# English manuscript writing rules (loaded when language=en)

For materials-science SCI submissions. Reviewers penalize violations even when quality_check doesn't catch them all.

## Title / Abstract / Keywords

- **Title**: state what was done + system + key finding; avoid "Study on…/Investigation of…" filler; minimize abbreviations.
- **Abstract**: 150-320 words, **self-contained**, covering background/aim, methods, **quantitative** results, conclusion. **No citation markers [n]** and **no figure/table numbers** inside the abstract. Structured abstract only if the journal requires it.
- **Keywords**: 3-6, complementary to the title (don't just repeat it); cover material system + method + property.

## Per-section rules

- **Introduction**: funnel structure; the final paragraph must state the aim and contribution of this work. Each paragraph makes a point — not a citation list.
- **Materials and Methods**: **reproducibility is mandatory** — raw material source/purity/composition, mix proportions (with values + units), processing (temperature/time/heating-cooling schedule/atmosphere), characterization instrument models + parameters + standards (ASTM/EN/ISO). Never "by conventional method".
- **Results**: **report, don't interpret** (interpretation belongs to Discussion). Every figure/table is cited and described in text; data carry **units + uncertainty/SD**; highlight key numbers, don't restate every value in a table.
- **Discussion**: mechanism, comparison with literature (cited), limitations; **do not restate Results numbers**; answer the question posed in the Introduction.
- **Conclusion**: itemized + quantitative; introduce no new data; outlook optional, not vague.

## Language & style

- **Tense**: Methods & Results in past tense (what you did/found); established facts and conclusions in present tense.
- **Voice**: active voice is increasingly accepted ("We measured…"); keep it consistent; avoid dangling modifiers.
- Terminology consistent throughout (one concept = one term). Define abbreviations at first use: C-S-H, C₃S, AFt (ettringite), etc.
- SI units and standard symbols (MPa, °C, wt%, mol/L); correct spacing between number and unit.
- **No overclaiming**: "world-first / unprecedented / groundbreaking / state-of-the-art" without evidence (quality_check flags these). Let data speak.
- Figures: cite before showing; caption below figure, title above table; axes labelled with units; **no ASCII art** (use mermaid or matplotlib PNG).
- Watch common L2 issues: article use (a/the), subject-verb agreement, "respectively" placement, comma splices.

## Research integrity (hard rules)

- **No fabrication / no result beautification / no selective reporting**; report negative results honestly.
- **Citations must be real** and verified via `citation_verify.md`; no plagiarism, no duplicate submission.
- Disclose AI-assisted writing if the target journal requires it.
- Funding / ethics / competing interests as required; mark `<TODO>` when user input is needed.

## Anti-patterns

- "Study on…" title with no finding / [n] markers inside abstract / interpreting mechanism in Results
- Methods saying "conventional/appropriate/certain temperature" (not reproducible) / Discussion restating Results numbers
- Fabricated data or citations / rendering while `[CITE-xx]` placeholders remain
