# Scientific Writing

Academic manuscript writing with IMRAD structure, citation formatting, and reporting...

- Repository: https://github.com/aiming-lab/AutoResearchClaw (14798 stars)
- Category: Writing
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-08-19
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add aiming-lab/AutoResearchClaw --skill scientific-writing -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add aiming-lab/AutoResearchClaw --skill scientific-writing -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add aiming-lab/AutoResearchClaw --skill scientific-writing -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add aiming-lab/AutoResearchClaw --skill scientific-writing -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Academic manuscript writing with IMRAD structure, citation formatting, and reporting guidelines. Use when drafting or revising research papers.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

## Scientific Writing Best Practice

### IMRAD Structure
1. **Abstract**: State objective, methods, key results, and conclusion in 150-300 words
2. **Introduction**: Move from broad context to specific gap to your contribution (funnel structure)
3. **Methods**: Sufficient detail for replication; use past tense, passive voice
4. **Results**: Present findings without interpretation; pair text with figures/tables
5. **Discussion**: Interpret results, compare with literature, acknowledge limitations, state implications

### Paragraph-Level Guidance
1. Each paragraph should convey ONE main idea
2. Open with a topic sentence; close with a transition to the next paragraph
3. Write in full flowing prose, never submit bullet points as final manuscript text
4. Use active voice for clarity: "We measured..." not "Measurements were taken..."
5. Vary sentence length; aim for average 15-25 words per sentence

### Citation Best Practices
1. Cite primary sources over reviews when making specific claims
2. Use citation styles consistently (APA, Vancouver, IEEE) per target journal
3. Every factual claim needs a citation unless it is common knowledge in the field
4. Avoid citation strings of 5+ references, select the most relevant 2-3
5. Self-citations should be limited to genuinely relevant prior work

### Common Writing Pitfalls
1. Avoid hedge-stacking: "It might possibly suggest...", choose one hedge
2. Do not start sentences with "It is well known that", cite or remove
3. Distinguish "significant" (statistical) from "substantial" (practical)
4. Ensure figures/tables are referenced in text BEFORE they appear
5. Keep abbreviations to a minimum; define each on first use

### Reporting Guidelines
1. Randomized trials: follow CONSORT checklist
2. Observational studies: follow STROBE checklist
3. Systematic reviews: follow PRISMA checklist
4. Diagnostic accuracy: follow STARD checklist
5. Always check target journal's author guidelines for specific requirements

The rest: https://github.com/aiming-lab/AutoResearchClaw/blob/HEAD/.claude/skills/scientific-writing/SKILL.md