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Apply precise writing style that expresses ideas clearly with personal voice and logical flow.
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Based on SOC occupation classification
| name | Applying Style |
| description | Apply precise writing style that expresses ideas clearly with personal voice and logical flow. |
Eliminate intensifiers that add no meaning.
Banned words:
Check: Does removing the word change the meaning? If not, remove it.
Delete phrases that occupy space without adding information.
Banned phrases:
Check: Can you delete the phrase entirely? If yes, delete it.
Cut adverbs that only boost confidence or redundantly enhance meaning.
Enhancement-only: "contrasts sharply" → "contrasts"
Confidence-boosting: definitively, conclusively, undeniably, clearly, obviously, certainly
Check: Does the verb already imply the adverb? If yes, remove the adverb.
Move sentence-initial adverbs or remove them.
Bad: "Critically, this distinction matters."
Good: "This distinction matters."
Check: Does the sentence start with an adverb ending in "-ly"? If yes, rewrite or remove.
Convert questions into direct statements.
Bad: "Why do X?"
Good: "X happens."
Check: Is the question rhetorical (not expecting an answer)? If yes, convert to statement.
Delete "not X but Y" when Y alone suffices.
Bad: "We are not using tools to think but thinking through direct engagement with external structures."
Good: "We are thinking through direct engagement with external structures."
Check: Does the "not X" clause add meaning? If not, delete it and keep only Y.
Restructure sentences that end with "not [passive alternative]" by moving the contrast to the beginning.
Bad: "This requires learners to progressively refine mental schemas, not passively receive information."
Good: "In contrast to passively receiving information, this requires learners to progressively refine mental schemas."
Check: Does the sentence end with ", not [something]"? If yes, move the negation to the beginning.
Use simple words when they convey the same meaning.
Bad: "This dual-layer mediation operates together"
Good: "These two layers operate together"
Check: Is there a simpler word that means the same thing? If yes, use the simpler word.
Replace dramatic intensifiers with moderate alternatives.
Bad: "This distinction is critical."
Good: "This is an important distinction."
Check: Does the sentence use "critical", "crucial", or similar? If yes, replace with "important" or remove.
Delete rhetorical staging phrases like "This sets the stage for" or "This raises the question".
Bad: "This sets the stage for the next question: how should learners interact with AI?"
Good: "How should learners interact with AI?"
Check: Does the sentence use meta-commentary about what's coming next? If yes, delete the meta-commentary and state the point directly.
Use periods instead of em dashes for separation.
Check: Are you using more than one em dash per paragraph? If yes, replace some with periods.
Let logical flow carry the connection between ideas.
Check: Are you using transitions like "Moreover", "Furthermore", "In addition"? If yes, consider removing them if the logical connection is clear.
These rules apply differently across writing genres. Personal experience is content in some genres, filler in others.
Example:
Substantive personal narrative (KEEP):
Meta-commentary (REMOVE):
Example from philosophy reflection:
The first version talks about the quote. The second version uses personal experience to engage with the philosophical idea.
Is this personal content substantive or filler?
Ask:
Genre check:
User-specific instructions override this style guide.
Other Rules:
Note that I don't want you to have so many quotes around everything that is not actually a quote around thins.
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