Writing Style: APA Theory-Paper Register (psychrev-writing-style)

Polish after the derivations stand up (psychrev-argument-development) and the contribution is differentiated (psychrev-contribution-framing). Prose cannot rescue a theory whose logic does not hold.

When to trigger

• The theory, derivations, and figures are in place; the draft needs its final voice
• The prose reads like a literature review or an empirical report, not a theoretical argument
• You are unsure of APA conventions for a theory paper with no methods/results
• Reviewers (anticipated) will say "well written but I can't find the argument"

The Psychological Review introduction arc