Academic Keywords Generator
How to select, format, and validate academic keywords for maximum discoverability in journal databases.
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Why do academic keywords matter?
Academic keywords are the terms that make your paper discoverable in databases like PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Journals typically require 4–8 keywords that represent your paper's core topics, methods, and findings. Well-chosen keywords increase citation rates by making your paper easier to find. Poorly chosen or formatted keywords can reduce visibility. For medical and life-science papers, using MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms is often required or strongly recommended. This guide covers keyword selection strategy and formatting requirements.
Keyword selection strategy
Represent your main topics
Include keywords for your primary research area, method, population, and outcome.
Use controlled vocabulary
Use MeSH terms for biomedical papers; ACM Computing Classification for CS papers.
Avoid title duplication
Keywords should complement, not duplicate, words already in your title.
Mix broad and specific
Include 2–3 broad terms and 2–3 specific terms to capture different search intents.
Check journal requirements
Some journals specify maximum keyword count, capitalization, and separator style.
Checks relevant to this topic
Part of our 80+ automated checks
Keyword count
Number of keywords within journal requirements (typically 4–8).
Format consistency
Consistent capitalization and separator style (semicolons vs commas).
Relevance
Keywords align with the paper's actual content.
Title duplication
Keywords don't simply repeat words from the title.
The practical edge your peers already use
Across disciplines and career stages, researchers reduce bottlenecks and submit with confidence: clearer drafts, easier guideline compliance, and less back and forth with co‑authors and reviewers.
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Professor in Mechanical Engineering, ÉTS Montréal
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Manon
Master's Student in Speech Therapy
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Afonso
PhD Candidate, UFPE
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Félix
Postdoc Researcher, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology
A round of suggestions helped to generally refine the text of my paper and, moreover, to present some of its key points in a more focused form.
Oleg
Professor, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
I use it to review my students' papers. It instantly highlights typos, missing references, and unclear sections, helping me focus my feedback on the quality of the research instead of surface errors.
Ilyass
Professor in Mechanical Engineering, ÉTS Montréal
I relied on it throughout my thesis to strengthen my writing. It suggested clearer phrasing, improved flow between sections, and ensured my references were complete before the final deadline.
Manon
Master's Student in Speech Therapy
I write research in both Portuguese and English, and it adapts perfectly to either language. It provided precise feedback in Portuguese, helping me maintain academic tone and consistency across my drafts.
Afonso
PhD Candidate, UFPE
It gave excellent advice on how to rephrase and present ideas more clearly and concisely. The suggestions helped me refine my arguments and make my research more impactful.
Félix
Postdoc Researcher, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology
A round of suggestions helped to generally refine the text of my paper and, moreover, to present some of its key points in a more focused form.
Oleg
Professor, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Frequently asked questions
Most journals require 4–8 keywords. Check your target journal's guidelines for the exact count. Including too few reduces discoverability; too many dilutes relevance.
MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) is the controlled vocabulary used by PubMed and MEDLINE. Using official MeSH terms as keywords makes biomedical papers more discoverable in these databases.
Both are acceptable. Multi-word phrases (keyword phrases) are often more specific and effective than single words. For example, 'machine learning' is more useful than 'machine' or 'learning' separately.