Prof Lennart Nacke, PhD Profile picture
Oct 22, 2022 9 tweets 4 min read Read on X
During my academic career, I've spent 10,000+ hours editing LaTeX.

Want to know a secret?

I use these 5 easy-to-follow LaTeX snippets every time I submit a CHI paper, and this thread will save you the time of searching for how to do them.

You'll want to bookmark this. 🧵👇
1. Use the right documentclass options before submitting your paper to CHI

How it works:

- Comment out this line of code with % \documentclass[sigconf,authordraft]{acmart}
- Then add \documentclass[manuscript,screen,review, anonymous]{acmart}

This is the right review format. Screenshot of the replacement of the LaTeX code from the ACM
2. Format nicer-looking research questions

How it works:

Load in LaTeX doc header:
\usepackage{enumerate}
\usepackage[shortlabels]{enumitem}

Type in LaTeX doc body:
\begin{enumerate}[label= \textbf{RQ\arabic*:}]
\item x
\end{enumerate} The image shows the described code in the Overleaf editor an
3. Make sure to always define acronyms before use

How it works:

Load in LaTeX doc header:
\usepackage[nolist]{acronym}

Define acronyms:
\begin{acronym}
\acro{ANOVA}{Analysis of Variance}
\end{acronym}

Write the acronym in your text like this:
"We conducted an \ac{ANOVA}." The image shows the described LaTeX for the acronym package
4. Create pretty quotes for qualitative findings

How it works:

Define a new command called \quoting:
\newcommand{\quoting}[2][P]{``\emph{#2}''\emph{[\textbf{#1}]}}

Use the command like this to quote participants:
\quoting[P13]{This prototype rocked my world.}. The image shows the described LaTeX for the new quoting comm
5. Leave highlighted comments

How it works:

Load in LaTeX doc header:
\usepackage{xcolor}

Define:
\definecolor{highlighterYellow}{HTML}{fff100}
\newcommand{\lennartNote}[1]{\colorbox{highlighterYellow}{\textbf{Lennart:} \textit{#1}}}

Use:
\lennartNote{My nice comment} The image shows the described LaTeX for code to created high
TL;DR: 5 drops of my secret LaTeX sauce to write smooth #chi2023 papers

1. Use the right documentclass options for submission
2. Format nicer-looking RQs
3. Always define acronyms before use
4. Create pretty quotes for qualitative findings
5. Leave highlighted comments
Done like disco.

If you enjoyed this thread:

1. Follow me @acagamic for more tips on writing research papers
2. Buy my How to Write Better Research Papers course: chicourse.com
3. RT the tweet below to share this thread with your writing crew
When you're ready for it, there are two ways I can help you:

1. My newsletters inform you about UX, design, research, and writing. acagamic.com/newsletter

2. My writing course teaches you how to write research papers for CHI and other academic venues: acagamic.com/writingcourse

• • •

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More from @acagamic

Jul 6
In 20 years, I've published 300+ papers: 41k+ citations.

It all started with just 3 simple writing tips per section.

The best researchers know this secret.

Great papers tell great stories that keep readers hooked. How?

Here's my academic storytelling framework: Best-paper winning academic storytelling framework.
INTRODUCTION
Start with curiosity, not conclusions.

Your introduction should make readers think:
I've never considered that.

• Contrast an intriguing fact to existing work in your field
• Introduce a thought-provoking problem
• Focus on a little-known perspective

This creates immediate engagement.
RELATED WORK
Position your work as the missing piece.

Your related work section isn't a boring literature review.
It's a dinner party where you're introducing the guests.

• Make your work relevant to ongoing debates
• Relate existing research gaps to problems
• Show opposing viewpoints

This builds anticipation for your solution.
Read 10 tweets
Jul 2
As a professor I've worked with dozens of high-performing researchers.

The secret to thriving in modern academia?

Most early-career researchers think:
Academic success = publish papers + teach classes.

Wrong.

What actually creates breakthrough careers: Not academic success
Traditional academia is dying.

The professors thriving today don't just publish—they:

• Get really good at AI to 10x research effectiveness
• Design transformative curricula (not just lectures)
• Lead innovation ecosystems beyond campus

Here's the playbook: 👇
PILLAR 1: Research Excellence 2.0

Stop competing on volume. Start competing on impact.

High-performers design a research vision that balances:

✓ Interdisciplinary collaboration potential
✓ Relevance to emerging tech trends
✓ Deep expertise in your niche

Quality > Quantity, always.
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Jun 24
Most researchers spend 40+ hours reading papers but can barely remember what they read last week.

After diving deep into how to take notes for my courses,
I found this 4-step system that turns reading into permanent knowledge.

Here's how to never forget what you read again: how to take smart notes
Most of us treat note-taking like passive transcription.

We:

• Can't connect ideas across sources
• Never revisit our notes
• Copy quotes verbatim
• Highlight everything

Result? Our notes become information graveyards.
Take smarter notes:

Instead of writing ABOUT what you read
Write WITH what you read.

The goal isn't to store information.
It's to develop ideas.

Think of your notes as a conversation with the author.

Not a photocopier.
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Jun 14
The 3-2-1 Writing Clarity Rule that changed how I approach every academic paper:

Most academics think complex ideas need complex sentences.

They're wrong.

Here's how the 3-2-1 rule works:
3 Types of Unnecessary Words to Cut:

Redundant pairs
("completely eliminate," "exact same")

Vague time markers
("nowadays," "at this point in time")

Meaningless intensifiers
("very unique," "quite significant")
2 Voice Choices:

Passive: "The data was analyzed by the research team"
Active: "The research team analyzed the data"

Active = energy and clarity
Passive = subtlety and focus shift

Choose active
(unless actor is unknown, object is the star, or you want to detach yourself)
Read 7 tweets
May 19
I believed these 11 lies about literature reviews until I knew better

Don't let these myths hold you back.

The honest truth about literature reviews:
🗣️ "A literature review is just a summary of sources"
Nope.
Read 45 tweets
Apr 14
How I went from 12 citations to 39,286 by changing how I wrote.

Not what I researched.

My biggest struggles as a researcher were:

* Staying motivated
* Getting published
* Being cited

The one thing I learned:
Writing a paper isn’t hard. Writing a readable one is.

Successful research papers are 60% science, 40% packaging.How to package a research paper
Here's my 7-step framework for writing papers
people actually want to read:

1. Abstract = Your 30-second pitch

Answer simply: "What problem did I solve and why should anyone care?"

Your abstract is your elevator pitch.
Most of you are still writing disclaimers.
2. Introduction = The warm oatmeal of your paper

Begin with what readers already know
before introducing your unique angle

Your introduction isn’t the place to show off.
It’s where trust begins.
Read 9 tweets

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