Writing & Speaking

LaTeX setup

Use our group Overleaf template for paper writing. Add a review command to the preamble using xcolor and a custom command for feedback annotations.

Preprints (arxiv)

When posting preprints to arxiv, note that arxiv has become very strict about LLM-generated content recently — be responsible for your papers and verify every section is your own work or properly attributed.

Jieyu’s suggestions

1. Respect reviewer time by eliminating minor errors beforehand.
2. Quality writing matters as much as ideas — allocate substantial time.
3. Plan research timelines strategically; avoid last-minute work.
4. Explain concepts clearly without assuming reader background knowledge.
5. Structure writing hierarchically: titles → section summaries → details.
6. Minimize unnecessary formatting; add periods after captions.
7. Participate in early peer review sessions.
8. Use precise model naming conventions.
9. Cite published versions over preprints when available.
10. Remove identifying information from code and file paths.
11. Internalize feedback reasoning for future improvement.

Self-review checklist (before sending)

High level:

• Verify logical flow from research question through existing gaps to proposed solution.

Low level:

• Rewrite sentences exceeding three lines.
• Ensure each sentence adds information.
• Define new terminology before using it.
• Replace repeated words with synonyms.

Submission checklist

Reference Yue Zhao’s CS paper checklist for comprehensive submission guidelines.

Talks & presentations

Group members preparing for public presentations must participate in a rehearsal talk beforehand. Presenters should create a Google Doc to collect written feedback from colleagues.

For curated external reading on writing and speaking, see Suggestions for PhDs.