Guide to Writing for NeurIPS 2024

Welcome to the world of NeurIPS 2024! If you’ve ever thought about writing a paper for this big conference in AI and machine learning, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s break it down so that it’s easy to understand, even if you’re not a scientist.

#What’s This About?

NeurIPS, short for the Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems, is like the Academy Awards for folks into AI research. Researchers from all over want to show off their work, get feedback, and maybe win some accolades. This document is here to guide you on how to write your paper for the conference. Think of it like a recipe; follow the steps, and you’ll end up with something delicious!

#Writing Your Paper

When you sit down to write your paper, there are some key things you need to know. First off, it can only be nine pages long. That’s not a lot of space when you want to cram in all your groundbreaking ideas. But the good news is you can have extra pages for Acknowledgments (thanks, Mom!) and references.

#Keep It Neat and Clean

Before you even start writing, let’s talk format. You’ll need to make sure your paper is printed on US Letter size, not that fancy A4 paper you might find in Europe. Your text should fit within a box that’s about 5.5 inches wide and 9 inches long - just picture a little rectangle in the middle of the page.

Your margins? They’re like a personal space bubble for your text. Make sure they’re set right!

• Left margin: 1.5 inches
• Top margin: 1 inch
• Right and bottom margins: 1 inch

#Fonts and Sizes

If you want your paper to look good, use Times New Roman. It’s like the little black dress of fonts: classy and always in style.

• Use 10-point type for the main text.
• Headings and titles can be a little bigger. The title should be in 17-point type and bold.

#Start with the Abstract

The abstract is like the trailer for your movie. It gives a sneak peek into what your paper is about.

• It needs to be just one paragraph, no more than that.
• Center it, bold it, and use 12-point font.
• Leave two lines above it; it likes to have its space!

Make sure the abstract is clear and concise. If someone reads it, they should have a good idea of what you’re working on without needing a PhD to figure it out.

#Submission Steps

When you’re done, it’s time to submit your paper! Here’s how to do it right:

1. Follow the Guidelines: Make sure you read the instructions thoroughly. This isn’t a scavenger hunt; you want to know exactly what’s expected.

2. Use the Right Style Files: You need to download style files from the NeurIPS website. These are like your cheat sheets that tell you exactly how to format everything.

3. No Sneaky Tweaks: Don’t play around with the style files. They have been set for a reason! If you do, it could lead to your paper being rejected. Yikes!

#Figures and Tables

If you have any charts, drawings, or tables, they need to be neat and easy to read. Think of it like a fashion show for your data - everything should look sharp and presentable.

• Always number your figures and tables.
• Give them captions that explain what they are, using lower case letters, except for the first word and proper nouns.

#Citations and References

You can’t claim someone else’s ideas as your own. Always give credit where credit is due! When you refer to other work in your paper, do it in a consistent way. If you mention an author, you need to keep it the same throughout.

Make sure the reference section comes after the acknowledgments page at the end of your paper. You can use a smaller font for this section if you need to save some space.

#Footnotes and Acknowledgments

You might want to add a little extra info here and there in footnotes. Just remember, less is more! Keep them short and only include them if necessary.

When it comes to acknowledgments, you can thank anyone who helped you with your project, including funding sources. But remember to keep these pages separate from your main submission.

#The Checklist

Before you hit that submit button, make sure you’ve ticked off everything on the checklist:

• Did you write a clear abstract?
• Did you format everything correctly?
• Are your citations consistent?
• Did you acknowledge your contributors and funding sources?
• Did you include the checklist itself at the end?

#Be Honest About Limitations

No one’s perfect, and neither is any paper. If your work has limitations, it’s better to discuss them openly. This shows you are aware of the challenges and have thought critically about your work. Think of it as playing fair in a game - honesty is the best policy!

#Ethical Considerations

When writing your paper, you should think about how your work might affect society. Could it be used for good or bad? It’s important to consider the implications of your research and how it might be used in the real world.

#Transparency

Being clear about your methods and results is crucial. If your paper includes experiments, let others know how they can reproduce your results. This is like sharing your secret recipe with the world.

If your research involves people, make sure you have the right approvals and treat those involved with respect. People are not just numbers in a dataset; they’re individuals.

#What Happens After Submission?

Once you submit your paper, reviewers will take a look at it. They will check if you follow the guidelines and if your work is sound. If they think your paper is good enough, it might get accepted for presentation at the conference.

Keep in mind that peer review can take time, so be patient! And remember, even if your paper isn’t accepted, it’s a chance to get feedback and improve for next time.

#Conclusion

Writing for NeurIPS 2024 can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. By following the guidelines and keeping your paper clear and concise, you can create a solid submission. Just think of it like cooking: gather your ingredients, follow the recipe, and serve your dish with pride! Good luck, and don’t forget to enjoy the process!