Consistency Module Reference
Purpose: Check terminology, abbreviation, and notation uniformity across thesis chapters.
Terminology Consistency Rules
- First-use definition: Every technical term must be defined on first use, with the English equivalent in parentheses if applicable
- Consistent naming: Once a term is introduced (e.g., "注意力机制"), use the same form throughout — do not alternate with synonyms ("注意力方法", "Attention 机制") without reason
- Cross-chapter alignment: Terms defined in Chapter 1 must use the same form in all subsequent chapters
Abbreviation Rules
- First-use expansion: Write the full form first, followed by abbreviation in parentheses: "长短期记忆网络（LSTM）"
- Subsequent uses: Use abbreviation only after it has been introduced
- Per-chapter re-introduction: For theses, re-introduce abbreviations at first use in each chapter (reader may start from any chapter)
- Avoid in titles: Do not use abbreviations in chapter/section titles unless universally known (AI, CNN, LSTM)
Notation Uniformity
- Variables: Use consistent math notation (e.g., always bold for vectors, italic for scalars)
- Subscripts/superscripts: Maintain consistent conventions across all equations
- Units: Use SI units consistently; do not mix units for the same quantity
Common Issues
| Issue | Example | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Synonym drift | "模型"/"网络"/"架构" used interchangeably | Pick one primary term |
| Undefined abbreviation | "使用 GAN 生成" without prior definition | Add first-use expansion |
| Inconsistent translation | "Transformer"/"转换器" mixed | Standardize on one form |
| Notation conflict | $x$ as both input and output in different sections | Assign unique symbols |
Detection Approach
Script check_consistency.py --terms scans for:
- Abbreviations used before definition
- Terms with multiple surface forms
- Inconsistent capitalization of technical terms
For logic and coherence checks (non-terminology), see
logic.md. Full reference:../writing/logic-coherence.md