Use when drafting or polishing an American Journal of Political Science (AJPS) manuscript so it fits the word caps (Articles <= 10,000 words; Research Notes and Correspondence <= 4,000; abstract <= 150 words), follows the APSA Style Manual or Chicago 18th edition, and stays fully anonymized for double-blind review. Tightens prose and format; it does not invent content.
SkillScore95Maintained
Automatic
◆Writing & Editing pack
Last verified 8/15/2026
What it changes
Passed 21 of 22 test cases with the skill, and 13 of 22 without it.
Without skill59%
With skill95%
Checks it passed that the model alone missed
The response states the cap is 4,000 words.
The response states the SI page limit for original submissions is 25 pages.
The response states that the abstract is excluded from the total word count.
and 6 more in the full report
9 fixed12 passed either way0 still failing1 broke
Pass-rate lift
+36 pp
Tokens
+57%
Agent turns
0%
Response time
-36%
Model gemini-3.6-flashMeasured 8/15/2026v121 of 22 cases passed with skill
Tokens, turns and time describe resource use, not a dollar price.
See it in action
One of 9 test cases the skill fixed. Same model, same prompt, with and without the skill.
1 of 9
Prompt
What is the maximum allowed word count for a Research Note submission to AJPS?
What was checked, without and with the skill
Checked
Without skill
With skill
The response states the cap is 4,000 words.
Missed
Passed
case-10 · gemini-3.6-flash · 8/15/2026 · answers are capped and redacted
What's inside
The instructions your model reads when the skill loads.
SKILL.md98 linessingle file
Writing Style (ajps-writing-style)
An AJPS paper must be tightly argued, formatted to one accepted style, disciplined to the word cap, and
fully anonymized for double-blind review. This skill is about clarity, format, and the AJPS-specific
counting rules — not about generating claims.
When to trigger
Drafting the introduction, framing the contribution, or final polish
Over the word cap and needing to cut without losing the argument
Writing the <= 150-word abstract
Aligning citations/format to APSA or Chicago style before submission
Write tight and lead with the contribution
Front-load the contribution. By the end of the introduction the reader knows the question, the
argument, the design, the finding, and why it matters. Do not bury the "so what."
Argument-first prose. Lead with claims; use evidence to support them. Avoid "the data show..."
without saying what they show and why it matters.
Reach a broad readership. AJPS spans subfields; define niche jargon on first use and spell out
acronyms.
Signpost. Clear section structure so a reader can navigate the argument.
Format and the AJPS word-count rule
Style: APSA Style Manual for Political Science (rev. 2018, updated 2023) orChicago
Manual of Style (18th ed.) — pick one and apply it consistently; references use authors' full
first and last names. Double-spaced, 12-point, >= one-inch margins.
Word count (put it on the title page along with the abstract): includes the main body, notes,
parenthetical references, print appendices, and table/figure headers and notes; excludes the
title page, abstract, reference list, online Supporting Information, and mathematical notation.
Articles <= 10,000; Research Notes and Correspondence <= 4,000.
Stay double-blind in the prose
No author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, funding statements, or conference mentions in the
manuscript.
Third-person self-citation only — never "as we showed" / "in our prior work."
Use when drafting or polishing an American Sociological Review (ASR) manuscript so it reads for the whole discipline, follows the ASA Style Guide, and fits the limits (Articles <= 15,000 words including text, references, and footnotes; abstract <= 200 words). Tightens prose and format; it does not invent content.