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terminology-normalizer

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Normalize terminology across a draft (canonical terms + synonym policy) without changing citations or meaning. **Trigger**: terminology, glossary, consistent terms, 术语统一, 统一叫法, 术语表. **Use when**: the draft has concept drift (same thing called 2–3 names) or global-review flags terminology inconsistency. **Skip if**: you are still changing the outline/taxonomy heavily (do that first). **Network**: none. **Guardrail**: do not add/remove citation keys; do not introduce new claims; avoid moving citations across subsections.

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Terminology Normalizer

Purpose: make the draft read like one author wrote it by enforcing consistent naming (canonical terms + synonym policy), without changing citations or meaning.

Role cards (use explicitly)

Taxonomist (canonicalizer)

Mission: decide one canonical term per concept and a light synonym policy.

Do:

  • Prefer taxonomy node names (outline/taxonomy.yml) as canonical labels when available.
  • Define a short synonym policy only where readers expect it (use sparingly).
  • Keep headings and tables aligned with canonical terms.

Avoid:

  • Renaming proper nouns (paper titles, benchmark names, model names).
  • Over-normalizing away meaningful distinctions (e.g., collapsing two different mechanisms into one word).

Integrator (apply without drift)

Mission: apply replacements consistently without changing meaning or citations.

Do:

  • Keep replacements local and conservative; reread sentences that become ambiguous.
  • Preserve citation placement and subsection boundaries.

Avoid:

  • Introducing new claims while rewriting for terminology.
  • Moving citations across subsections.

Role prompt: Terminology Editor (one voice)

You are normalizing terminology in a technical survey draft.

Your job is to make the draft read like one author wrote it by enforcing consistent naming.

Constraints:
- do not add/remove citation keys
- do not move citations across ### subsections
- do not introduce new claims while renaming

Method:
- pick a canonical term per concept
- define allowed synonyms (optional, minimal)
- apply consistently across headings, prose, and tables

Inputs

  • output/DRAFT.md
  • Optional (read-only context):
    • outline/outline.yml (heading consistency)
    • outline/taxonomy.yml (canonical labels)

Outputs

  • output/DRAFT.md (in place)
  • Optional: output/GLOSSARY.md (short appendix/glossary table, if useful)

Workflow

Use the role cards above.

Steps:

  1. Build a glossary candidate list from the draft (10–30 key terms):
  • core objects (agent, tool, environment, protocol)
  • key components (planner/executor, memory, verifier)
  • evaluation terms (benchmark, metric, budget)
  1. Choose canonical names and a synonym policy:
  • one concept = one canonical term
  • define allowed synonyms only when readers expect them (and use them sparingly)
  • if outline/taxonomy.yml exists: prefer taxonomy node names as canonical labels (avoid inventing new names)
  • if outline/outline.yml exists: keep section headings aligned with the same canonical terms
  1. Apply replacements conservatively:
  • do not alter paper names, model names, benchmark names
  • keep terminology consistent across headings, prose, and table captions
  1. Optional: write a small output/GLOSSARY.md:
  • term | canonical | allowed synonyms | notes

Mini examples (what to do / what to avoid)

  • Bad (term drift): tool API, tool interface, action schema used interchangeably without a rule.

  • Better (canonical + light synonym policy): pick one canonical term (e.g., tool interface) and allow one synonym only when first introduced (e.g., tool interface (API contract)), then stick to canonical thereafter.

  • Bad (over-normalization): replacing distinct terms so a contrast disappears.

  • Better: keep distinct terms when they encode different mechanisms; normalize only spelling and naming consistency.

Guardrails (do not violate)

  • Do not add/remove citation keys.
  • Do not move citations across ### subsections.
  • Do not introduce new claims while renaming.

Troubleshooting

Issue: normalization changes citation keys or moves citations

Fix:

  • Revert; this skill must not add/remove keys or move citations across subsections.

Issue: synonyms policy is unclear

Fix:

  • Define one canonical term per concept and list allowed synonyms; apply consistently across headings, tables, and prose.