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jms-writing-style

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Use when prose and structure are the bottleneck for a Journal of Management Studies (JMS) manuscript — landing the abstract and intro, sustaining a theory-forward narrative, and meeting house conventions (Harvard refs, UK/US English, 200-word abstract). Polishes the writing; it does not invent the contribution (jms-contribution-framing) or run the analysis.

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Source SKILL.md: https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills/blob/HEAD/Journal-of-Management-Studies-Skills/skills/jms-writing-style/SKILL.md

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Writing Style (jms-writing-style)

When to trigger

  • The introduction takes three pages to reach the point
  • The abstract describes activity ("we examine…") instead of stating the contribution
  • The prose is jargon-dense, hedged, or reads like a methods report rather than an argument
  • A reviewer says "I had to dig for the contribution" or "the writing obscures the idea"
  • House conventions (Harvard referencing, abstract length, UK/US English consistency) are unmet

The JMS voice

JMS prose is theory-forward and argumentative — every section advances the contribution, and the reader is told why this matters early and often. It is scholarly but not opaque: the journal's international readership rewards clarity over field-insider shorthand. Write the paper around the claim, not around the chronology of what you did. Do this section by section.

Section-by-section moves

  • Title: signal the phenomenon and the theoretical angle; avoid a method-only title.
  • Abstract (≤200 words): phenomenon → tension → what you did → what you found → what it contributes. State the contribution in the abstract, not just the activity. Provide 4–6 keywords in alphabetical order (verify; 检索于 2026-06；以官网为准).
  • Introduction: by the end of page two the reader should know the phenomenon, the tension, the contribution, and the design. Open with the puzzle, not a literature tour.
  • Theory section: lead each block with its claim; cite to build the argument, not to demonstrate reading. For qualitative work, narrate the journey from data to model.
  • Methods/findings: write findings as an argument, not a data dump; for qualitative work, weave quotes into theoretical claims rather than listing them.
  • Discussion: open by restating the contribution (from jms-contribution-framing), then implications for theory, then for practice, then bounded limitations and future directions.

House conventions to enforce

  • Harvard author-date referencing throughout: "(Author, Year)" in text, alphabetical reference list, page numbers for quotes "(Author, Year, p. XX)". Verify against current author guidance.
  • UK or US English — pick one and be consistent.
  • Double-spaced throughout including notes and references; endnotes only, kept minimal (no footnotes).
  • Declare any use of AI (including copy-editing) per current policy.
  • Keep total length within 10,000–13,000 words inclusive of tables, figures, and references; over-length manuscripts can be returned before review.

Prose discipline

  • Cut throat-clearing ("It is important to note that…"); start sentences with their subject.
  • Replace nominalisations with verbs ("we theorise" not "a theorisation is offered").
  • One idea per paragraph, with a topic sentence that states the claim.
  • Define each construct once, then use the term consistently — do not switch synonyms.

Checklist

  • The contribution is stated in the abstract and by page two of the intro
  • Each section leads with its claim, not its activity
  • Qualitative quotes are woven into theory, not listed
  • Abstract ≤200 words; 4–6 alphabetical keywords
  • Harvard author-date referencing applied consistently; UK/US English consistent
  • Double-spaced, endnotes only; AI use declared
  • Total length within the inclusive 10,000–13,000-word budget
  • Constructs defined once and used consistently

Anti-patterns

  • Activity abstract: "this paper examines X" with no contribution stated
  • Literature-tour intro: pages of citations before the puzzle appears
  • Data-dump findings: results listed in run order rather than as an argument
  • Quote listing: qualitative quotes stacked without theoretical interpretation
  • House-style misses: wrong citation style, over-length, mixed UK/US English, footnotes instead of endnotes
  • Hedge fog: so many qualifiers the claim disappears

Output format

【Abstract】contribution stated, ≤200 words, 4–6 keywords? [Y/N]
【Intro】phenomenon+tension+contribution+design by page 2? [Y/N]
【Sections lead with claims】[Y/N] — notes
【House style】Harvard refs · UK/US consistent · double-spaced · endnotes · AI declared? [Y/N]
【Length】within 10,000–13,000 words inclusive? [Y/N]
【Next step】jms-submission