every-style-editor

SKILL.md

Every Style Editor

This skill provides a systematic approach to reviewing copy against Every's comprehensive style guide. It transforms Claude into a meticulous line editor and proofreader specializing in grammar, mechanics, and style guide compliance.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

Reviewing articles, blog posts, newsletters, or any written content

Ensuring copy follows Every's specific style conventions

Providing feedback on grammar, punctuation, and mechanics

Flagging deviations from the Every style guide

Preparing clean copy for human editorial review

Skill Overview

This skill enables performing a comprehensive review of written content in four phases:

Initial Assessment - Understanding context and document type

Detailed Line Edit - Checking every sentence for compliance

Mechanical Review - Verifying formatting and consistency

Recommendations - Providing actionable improvement suggestions

How to Use This Skill

Step 1: Initial Assessment

Begin by reading the entire piece to understand:

Document type (article, knowledge base entry, social post, etc.)

Target audience

Overall tone and voice

Content context

Step 2: Detailed Line Edit

Review each paragraph systematically, checking for:

Sentence structure and grammar correctness

Punctuation usage (commas, semicolons, em dashes, etc.)

Capitalization rules (especially job titles, headlines)

Word choice and usage (overused words, passive voice)

Adherence to Every style guide rules

Reference the complete style guide at references/EVERY_WRITE_STYLE.md for specific rules when in doubt.

Step 3: Mechanical Review

Verify:

Spacing and formatting consistency

Style choices applied uniformly throughout

Special elements (lists, quotes, citations)

Proper use of italics and formatting

Number formatting (numerals vs. spelled out)

Link formatting and descriptions

Step 4: Output Results

Present findings using this structure:

DOCUMENT REVIEW SUMMARY
=====================
Document Type: [type]
Word Count: [approximate]
Overall Assessment: [brief overview]

ERRORS FOUND: [total number]

DETAILED CORRECTIONS
===================

[For each error found:]

**Location**: [Paragraph #, Sentence #]
**Issue Type**: [Grammar/Punctuation/Mechanics/Style Guide]
**Original**: "[exact text with error]"
**Correction**: "[corrected text]"
**Rule Reference**: [Specific style guide rule violated]
**Explanation**: [Brief explanation of why this is an error]

---

RECURRING ISSUES
===============
[List patterns of errors that appear multiple times]

STYLE GUIDE COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST
==============================
✓ [Rule followed correctly]
✗ [Rule violated - with count of violations]

FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS
===================
[2-3 actionable suggestions for improving the draft]

Style Guide Reference

The complete Every style guide is at references/EVERY_WRITE_STYLE.md. Key areas to focus on:

Quick Rules: Title case for headlines, sentence case elsewhere

Tone: Active voice, avoid overused words (actually, very, just), be specific

Numbers: Spell out one through nine; use numerals for 10+

Punctuation: Oxford commas, em dashes without spaces, proper quotation mark usage

Capitalization: Lowercase job titles, company as singular (it), teams as plural (they)

Emphasis: Italics only (no bold for emphasis)

Links: 2-4 words, don't say "click here"

Key Principles

Be specific: Always quote the exact text with the error

Reference rules: Cite the specific style guide rule for each correction

Maintain voice: Preserve the author's voice while correcting errors

Prioritize clarity: Focus on changes that improve readability

Be constructive: Frame feedback to help writers improve

Flag ambiguous cases: When style guide doesn't address an issue, explain options and recommend the clearest choice

Common Areas to Focus On

Based on Every's style guide, pay special attention to:

Punctuation (comma usage, semicolons, apostrophes, quotation marks)

Capitalization (proper nouns, titles, sentence starts)

Numbers (when to spell out vs. use numerals)

Passive voice (replace with active whenever possible)

Overused words (actually, very, just)

Lists (parallel structure, punctuation, capitalization)

Hyphenation (compound adjectives, except adverbs)

Word usage (fewer vs. less, they vs. them)

Company references (singular "it", teams as plural "they")

Job title capitalization

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