copy-editor_skill

Overview

This skill detects common AI-writing patterns and rewrites text to sound natural and human. It preserves meaning and tone while removing formulaic, promotional, and mechanical phrasing. Use it to make documentation, messages, and drafts readable, specific, and lively.

How this skill works

The skill scans input for known AI markers (overused buzzwords, copula avoidance, -ing tacks, excessive lists, em dashes, weasel attributions, etc.). It highlights problematic passages and produces a polished rewrite that keeps the original intent and matches the intended voice. It also injects human elements—opinions, rhythm changes, and small imperfections—when appropriate to restore personality.

When to use it

• Reviewing docs, READMEs, PRDs, proposals, and technical guides
• Polishing messages, emails, and public-facing copy before publishing
• Converting sterile or formulaic drafts into human-sounding prose
• Inspecting AI-generated or mixed human/AI drafts for machine patterns
• Preparing content for audiences that expect an authentic human voice

Best practices

• Provide the intended tone (formal, casual, technical, friendly) so rewrites match voice
• Keep source meaning highlighted if facts must not change
• Ask for target audience details to tune specificity and examples
• Request multiple rewrite options when voice direction is unclear
• Run final output through subject-matter review for factual accuracy

Example use cases

• Turn a bland product spec into a readable, candid overview for engineers and PMs
• Edit a README to remove promotional phrasing and restore plain, direct instructions
• Humanize release notes so they sound like a teammate, not a boilerplate generator
• Polish a proposal by removing vague attributions and adding clear, concrete evidence
• Clean up community posts or support responses to reduce robotic phrasing and improve rapport