dictionary-pro

name	dictionary-pro
description	Convert informal English words, phrases, collocations, and sentence fragments into precise TOEFL-appropriate alternatives while preserving meaning and register. Use when a user asks what an expression means, whether it is too informal, how to say it more academically, how to replace low-level vocabulary in TOEFL writing, or how slang/plain English compares with academic alternatives.

Dictionary Pro

Use this skill as a register-conversion lexicon, not a generic dictionary. Optimize for semantic precision, natural collocation, and exam-safe phrasing.

Core Workflow

1. Classify the request

Route the request into one primary mode:

• meaning: explain what a word or phrase means in context
• conversion: convert slang or casual English into TOEFL-safe wording
• upgrade: replace a weak word, phrase, or sentence span with a stronger alternative
• comparison: distinguish between near-synonyms or levels of formality

2. Resolve context before suggesting replacements

• Use the user's sentence, nearby clause, and target scenario first.
• If the expression is ambiguous and no context is provided, list 2 to 4 likely senses instead of guessing.
• Preserve polarity, strength, and connotation. Do not replace a mild phrase with an extreme one.
• Prefer phrase-level replacements when naturalness depends on collocation.

3. Choose the output shape

• For word or phrase queries, use the default 5-dimension table in references/output-contract.md.
• For sentence-level upgrades, mark the weak span, offer 2 to 3 replacements, and provide one recommended rewrite.
• For ambiguous inputs, show candidate senses first, then align replacements to each sense.

Quality Bar

Every recommendation must satisfy all of the following:

• meaning-safe: the replacement matches the intended sense in context
• collocation-safe: the phrase sounds natural with surrounding words
• register-safe: the recommendation fits the requested setting, especially TOEFL writing
• not fake-advanced: avoid words that look sophisticated but distort the original meaning

Response Rules

• Default to Chinese explanation when the user writes in Chinese. Keep English examples in English.
• Keep the answer decision-oriented. Explain why one option is safer or stronger than another.
• Rank TOEFL alternatives from safest to strongest when nuance matters.
• Treat frequency as qualitative only unless the user provides evidence or asks for a corpus-backed answer.
• Avoid recommending contractions or slang for TOEFL writing.
• If the user asks for spoken English, show the casual form and the TOEFL-safe form side by side.
• If the runtime explicitly asks for structured JSON, return valid JSON only and follow references/json-contract.md.

Failure Modes To Avoid

• Do not dump loose synonym lists without explaining register differences.
• Do not confuse literal meaning with pragmatic tone.
• Do not over-upgrade simple verbs into unnatural academicese.
• Do not claim an expression is "common" or "rare" without framing it as a qualitative judgment.

Boundaries

• Handle lexical choice, local rewrites, and register conversion.
• Hand off full essay diagnosis to toefl-writing.
• Hand off full article or PDF breakdown to content-parser.

Resource

• Read references/output-contract.md when formatting a response or when the input type is ambiguous.
• Read references/json-contract.md when the runtime asks for structured output or validation-safe JSON.
• Read references/evaluation-cases.md when running prompt regression checks after updates.