---
title: "Markdown and Mermaid Writing"
type: skill
id: "k-dense-scientific/research-methods/markdown-mermaid-writing"
category: "Research"
publisher: "K-Dense"
license: "MIT"
source: "https://github.com/K-Dense-AI/claude-scientific-skills/tree/a25cf9e"
canonical: "https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/k-dense-scientific/research-methods/markdown-mermaid-writing"
open_in_pho: "https://pho.chat/customize?item=k-dense-scientific%2Fresearch-methods%2Fmarkdown-mermaid-writing&utm_source=labs&utm_medium=skill-page&utm_campaign=skills-library"
---

# Markdown and Mermaid Writing

Writes scientific Markdown documentation and Mermaid diagrams for workflows, relationships, timelines, and schemas. Provides syntax references, document templates, accessibility guidance, and version-aware rendering checks. Use when a user requests Markdown, Mermaid, or a text-based structural diagram; quantitative scientific figures require suitable plotting tools.

Source: K-Dense (MIT), copied at a pinned commit. Free to use. Part of the Phở Skills library (https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills).
Skill set: Research methods (https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/k-dense-scientific/research-methods.md).

## What it covers
- Overview
- When to Use This Skill
- 🎨 The Source Format Philosophy
  - Why text-based diagrams win
  - The three-phase workflow
  - What Mermaid can express
- 🔧 Core workflow
  - Step 1: Identify the document type
  - Step 2: Read the style guide
  - Step 3: Pick the diagram type and read its guide
  - Step 4: Write the document
  - Step 5: Retain source and verification
- ⚠️ Common pitfalls
  - Radar chart syntax (radar-beta)
  - XY Chart vs Radar confusion
  - Forgetting accTitle/accDescr on supported types
- 🔗 Integration with other skills
  - With scientific-schematics
  - With scientific-writing
  - With literature-review

## Other skills in this set
- [Research Grant Writing](https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/k-dense-scientific/research-methods/research-grants.md): Supports research proposal preparation and review for NSF, NIH, DOE, DARPA, and Taiwan NSTC, including opportunity-specific requirements, aims, review criteria, budgets, broader impacts, forms, and…
- [Scientific Critical Thinking](https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/k-dense-scientific/research-methods/scientific-critical-thinking.md): Evaluates scientific claims and evidence quality. Applies to experimental design validity, biases and confounders, statistical interpretation, evidence grading frameworks (GRADE, Cochrane Risk of…

## Use it
- In Phở: open https://pho.chat/customize?item=k-dense-scientific%2Fresearch-methods%2Fmarkdown-mermaid-writing&utm_source=labs&utm_medium=skill-page&utm_campaign=skills-library and press Try, or add it so Phở loads it whenever a request matches. Phở works with your own API key (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and others).
- Full instructions (original SKILL.md, unchanged): https://labs.pho.chat/skills/raw/k-dense-scientific/research-methods/skills/markdown-mermaid-writing/SKILL.md
- Original files: https://github.com/K-Dense-AI/claude-scientific-skills/tree/a25cf9e (MIT).
- Full machine-readable index: https://labs.pho.chat/skills.json