Submission Prep Skill

Run a pre-submission checklist tailored to the target journal. Catches common rejection-worthy issues before you submit.

Examples

• /submission-prep -- run full checklist (uses target journal from project's CLAUDE.md)
• /submission-prep JF -- run checklist with JF-specific requirements
• /submission-prep --strict -- flag warnings as failures

Workflow

Step 1: Load Target Journal

Read the project's CLAUDE.md for the target journal. If not specified, ask the user. Common targets: JF, RFS, JFE, RoF, JFQA, MS.

Step 2: Run Checks

2a. Document Structure

• Abstract present and within word limit (100--150 words for JF/RFS/JFE)
• Title length reasonable (<15 words recommended)
• All expected body sections present (check project's CLAUDE.md for section list)
• Page count within typical range (40--60 pages including appendices for top-3)

2b. Content Completeness

• No [HUMAN EDIT REQUIRED] tags remaining in any .tex file
• No TODO, FIXME, XXX comments in .tex
• No \lipsum or placeholder text
• No commented-out sections that should be removed or restored

2c. Terminology Compliance

• Project-specific terminology used consistently (check project's CLAUDE.md)
• No banned words from academic-writing.md Section 1

2d. Tables and Figures

• All tables have self-contained captions (sample period, units, variable definitions)
• All figures have self-contained captions with axis labels
• All tables and figures are referenced in the text (\ref check)
• Numbers use 2--3 significant digits (not computer output)
• Tables use booktabs style (\toprule/\midrule/\bottomrule, no vertical lines)
• Figures use vector format (PDF) where possible

2e. Bibliography

• All \cite{} keys resolve to .bib entries
• No unused .bib entries
• No duplicate .bib entries
• Consistent BibTeX format (all @article have journal, year, volume, pages)
• Proper nouns protected in titles: {CAPM}, {U.S.}, {NYSE}, etc.

2f. Cross-References

• All \ref{} and \eqref{} resolve to valid labels
• Equations use \eqref not \ref
• Non-breaking spaces used (Table~\ref, Eq.~\eqref, Figure~\ref)

2g. Writing Quality

• No banned words (run /style-check if not done recently)
• No AI-marker words (see academic-writing.md for full list)
• No em-dashes (---) in prose
• No structural AI tells: naked "this", adverb openers, "Together, these results..."
• Soft-ban words within limits: "highlights" (max 2/paper), "insights" (max 1/paper)
• No hedge words: somewhat, quite, very (intensifier), arguably, perhaps
• No previewing: "as we show below", "we will show", "Recall from"
• Active voice throughout
• Specific numbers for quantitative claims
• First sentence is concrete, not throat-clearing

2h. Compilation

• Clean compile with no errors
• Acceptable warning count (flag if >10 non-font warnings)
• PDF renders correctly (no missing figures, no ?? references)

2i. Journal-Specific Requirements

• Author information complete (names, affiliations, emails)
• Acknowledgments section present
• JEL classification codes present
• Keywords present (if required by target journal)
• Data availability statement present (increasingly required)

2j. Key Results Verification

• Key claims in the project's CLAUDE.md match the numbers in tables/text
• Sample period stated consistently across abstract, introduction, and table captions
• Main results discussed in both introduction and results section

Step 3: Output

SUBMISSION PREP CHECKLIST
=========================

Target: [journal]
Paper: [title from project CLAUDE.md]

PASS: N checks passed
FAIL: M checks failed
WARN: K warnings

--- FAILURES ---
[ ] Line X: [HUMAN EDIT REQUIRED] tag found in section Y
[ ] Table Z: caption missing sample period
[ ] \cite{smith2023}: key not in .bib

--- WARNINGS ---
[!] Abstract is 168 words (target: 100-150)
[!] 14 compilation warnings (non-font)
[!] Page count: 65 pages (typical: 40-60)

--- PASSED ---
[x] All body sections present
[x] All figures referenced in text
[x] Clean compile (0 errors)
[x] Terminology compliant
[etc.]

RECOMMENDATION: [READY TO SUBMIT / FIX N ISSUES FIRST]