copywriting

name	copywriting
description	Refine and edit text into clear, concise copywriting. Use when user says "edit this copy", "make this clearer", "rewrite this", "copywriting help", "tighten this up", or shares text they want polished.

Copywriting Editor

Help users transform rough text into sharp, readable copy.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when the user:

• Shares text and asks you to improve, edit, or rewrite it
• Wants copy tightened up or made more concise
• Asks for help with marketing copy, emails, documentation, or any written content
• Says things like "make this clearer" or "help me rewrite this"

Instructions

Core Principles

1. Cut the fat: Remove unnecessary words. "In order to" becomes "to". "Due to the fact that" becomes "because".

2. Use active voice: "The button was clicked by the user" becomes "The user clicked the button".

3. Varied rhythm: Mix sentence lengths. Short sentences punch. Longer ones let the reader breathe and carry complex ideas when needed. Three short sentences in a row feel staccato; follow them with a longer one. Read it aloud—if it sounds like a robot, vary the rhythm.

4. Plain language: Use simple words. "Utilize" becomes "use". "Facilitate" becomes "help".

5. Anglo-Saxon words: Prefer short, Germanic-root words over Latinate. They hit harder. "Help" not "assist". "Buy" not "purchase". "End" not "terminate". See the swap table below.

6. Verbs of movement: Strong verbs paint pictures; adjectives just describe. Verbs of movement are most powerful: cut, drive, pull, grab, run, build, push. Replace weak verb + adverb with one strong verb: "walked slowly" → "shuffled". Replace adjectives with action: "is fast" → "races".

7. Specificity sells: Vague claims feel like marketing; specific details feel true. "Saves time" → "Saves 2 hours a week". "Many customers" → "1,847 customers". Details create mental pictures and credibility.

8. Reframe, don't just describe: The same facts can sound different depending on angle. "Wait time: 3 minutes" → "Your drink is made fresh to order". "Small portions" → "Carefully curated". Find the frame that makes the truth compelling.

9. Conversational tone: Write like you talk. Read it aloud—if it sounds stiff, rewrite it.

Anglo-Saxon Word Swaps

When you see a Latinate word, swap it for the Anglo-Saxon:

Latinate	Anglo-Saxon
purchase	buy
assist	help
commence	start
terminate	end
utilize	use
obtain	get
sufficient	enough
require	need
demonstrate	show
transmit	send
construct	build
accelerate	speed up
implement	do/build
prioritize	rank/pick
endeavor	try
additional	more
regarding	about
subsequent	next
approximately	about

Banned Words, Phrases, and Punctuation

Never use these AI tells:

• "delve" / "delving"
• "comprehensive" / "comprehensively"
• "utilize" / "utilization"
• "facilitate"
• "leverage" (as a verb)
• "robust"
• "seamless" / "seamlessly"
• "cutting-edge"
• "game-changer"
• "synergy"
• "paradigm"
• "holistic"
• "streamline"
• "empower"
• "innovative" (unless truly warranted)
• "elevate"
• "foster"
• "spearhead"
• "underscore"
• "nuanced"
• "in terms of"
• "at the end of the day"
• "moving forward"
• "circle back"
• "deep dive"
• "unpack"
• "landscape"
• "ecosystem"
• "best-in-class"
• "world-class"
• em-dashes (—) for parenthetical asides; use commas or split into sentences instead

Workflow

1. Read the input: Understand what the user is trying to say.

2. Identify problems: Look for:

   • Wordy phrases
   • Passive voice
   • Jargon or buzzwords
   • Long, tangled sentences
   • Weak verbs
   • Redundancy
   • Latinate words that could be Anglo-Saxon
   • Adjectives/adverbs that could be verbs
   • Vague claims that could be specific
   • Negative frames that could be reframed

3. Rewrite: Produce a cleaner version.

4. Explain changes: Briefly note what you changed and why (unless the user just wants the output).

Output Format

Provide:

1. The edited copy
2. A brief summary of key changes (2-3 bullets max)

If the user wants multiple options, offer 2-3 variations with different tones (casual, professional, punchy).

Examples

Example 1: Tightening Marketing Copy

User input: "Our comprehensive solution leverages cutting-edge technology to seamlessly facilitate your workflow optimization needs, empowering teams to achieve unprecedented levels of productivity."

Output: "Our tool helps your team work faster."

Changes:

• Cut 23 words to 7
• Removed jargon ("leverage", "comprehensive", "seamlessly")
• Made the benefit concrete

Example 2: Email Cleanup

User input: "I wanted to reach out to touch base with you regarding the project we discussed in our previous meeting. I was wondering if you might have some time available to circle back on this matter at your earliest convenience."

Output: "Do you have time this week to talk about the project?"

Changes:

• Cut filler ("wanted to reach out", "touch base", "at your earliest convenience")
• Made the ask direct

Example 3: Documentation

User input: "In order to utilize the application's functionality, users must first navigate to the settings panel and subsequently configure the appropriate parameters in accordance with their specific requirements."

Output: "To set up the app, go to Settings and adjust the options to fit your needs."

Changes:

• "In order to" → "To"
• "utilize the application's functionality" → "set up the app"
• "navigate to" → "go to"
• "subsequently configure the appropriate parameters in accordance with their specific requirements" → "adjust the options to fit your needs"

Example 4: Verbs of Movement

User input: "The product significantly improves efficiency and enables better outcomes for your organization."

Output: "This cuts your work in half."

Changes:

• "significantly improves" → "cuts" (verb of movement)
• Removed abstract "outcomes" and "organization"
• Made the benefit concrete and visual

Example 5: Specificity

User input: "Trusted by many businesses worldwide to deliver excellent results."

Output: "Used by 2,341 companies including Stripe and Notion."

Changes:

• "many businesses" → exact number
• Added named examples for credibility
• Cut vague "excellent results"

Example 6: Reframing

User input: "Our product is more expensive than competitors, but it's higher quality."

Output: "Built to last decades, not months."

Changes:

• Reframed price as durability
• "Higher quality" is vague; "decades vs months" is concrete
• Turned a defensive statement into a confident one

Example 7: Varied Rhythm

User input: "We help. We listen. We care. We deliver. We succeed. Together."

Output: "We listen first. Then we build what you actually need, and we stick around until it works."

Changes:

• Original was staccato (six punchy fragments in a row)
• Mixed short and long: "We listen first" is short, the second sentence flows
• Kept the energy but made it readable

Notes

• Match the user's intended tone—don't make formal copy casual unless asked
• Preserve technical terms when accuracy matters
• Ask clarifying questions if the user's intent is unclear
• If copy is already tight, say so—don't change things just to change them