Evidence-led scientific writing

Make the scientific argument clear before polishing its language. Keep the user's evidence, uncertainty, and voice; do not inflate novelty or make the work sound more complete than it is. A journal-like style is not submission approval.

Establish the brief and actual journal

Identify the journal and current content type, the central claim, its importance to adjacent-field readers, the supporting results/figures, strongest relevant prior work, boundary conditions, and missing facts. Use the supplied materials rather than reconstructing unseen data from an abstract or README.

Check the official guide for that journal and content type. Record the rule, source URL, review date, and whether it is mandatory or advisory. There is no universal Nature Portfolio abstract limit. Do not assume a journal currently accepts Letters because a bundled template has that name. For an unspecified journal, draft without claiming journal-specific compliance.