STYLE: Fix emphasis vs definitions style guide compliance (Issue #721) #723

mmcky · 2025-11-20T08:35:39Z

This PR addresses Issue #721 by systematically reviewing all lecture files and ensuring compliance with the QuantEcon style guide for emphasis and definitions.

Summary

Reviewed all 91 lecture markdown files
Fixed 29 files with style guide violations
Made 24 commits with detailed change descriptions

Changes Made

Changed technical terms from italic to bold when they are being defined (not for emphasis), following the style guide rule:

Use **bold** for definitions
Use *italic* for emphasis

Files Modified (29 total)

Key files with multiple changes:

linear_algebra.md - 32 changes (20 definition terms)
linear_models.md - 20 changes (16 definition terms)
samuelson.md - 19 changes
von_neumann_model.md - 13 changes
rational_expectations.md - 8 changes
Plus 24 other files with 1-6 changes each

Impact

Over 150 individual instances corrected
Improved consistency across the entire lecture series
Better adherence to QuantEcon documentation standards
Fixed 2 typos discovered during review (Frim → Firm in cass_fiscal.md)

Testing

All changes are purely cosmetic (Markdown formatting) and do not affect:

Code functionality
Mathematical equations
Technical content
Links or references

Closes #721

- Changed all first-use technical terms from italic to bold - Complies with QuantEcon style guide: bold for definitions, italic for emphasis - Related to issue #721

- Changed technical terms from italic to bold on first definition - Fixed: probability distributions, companion matrix, vector autoregression, deterministic/indeterministic seasonal, linear time trend, moving average, martingale with drift, unconditional mean/variance-covariance matrix, ensemble, cross-sectional average, autocovariance function, stationary distribution, covariance stationary, ergodicity, Markov property, conditional covariance matrix, discrete Lyapunov - Related to issue #721

- Changed Kolmogorov's strong law from italic to bold (named theorem) - Changed variance-covariance matrix from italic to bold (definition) - Related to issue #721

- Changed Gordon formula from italic to bold (named formula) - Changed Lucas tree model terms (tree, fruit, shares, dividend) to bold - Changed infinite horizon, call option, strike price to bold (definitions) - Note: kept 'exercises' and 'not to exercise' as italic (emphasis of choice) - Related to issue #721

- Changed 'Markov perfect equilibrium' from italic to bold in formal definition - Related to issue #721

- Changed 'values' from italic to bold when introducing value functions concept - Note: 'Bellman equation', 'policy', 'reservation wage' already use bold - Related to issue #721

- Changed 'parametric class' from italic to bold (technical concept) - Changed 'Poisson regression' from italic to bold (named model) - Changed 'cumulative normal distribution' from italic to bold (technical term) - Note: 'maximum likelihood estimates' already uses bold - Related to issue #721

- Changed 'exogenous' from italic to bold (key econometric term) - Changed 'marginal effect' from italic to bold (technical definition) - Changed 'the sum of squared residuals' from italic to bold (OLS definition) - Note: 'omitted variable bias', 'multivariate regression model', 'endogeneity', 'two-stage least squares', 'instrument' already use bold - Related to issue #721

Changes per #721: - rational expectations equilibrium (first introduction) - perceived law of motion - actual law of motion - belief function - Euler equation - transversality condition - recursive competitive equilibrium - planning problem All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Changes per #721: - backward shift (operator definition) - lag (operator definition) - forward shift (operator definition) - explosive solution All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Changes per #721: - second-order linear difference equation - national output identity - consumption function - accelerator - accelerator coefficient - aggregate demand - aggregate supply - business cycles - stochastic linear difference equation - marginal propensity to consume - steady state - random - stochastic - shocks - disturbances - second-order scalar linear stochastic difference equation - characteristic polynomial - zeros - roots All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Changes per #721: - transmission rate - infection rate - recovery rate - effective reproduction number All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Changes per #721: - propagation mechanism Term changed from italic to bold as it is a definition per style guide.

Changes per #721: - activities - goods - input matrix - output matrix - intensity - goods used in production - total outputs - productive - cost - revenue - costs - revenues - irreducibility All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Changes per #721: - Lifecycle patterns - Within-cohort heterogeneity - Cross-cohort interactions All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Changes per #721: - numeraire Term changed from italic to bold as it is a definition per style guide.

Changes per #721: - exogenous (cake_eating_egm.md) - adapted (cake_eating_stochastic.md) - state (cake_eating_stochastic.md) - control (cake_eating_stochastic.md) - topologically conjugate (cake_eating_time_iter.md) All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Changes per #721: - career (career.md) - job (career.md) - aggregation theory (cass_koopmans_1.md) All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Changes per #721: - recursion - multiplicative decomposition Terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Changes per #721: - prior distributions - posterior distributions - speculative behavior - ex dividend - Short sales are prohibited - Harsanyi Common Priors Doctrine All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Changes per #721: - reservation wage (odu.md) - reservation wage functional equation (odu.md) - matrix (opt_transport.md) - vector (opt_transport.md) All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Changes per #721: - prior (kalman.md) - filtering distribution (kalman.md) - predictive (kalman.md) - Kalman gain (kalman.md) - predictive distribution (kalman.md) - savings (ifp_advanced.md) All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Changes per #721: - Household (changed from italic to bold - also fixed typo 'Frim' to 'Firm') - Firm Terms changed from italic to bold as they are economic agents being defined per style guide.

Changes per #721: - conditionally (as part of 'conditionally independently and identically distributed') Term changed from italic to bold as it is a definition per style guide.

mmcky · 2025-11-20T08:38:49Z

@mmcky will do a deep dive review of this tomorrow.

@jstac If you had time to do a few quick spot checks that would be helpful to me re: understanding of the style guide rule (but not necessary if no time available).

I built an agent to review each lecture in a very systematic way using lots of api calls. I think these are pretty good results.

github-actions · 2025-11-20T09:03:55Z

📖 Netlify Preview Ready!

Preview URL: https://pr-723--sunny-cactus-210e3e.netlify.app (c6a0887)

📚 Changed Lecture Pages: ak2, ak_aiyagari, cake_eating_egm, cake_eating_stochastic, cake_eating_time_iter, career, cass_fiscal, cass_koopmans_1, exchangeable, ifp_advanced, kalman, likelihood_bayes, linear_algebra, linear_models, lln_clt, markov_asset, markov_perf, mccall_model, mle, morris_learn, odu, ols, opt_transport, rational_expectations, re_with_feedback, samuelson, sir_model, uncertainty_traps, von_neumann_model

lectures/morris_learn.md

lectures/ols.md

lectures/rational_expectations.md

lectures/samuelson.md

mmcky · 2025-11-20T21:56:09Z

@jstac with a fresh brain this morning I have gone through this PR in more detail. It's actually quite tricky! but I think there should be less definitions and more emphasis (as marked above).

If you have time would you be able to cycle through my checkboxes and tick the ones you agree with?

jstac · 2025-11-21T00:13:10Z

Does checking the box mean i agree with the change or that I agree with the designation of emphasis?

@mmcky

mmcky · 2025-11-21T00:14:41Z

Does checking the box mean i agree with the change or that I agree with the designation of emphasis?

@mmcky

In my mind, checking the box indicates you would agree with changing it back to emphasis. Thanks @jstac. Some have multiple instances, but I think those cases are still unified.

jstac · 2025-11-21T00:20:28Z

roger that @mmcky . Done.

Some of these are borderline.

mmcky · 2025-11-21T00:22:30Z

roger that @mmcky . Done.

Some of these are borderline.

Agree. Super useful data. Appreciate it @jstac -- trying to update my and claude's view of the rules :-)

Based on PR review feedback with checked [x] emphasis comments, reverted the following terms from bold back to italic (emphasis, not definitions): - linear_models.md: ergodicity (concept emphasis) - markov_asset.md: tree, fruit, shares, dividend (metaphorical emphasis) - mccall_model.md: values (concept emphasis) - mle.md: parametric class (emphasis not definition) - morris_learn.md: prior/posterior distributions, speculative behavior, ex dividend, Short sales, Harsanyi Common Priors Doctrine (emphasis) - ols.md: exogenous, marginal effect (emphasis not definitions) - rational_expectations.md: rational expectations equilibrium (intro emphasis), perceived/actual law of motion (intro emphasis, formal definitions come later) - samuelson.md: second-order linear difference equation, national output identity, consumption function, accelerator, accelerator coefficient, aggregate demand/supply, random, stochastic, shocks, disturbances (emphasis not definitions) These are emphasis on concepts or references, not formal definitions.

mmcky · 2025-11-21T00:41:20Z

Additional Revisions Based on Review Feedback

I've processed all the checked [x] emphasis comments from the PR review and reverted those changes back to italic formatting.

Files Reverted (8 files, commit `8d221fd`)

linear_models.md:

ergodicity → back to italic (concept reference)

markov_asset.md:

tree, fruit, shares, dividend → back to italic (metaphorical terms in Lucas model)

mccall_model.md:

values → back to italic (concept emphasis)

mle.md:

parametric class → back to italic (emphasis, not formal definition)

morris_learn.md:

prior distributions, posterior distributions, speculative behavior → back to italic
ex dividend, Short sales, Harsanyi Common Priors Doctrine → back to italic

ols.md:

exogenous, marginal effect → back to italic (emphasis on concepts)

rational_expectations.md:

rational expectations equilibrium (in Overview) → back to italic (intro mention; formal definition remains bold later in lecture)
perceived law of motion, actual law of motion (in Overview) → back to italic (intro mentions; formal definitions remain bold later)

samuelson.md:

second-order linear difference equation, national output identity, consumption function, accelerator, accelerator coefficient → back to italic
aggregate demand, aggregate supply, random, stochastic, shocks, disturbances → back to italic

Pattern Clarification

The distinction is now clearer:

Bold: Formal definitions where "X is called the Y", "The X is defined as...", "A X is..."
Italic: Emphasis, concept references, metaphors, introductory mentions (before formal definition), model component descriptions

Total revisions so far:

6 files in earlier batches
8 files in this batch
14 files corrected total out of 29 modified files

The remaining 15 files contain correct formal definitions.

github-actions · 2025-11-21T00:57:20Z

📖 Netlify Preview Ready!

Preview URL: https://pr-723--sunny-cactus-210e3e.netlify.app (8d221fd)

📚 Changed Lecture Pages: ak2, cake_eating_stochastic, cake_eating_time_iter, career, cass_fiscal, kalman, likelihood_bayes, linear_algebra, linear_models, lln_clt, markov_asset, markov_perf, mle, odu, ols, rational_expectations, re_with_feedback, samuelson, sir_model, uncertainty_traps, von_neumann_model

Fixed the following typos: - linear_algebra.md: removed extra '.*.' after 'square' and 'symmetric' - linear_algebra.md: removed extra '.l.' after 'diagonal' - sir_model.md: removed extra 'd)' after 'infected)' - von_neumann_model.md: removed extra '.).' after 'consumed)' - von_neumann_model.md: removed extra '****' after 'outputs' - von_neumann_model.md: removed extra 'es' from 'activitieses' → 'activities'

mmcky · 2025-11-21T01:36:38Z

Typo Fixes

Fixed 7 typos that were accidentally introduced during the formatting changes (commit f0264ea):

linear_algebra.md:

Line 474: **square**.*. → **square**.
Line 478: **symmetric**.*. → **symmetric**.
Line 482: diagonal.l. → diagonal.

sir_model.md:

Line 112: infected)d) → infected)

von_neumann_model.md:

Line 368: consumed).). → consumed)
Line 398: outputs**** → outputs**
Line 410: activitieses → activities

All changes have been reviewed and corrected. The PR should now be clean and ready for final review.

mmcky

@jstac OK -- this now looks like a net positive improvement. I will merge this later today as it touches a lot of files.

github-actions · 2025-11-21T01:52:37Z

📖 Netlify Preview Ready!

Preview URL: https://pr-723--sunny-cactus-210e3e.netlify.app (f0264ea)

📚 Changed Lecture Pages: ak2, cake_eating_stochastic, cake_eating_time_iter, career, cass_fiscal, kalman, likelihood_bayes, linear_algebra, linear_models, lln_clt, markov_asset, markov_perf, mle, odu, ols, rational_expectations, re_with_feedback, samuelson, sir_model, uncertainty_traps, von_neumann_model

jstac · 2025-11-21T02:05:27Z

Thanks @mmcky , please go ahead when ready.

mmcky added 24 commits November 20, 2025 19:11

Fix emphasis vs definitions in linear_algebra.md

e3af476

- Changed all first-use technical terms from italic to bold - Complies with QuantEcon style guide: bold for definitions, italic for emphasis - Related to issue #721

Fix emphasis vs definitions in lln_clt.md

e4936b3

- Changed Kolmogorov's strong law from italic to bold (named theorem) - Changed variance-covariance matrix from italic to bold (definition) - Related to issue #721

Fix emphasis vs definitions in markov_perf.md

a28806b

- Changed 'Markov perfect equilibrium' from italic to bold in formal definition - Related to issue #721

Fix emphasis vs definitions in mccall_model.md

123fd9f

- Changed 'values' from italic to bold when introducing value functions concept - Note: 'Bellman equation', 'policy', 'reservation wage' already use bold - Related to issue #721

Fix emphasis vs definitions in re_with_feedback.md

ceb29ae

Changes per #721: - backward shift (operator definition) - lag (operator definition) - forward shift (operator definition) - explosive solution All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Fix emphasis vs definitions in sir_model.md

567ea1f

Changes per #721: - transmission rate - infection rate - recovery rate - effective reproduction number All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Fix emphasis vs definitions in uncertainty_traps.md

6c176f1

Changes per #721: - propagation mechanism Term changed from italic to bold as it is a definition per style guide.

Fix emphasis vs definitions in ak_aiyagari.md

3b8d5e7

Changes per #721: - Lifecycle patterns - Within-cohort heterogeneity - Cross-cohort interactions All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Fix emphasis vs definitions in ak2.md

6726aae

Changes per #721: - numeraire Term changed from italic to bold as it is a definition per style guide.

Fix emphasis vs definitions in career and cass_koopmans_1

14d4f64

Changes per #721: - career (career.md) - job (career.md) - aggregation theory (cass_koopmans_1.md) All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Fix emphasis vs definitions in likelihood_bayes.md

d0fe1d5

Changes per #721: - recursion - multiplicative decomposition Terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Fix emphasis vs definitions in odu and opt_transport

3325db6

Changes per #721: - reservation wage (odu.md) - reservation wage functional equation (odu.md) - matrix (opt_transport.md) - vector (opt_transport.md) All terms changed from italic to bold as they are definitions per style guide.

Fix emphasis vs definitions in cass_fiscal.md

3736206

Changes per #721: - Household (changed from italic to bold - also fixed typo 'Frim' to 'Firm') - Firm Terms changed from italic to bold as they are economic agents being defined per style guide.

Fix emphasis vs definitions in exchangeable.md

deb1944

Changes per #721: - conditionally (as part of 'conditionally independently and identically distributed') Term changed from italic to bold as it is a definition per style guide.

mmcky changed the title ~~Fix emphasis vs definitions style guide compliance (Issue #721)~~ STYLE: Fix emphasis vs definitions style guide compliance (Issue #721) Nov 20, 2025

mmcky mentioned this pull request Nov 20, 2025

MAINT: upgrade quantecon-book-theme==v0.11.0 #720

Merged

Merge branch 'main' into fix-emphasis-definitions-style

c6a0887

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