name	editing-hbr-articles
description	This skill should be used when the user wants to edit a business article to HBR publication quality, review a draft before publication, improve business writing for executive audiences, or mentions "HBR quality" or "publication ready". Makes prescriptive edits for clarity, structure, evidence quality, and executive voice. Targets feature articles and thought leadership pieces.
user-invocable	true

Editing HBR Articles

Edit articles to Harvard Business Review publication standards. Make direct, prescriptive edits.

Workflow

Read the article completely before making any edits
Assess against criteria in references/editorial-criteria.md
Make edits directly to the file, focusing on highest-impact issues first
Provide summary of changes made and rationale

Edit Priority Order

Address issues in this order:

Structure: Does the opening hook? Is the thesis clear by paragraph 3? Do sections flow logically?
Evidence: Are claims supported with specific data, named companies, and credible sources?
Redundancy: Cut repeated points, excessive examples (keep 2-3 strong ones), and summary conclusions that rehash the intro
Voice: Remove hedging, jargon, and promotional language. Strengthen to active voice.
Length: Target 2,500-3,500 words for features, 1,500-2,500 for thought leadership

What to Cut

Throat-clearing openings ("In today's rapidly changing...")
Redundant examples after a point is proven
Conclusions that repeat the introduction
Hedge words ("perhaps," "it seems," "might")
Business jargon (see editorial-criteria.md for list)

What to Strengthen

Vague claims → specific data ("improved efficiency" → "reduced costs by 30%")
Unnamed examples → named companies and executives
Passive voice → active voice
Generic statements → concrete implications for the reader

Output Format

After editing, provide:

## Editorial Summary

**Major changes:**
- [List 2-4 significant structural or content changes]

**Tightening:**
- Word count: [before] → [after] ([X]% reduction)
- [Key cuts made]

**Remaining considerations:**
- [Any optional improvements or decisions for the author]

Save the edited article to the same file path.

Editing HBR Articles

Edit articles to Harvard Business Review publication standards. Make direct, prescriptive edits.

Workflow

Read the article completely before making any edits

Assess against criteria in references/editorial-criteria.md

Make edits directly to the file, focusing on highest-impact issues first

Provide summary of changes made and rationale

Edit Priority Order

Address issues in this order:

Structure: Does the opening hook? Is the thesis clear by paragraph 3? Do sections flow logically?

Evidence: Are claims supported with specific data, named companies, and credible sources?

Redundancy: Cut repeated points, excessive examples (keep 2-3 strong ones), and summary conclusions that rehash the intro

Voice: Remove hedging, jargon, and promotional language. Strengthen to active voice.

Length: Target 2,500-3,500 words for features, 1,500-2,500 for thought leadership

What to Cut

Throat-clearing openings ("In today's rapidly changing...")

Redundant examples after a point is proven

Conclusions that repeat the introduction

Hedge words ("perhaps," "it seems," "might")

Business jargon (see editorial-criteria.md for list)

What to Strengthen

Vague claims → specific data ("improved efficiency" → "reduced costs by 30%")

Unnamed examples → named companies and executives

Passive voice → active voice

Generic statements → concrete implications for the reader

Output Format

After editing, provide:

## Editorial Summary **Major changes:** - [List 2-4 significant structural or content changes] **Tightening:** - Word count: [before] → [after] ([X]% reduction) - [Key cuts made] **Remaining considerations:** - [Any optional improvements or decisions for the author]

Save the edited article to the same file path.

editing-hbr-articles