orders or phrase patterns derived from Academic Phrasebank
references/phrasebank-playbook.mdYou need hedging, transition, evidence, limitation, or future-work phrase families
references/style-guardrails.mdYou need academic-style checks, paragraph/sentence checks, article use, register, or mechanics
这些文件为参考支撑材料,需在明确章节的修辞目标后使用。
文件打开时机
references/section-moves.md你需要来自Academic Phrasebank的特定章节步骤顺序或短语模式时
references/phrasebank-playbook.md你需要模糊表达、过渡语、证据表述、局限性说明或未来研究方向相关短语库时
references/style-guardrails.md你需要进行学术风格检查、段落/句子检查、冠词使用、语体或格式规范检查时

Core architecture

核心架构

1. Identify the paper type first

1. 先确定论文类型

Before editing, determine what kind of paper or section this is.
  • Research paper
    : the reader asks why the phenomenon matters, what was done, what was found, and what it means.
  • Methods paper
    : the reader asks whether the method works, whether it is reproducible, and whether it is better under a fair comparison.
  • Hypothesis-based work
    : the argument tries to establish or rule out a causal explanation.
  • Algorithmic or device work
    : the argument proposes a procedure, tool, or system and must show that it performs reliably and advantageously.
Do not use one narrative logic for all paper types.
编辑前,需明确当前处理的是哪种论文或章节。
  • 研究论文
    :读者会关注现象的重要性、研究内容、研究发现及意义。
  • 方法论文
    :读者会关注方法是否有效、是否可复现、在公平对比下是否更具优势。
  • 基于假说的研究
    :论证旨在确立或排除因果解释。
  • 算法或设备类研究
    :论证需提出流程、工具或系统,并证明其性能可靠且具备优势。
不可对所有论文类型使用统一叙事逻辑。

2. Write for the reader, not for the draft chronology

2. 为读者写作,而非按草稿时间顺序写作

Most readers follow a stable sequence:
  1. Is this relevant to me?
  2. What is new here?
  3. Do I trust it?
  4. Can I reuse it?
  5. What does it mean, and where are the boundaries?
Polishing should help the paper answer these questions in this order.
多数读者会遵循固定的阅读顺序:
  1. 这与我相关吗?
  2. 有哪些创新点?
  3. 内容可信吗?
  4. 我能否复用?
  5. 核心意义是什么,适用边界在哪里?
润色需助力论文按此顺序回答这些问题。

3. Use the hourglass structure

3. 使用沙漏结构

Strong papers often mirror an hourglass:
  • Introduction
    : open broadly, then narrow to the specific gap, question, hypothesis, methods, and study
  • Discussion/Conclusion
    : widen again, connecting the findings back to the literature and explaining how the knowledge gap was filled
If a paragraph or section violates this architecture, rebuild it before polishing wording.
优质论文常采用沙漏式结构:
  • 引言
    :先广泛铺陈背景,再逐步聚焦至具体研究缺口、问题、假说、方法及研究本身
  • 讨论/结论
    :再次拓宽视角,将研究发现与现有文献关联,说明如何填补知识缺口
若段落或章节违背此架构,需先重构再润色措辞。

4. Use the correct writing order

4. 使用正确的写作顺序

For a research article, a productive writing order is:
  1. Results
  2. Introduction and Conclusion
  3. Title
  4. Discussion
  5. Materials and Methods
  6. Authors
  7. Abstract
For a methods paper, a productive writing order often begins with:
  1. Methods
  2. Results
  3. Introduction
  4. Conclusion
  5. Discussion
  6. Abstract
The skill should follow the logic of evidence and argument, not the raw order in which the user drafted sentences.
对于研究论文,高效的写作顺序为:
  1. 结果
  2. 引言与结论
  3. 标题
  4. 讨论
  5. 材料与方法
  6. 作者信息
  7. 摘要
对于方法论文,高效的写作顺序通常为:
  1. 方法
  2. 结果
  3. 引言
  4. 结论
  5. 讨论
  6. 摘要
本技能应遵循证据与论证逻辑,而非用户草稿的原始句子顺序。

5. Protect the core argument

5. 保护核心论点

The paper's core argument includes:
  • the scientific question the paper actually answers
  • why that question matters
  • how the work differs from existing research
  • what the results imply
  • how the main line of reasoning unfolds
AI may help polish, structure, or compare phrasings. AI should not invent or author the core argument. If the argument is weak or unclear, expose that weakness rather than hiding it under polished language.
论文的核心论点包括:
  • 论文实际解答的科学问题
  • 该问题的重要性
  • 本研究与现有研究的差异
  • 研究结果的含义
  • 核心推理过程的展开方式
AI可协助润色、结构化或对比措辞,但不得编造或撰写核心论点。若论点薄弱或模糊,需指出该问题,而非用华丽的语言掩盖。

6. Diagnose the failure mode before editing

6. 编辑前先诊断问题类型

Before rewriting, identify the main problem:
  • wrong paper type logic
  • missing gap or poor positioning
  • claim without evidence
  • evidence without a clear claim
  • missing boundary or limitation
  • Results and Discussion mixed together
  • weak title or abstract signal
  • sentence-level clutter only
Prioritize in this order:
paper type -> section job -> paragraph logic -> claim/evidence/boundary -> sentence polish
改写前,需明确主要问题:
  • 论文类型逻辑错误
  • 研究缺口缺失或定位不当
  • 有论点但无证据
  • 有证据但论点模糊
  • 缺失适用边界或局限性说明
  • 结果与讨论混为一谈
  • 标题或摘要信号性弱
  • 仅存在句子层面的冗余
优先级排序如下:
论文类型 -> 章节目标 -> 段落逻辑 -> 论点/证据/边界 -> 句子润色

Section responsibilities

章节职责

Introduction

引言

The Introduction should:
  • tell the reader why the work matters
  • explain what gap it fills
  • explain why that gap matters
  • state what is already known
  • state what remains unresolved
  • state what question the paper asks
  • indicate how the study addresses it
Do not summarize the Results section here. Do not summarize the Conclusion here.
引言需:
  • 告知读者研究的重要性
  • 说明研究填补的缺口
  • 解释该缺口的重要性
  • 阐述已有研究成果
  • 指出尚未解决的问题
  • 明确论文提出的问题
  • 说明研究如何解决该问题
此处不得总结结果章节内容,也不得总结结论内容。

Results

结果

Results are a summary of the data collected to address the problem stated in the Introduction.
Results writing should:
  • stay mainly in past tense
  • report what was observed, under what conditions, and with what quantitative support
  • use statistics correctly and sparingly
  • use supplementary data sparingly
Results should answer
what happened
, not
what it ultimately means
.
结果是为解决引言中提出的问题所收集数据的总结。
结果写作需:
  • 主要使用过去时态
  • 报告观察到的内容、实验条件及定量支持
  • 正确且适量使用统计数据
  • 谨慎使用补充数据
结果需回答
发生了什么
,而非
最终意义是什么

Discussion

讨论

Discussion should answer:
  • how the work fits within the broader field
  • what has been added to understanding
  • who should be credited for earlier work
  • whether the findings support, complicate, or revise earlier results
  • how the findings are interpreted
  • when that interpretation may fail
Short rule:
  • Results = what we observed
  • Discussion = how we understand it, and when it may fail
讨论需回答:
  • 本研究如何融入更广泛的领域
  • 对现有认知有哪些补充
  • 需认可哪些早期研究贡献
  • 研究发现是否支持、复杂化或修正了早期结果
  • 如何解读研究发现
  • 该解读在何种情况下可能不成立
简短规则:
  • 结果 = 我们观察到的内容
  • 讨论 = 我们的解读及适用边界

Conclusion

结论

Use the three-part close:
  1. restate the central contribution
  2. summarize the key evidence or outcome
  3. state the implication with a boundary
Do not introduce new data in the conclusion. Always run an overclaim check here.
采用三段式收尾:
  1. 重申核心贡献
  2. 总结关键证据或成果
  3. 说明研究意义及适用边界
结论中不得引入新数据,需始终检查是否存在过度断言。

Title

标题

A strong title should:
  • tell the reader what to expect
  • avoid unnecessary technical language
  • be easy to search
  • be substantiated by data
  • create curiosity without sacrificing credibility
Use
curiosity with credibility
, not empty cleverness. A hook is only acceptable if the claim remains fully defensible.
优质标题需:
  • 告知读者预期内容
  • 避免不必要的技术术语
  • 便于搜索
  • 有数据支撑
  • 在不失可信度的前提下引发兴趣
采用
可信且有吸引力
的原则,而非空洞的噱头。仅当论点完全可辩护时,才可使用钩子式表达。

Materials and Methods

材料与方法

Methods should be specific, complete, transparent, and reproducible.
Another group should be able to determine:
  • whether the work conforms to ethical norms
  • what materials and conditions were used
  • which key parameters, controls, and replicates were used
  • how data were processed and analysed
  • which statistical tests and software versions were used
It is acceptable to abbreviate by citing an earlier report only when that report truly contains the necessary detail.
Never leave vague phrases such as:
  • under standard conditions
  • using routine methods
  • data were analyzed statistically
  • differences were significant
  • samples were randomly assigned
  • the method was validated
Replace them with the actual reproducible information.
方法需具体、完整、透明且可复现。
其他研究团队应能明确:
  • 研究是否符合伦理规范
  • 使用的材料及实验条件
  • 关键参数、对照实验及重复次数
  • 数据处理与分析方式
  • 使用的统计测试方法及软件版本
仅当早期报告包含必要细节时,才可通过引用该报告进行简化表述。
不得使用模糊表述,例如:
  • 在标准条件下
  • 使用常规方法
  • 对数据进行统计分析
  • 差异显著
  • 随机分配样本
  • 方法已验证
需替换为可复现的具体信息。

Methods-paper variant

方法论文变体

In a methods paper, the Results section must show the advantages of the method over existing methods. Typical questions are:
  • Is it more reliable?
  • Is it faster?
  • Does it require fewer resources?
  • Is the comparison fair and reproducible?
The Methods section in a methods paper may need additional detail such as:
  • axioms, conditions, and assumptions
  • hardware and software environment
  • mathematical derivations
  • evaluation protocol
  • datasets, baselines, metrics, splits, and hyperparameters
在方法论文中,结果章节需展示该方法相较于现有方法的优势。典型问题包括:
  • 是否更可靠?
  • 是否更快?
  • 是否所需资源更少?
  • 对比是否公平且可复现?
方法论文的方法章节可能需补充更多细节,例如:
  • 公理、条件及假设
  • 硬件与软件环境
  • 数学推导
  • 评估协议
  • 数据集、基线、指标、拆分方式及超参数

Abstract

摘要

The abstract is a mini-paper:
context/problem -> gap/objective -> approach -> key results -> implication
It should answer:
  1. What question was addressed?
  2. How was it addressed?
  3. What was found?
  4. Why should anyone care?
Some journals require a strict abstract format. Follow the journal if it conflicts with the generic pattern.
摘要是一篇微型论文:
背景/问题 -> 缺口/目标 -> 方法 -> 关键结果 -> 意义
需回答:
  1. 解决了什么问题?
  2. 如何解决?
  3. 有哪些发现?
  4. 为何重要?
部分期刊有严格的摘要格式要求,若与通用模式冲突,需遵循期刊规范。

Sentence and paragraph control

句子与段落控制

Sentence rules

句子规则

  • Keep every sentence at
    <= 30
    words.
  • If any sentence exceeds
    20
    words, check whether it contains more than one main proposition.
  • Split overloaded sentences rather than polishing them cosmetically.
  • The last sentence of a paragraph often becomes the longest and weakest. Check it explicitly.
  • Prefer one core subject-verb proposition per sentence.
  • 每个句子长度需
    <= 30
    词。
  • 若句子超过
    20
    词,需检查是否包含多个核心命题。
  • 拆分冗余句子,而非仅做表面润色。
  • 段落最后一句通常最长且最弱,需重点检查。
  • 优先每个句子包含一个核心主谓命题。

Paragraph rules

段落规则

  • Each paragraph should have one controlling idea followed by support.
  • Supporting material may include data, comparison, explanation, consequence, literature, or limitation.
  • If a new idea appears, start a new paragraph instead of stacking it onto the old one.
  • Use thematic linking, not repetitive
    This suggests ...
    openings.
  • 每个段落需有一个核心观点,并辅以支撑内容。
  • 支撑内容可包括数据、对比、解释、推论、文献或局限性说明。
  • 若出现新观点,需另起段落,而非叠加至原有段落。
  • 使用主题关联,而非重复使用
    This suggests ...
    类开头。

Results vs Discussion sentence types

结果与讨论的句子类型

Results sentences usually report:
  • was detected
  • increased
  • showed
  • enabled
  • achieved
Discussion sentences usually interpret:
  • may reflect
  • suggests that
  • could indicate
  • is likely due to
  • may facilitate
Do not let a Results paragraph drift into Discussion syntax unless the transition is intentional.
结果句子通常用于报告:
  • was detected
    (被检测到)
  • increased
    (增加)
  • showed
    (显示)
  • enabled
    (使能够)
  • achieved
    (实现)
讨论句子通常用于解读:
  • may reflect
    (可能反映)
  • suggests that
    (表明)
  • could indicate
    (可能表明)
  • is likely due to
    (可能归因于)
  • may facilitate
    (可能促进)
除非有意过渡,否则结果段落不得使用讨论类句式。

Chinese-to-English mode

中译英模式

When the source is Chinese or strongly Chinese-influenced English:
  • extract the core propositions first
  • do not translate clause-by-clause mechanically
  • reconstruct explicit logical links: contrast, cause, implication, limitation
  • verify terminology, causality, hedging, and disciplinary nuance
  • keep key technical terms stable
当原文为中文或受中文影响较大的英文时:
  • 先提取核心命题
  • 不得逐句机械翻译
  • 重构明确的逻辑关联:对比、因果、推论、局限性
  • 验证术语、因果关系、模糊表达及学科细微差别
  • 保持关键技术术语的一致性

Citation, ethics, and AI boundaries

引用、伦理与AI使用边界

Intellectual debt

学术债务

Originality is usually an amendment, combination, or extension of prior knowledge. A careful writer acknowledges that debt openly.
Do not minimize others' contributions just to make the present work seem more original.
原创性通常是对已有知识的修正、整合或拓展。严谨的作者需公开认可该学术债务。
不得为凸显自身研究的原创性而弱化他人的贡献。

Position attribution clearly

明确归因

Make it obvious:
  • how the paper builds on prior work
  • who was responsible for the earlier idea, method, data, or interpretation
  • where the reader can locate the source
需清晰说明:
  • 本研究如何基于已有成果展开
  • 早期观点、方法、数据或解读的贡献者
  • 读者可获取原始来源的渠道

Cite the source you actually read and verified

引用实际阅读并验证过的来源

  • Cite paper
    A
    for
    A
    's own data, methods, claims, or conclusions.
  • Cite paper
    B
    for
    B
    's interpretation, comparison, critique, or commentary on
    A
    .
  • Avoid leaning on secondary sources when the source article can be cited directly.
  • 引用论文
    A
    需用于说明
    A
    自身的数据、方法、论点或结论。
  • 引用论文
    B
    需用于说明
    B
    A
    的解读、对比、批判或评论。
  • 若可直接引用原始文章,应避免依赖二手来源。

What needs citation

需要引用的内容

  • someone else's ideas
  • data
  • methods
  • wording
  • structure
  • images
  • distinctive interpretation
Do not assume internet material is public domain just because it is online.
  • 他人的观点
  • 数据
  • 方法
  • 措辞
  • 结构
  • 图片
  • 独特解读
不得因网络内容可在线获取就默认其属于公共领域。

Proofreading checks

校对检查

Always verify:
  • grammatical errors
  • typographical errors
  • figure numbering
  • missing citations
  • whether the paper is a pleasure or an ordeal to read
需始终验证:
  • 语法错误
  • 拼写错误
  • 图表编号
  • 缺失的引用
  • 论文阅读体验是否流畅

AI traffic-light boundary

AI使用红绿灯准则

Green
: generally acceptable with author verification
  • improve grammar, clarity, concision, or tone
  • generate outline options or paragraph structures
  • produce alternative titles or abstract phrasings
  • summarize literature for categorization, not as a substitute for reading
  • translate with terminology and hedging checks
Yellow
: allowed only with strong human control
  • explain methods or results for wording support
  • draft reviewer-response frameworks that are then checked line by line
  • help with code or statistics explanations only if outputs are reproduced and validated
Red
: generally inappropriate
  • ask AI to draft the paper's core argument from scratch
  • insert AI-generated references, data, or claims without checking them
  • upload unpublished manuscripts, sensitive data, or peer-review material to public models
  • use AI to fabricate, manipulate, or conceal substantive image creation
The main danger is not that AI cannot write. The main danger is that it can write incorrectly with great confidence.
绿灯区
:经作者验证后通常可接受
  • 提升语法、清晰度、简洁性或语气
  • 生成大纲选项或段落结构
  • 提供备选标题或摘要措辞
  • 为分类总结文献(不可替代阅读)
  • 翻译时进行术语及模糊表达检查
黄灯区
:仅在严格人工管控下允许使用
  • 为措辞支撑解释方法或结果
  • 起草审稿回复框架(需逐行检查)
  • 协助解释代码或统计数据(需复现并验证输出内容)
红灯区
:通常不适用
  • 让AI从头起草论文的核心论点
  • 插入未经验证的AI生成参考文献、数据或论点
  • 向公共模型上传未发表手稿、敏感数据或同行评审材料
  • 使用AI编造、篡改或隐瞒实质性图像内容
主要风险并非AI无法写作,而是它可能自信地写出错误内容。

Output format

输出格式

Default output:
  1. The polished text as plain prose, not in a code block.
  2. Revision notes:
    with
    3-5
    short bullets on the major structural and stylistic changes.
  3. If the rewrite changed section logic, say so explicitly.
If the user asks for side-by-side revision, provide:
  • Original
  • Polished
  • Why changed
默认输出:
  1. 润色后的纯文本(无需放在代码块中)。
  2. 修订说明:
    包含
    3-5
    条关于主要结构及风格修改的简短要点。
  3. 若改写改变了章节逻辑,需明确说明。
若用户要求对比修订,需提供:
  • 原文
  • 润色后文本
  • 修改原因`