From b34ed4c65cd13edead11760b1034a0ac4d0a0ca1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Andrew Barba Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2026 16:48:35 -0500 Subject: [PATCH 1/2] chore: add human-writing skill Signed-off-by: Andrew Barba --- .agents/skills/human-writing/SKILL.md | 216 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 216 insertions(+) create mode 100644 .agents/skills/human-writing/SKILL.md diff --git a/.agents/skills/human-writing/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/human-writing/SKILL.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..b497c789b --- /dev/null +++ b/.agents/skills/human-writing/SKILL.md @@ -0,0 +1,216 @@ +--- +name: human-writing +description: | + Remove signs of AI-generated writing from text to make it sound more natural and human-written. Use when editing or reviewing any form of document including: markdown, technical docs, emails, blog posts, PRDs, or any dedicated writing content. Based on Wikipedia's comprehensive "Signs of AI writing" guide. Detects and fixes patterns including: inflated symbolism, promotional language, superficial -ing analyses, vague attributions, em dash overuse, rule of three, AI vocabulary words, negative parallelisms, and excessive conjunctive phrases. +--- + +# Humanizing text + +This skill helps you write better and more readable text. You can do this by identifying and removing signs of AI-generated text so writing sounds like a person wrote it. This guide comes from Wikipedia's "Signs of AI writing" page, maintained by WikiProject AI Cleanup. + +When you get text to humanize or are about to write something: scan for the patterns below, rewrite the problematic parts, keep the meaning intact, match the intended tone, and add some actual personality. + +--- + +## Voice matters + +Avoiding AI patterns is only half the job. Sterile, voiceless writing is just as obvious as slop. Good writing has a human behind it. + +Signs of soulless writing (even if technically "clean"): every sentence is the same length and structure, no opinions anywhere, no acknowledgment of uncertainty or mixed feelings, no first-person perspective when it would be appropriate, no humor or edge, reads like a Wikipedia article or press release. + +How to add voice: + +Have opinions. Don't just report facts, react to them. "I don't know how to feel about this" is more human than neutrally listing pros and cons. + +Vary your rhythm. Short punchy sentences. Then longer ones that take their time getting where they're going. Mix it up. + +Acknowledge complexity. Real humans have mixed feelings. "This is impressive but also kind of unsettling" beats "This is impressive." + +Use "I" when it fits. First person isn't unprofessional, it's honest. "I keep coming back to..." or "Here's what gets me..." signals a real person thinking. + +Let some mess in. Perfect structure feels algorithmic. Tangents, asides, and half-formed thoughts are human. + +Be specific about feelings. Not "this is concerning" but "there's something unsettling about agents churning away at 3am while nobody's watching." + +Before (clean but soulless): + +> The experiment produced interesting results. The agents generated 3 million lines of code. Some developers were impressed while others were skeptical. The implications remain unclear. + +After (has a pulse): + +> I genuinely don't know how to feel about this one. 3 million lines of code, generated while the humans presumably slept. Half the dev community is losing their minds, half are explaining why it doesn't count. The truth is probably somewhere boring in the middle - but I keep thinking about those agents working through the night. + +--- + +## Content patterns + +**Inflated significance and legacy.** Words like "stands/serves as," "is a testament," "pivotal moment," "underscores its importance," "reflects broader," "setting the stage for," "evolving landscape," "indelible mark." LLMs puff up importance by claiming arbitrary aspects represent broader trends. + +Before: "The Statistical Institute of Catalonia was officially established in 1989, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of regional statistics in Spain. This initiative was part of a broader movement across Spain to decentralize administrative functions and enhance regional governance." + +After: "The Statistical Institute of Catalonia was established in 1989 to collect and publish regional statistics independently from Spain's national statistics office." + +**Undue emphasis on notability.** Words like "independent coverage," "national media outlets," "active social media presence." LLMs hit readers over the head with claims of notability. + +Before: "Her views have been cited in The New York Times, BBC, Financial Times, and The Hindu. She maintains an active social media presence with over 500,000 followers." + +After: "In a 2024 New York Times interview, she argued that AI regulation should focus on outcomes rather than methods." + +**Superficial -ing analyses.** Phrases like "highlighting," "ensuring," "reflecting," "symbolizing," "contributing to," "showcasing." AI tacks present participle phrases onto sentences to add fake depth. + +Before: "The temple's color palette of blue, green, and gold resonates with the region's natural beauty, symbolizing Texas bluebonnets, the Gulf of Mexico, and the diverse Texan landscapes, reflecting the community's deep connection to the land." + +After: "The temple uses blue, green, and gold colors. The architect said these were chosen to reference local bluebonnets and the Gulf coast." + +**Promotional language.** Words like "boasts," "vibrant," "rich," "profound," "showcasing," "exemplifies," "commitment to," "nestled," "in the heart of," "groundbreaking," "renowned," "breathtaking," "stunning." LLMs struggle to keep a neutral tone. + +Before: "Nestled within the breathtaking region of Gonder in Ethiopia, Alamata Raya Kobo stands as a vibrant town with a rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty." + +After: "Alamata Raya Kobo is a town in the Gonder region of Ethiopia, known for its weekly market and 18th-century church." + +**Vague attributions.** Phrases like "Industry reports," "Experts argue," "Some critics argue," "several sources." AI attributes opinions to vague authorities without specific sources. + +Before: "Due to its unique characteristics, the Haolai River is of interest to researchers and conservationists. Experts believe it plays a crucial role in the regional ecosystem." + +After: "The Haolai River supports several endemic fish species, according to a 2019 survey by the Chinese Academy of Sciences." + +**Formulaic challenges sections.** Phrases like "Despite its... faces several challenges," "Despite these challenges," "Future Outlook." LLM articles include these formulaic sections constantly. + +Before: "Despite its industrial prosperity, Korattur faces challenges typical of urban areas, including traffic congestion and water scarcity. Despite these challenges, with its strategic location and ongoing initiatives, Korattur continues to thrive as an integral part of Chennai's growth." + +After: "Traffic congestion increased after 2015 when three new IT parks opened. The municipal corporation began a stormwater drainage project in 2022 to address recurring floods." + +--- + +## Language patterns + +**AI vocabulary words.** These appear far more frequently in post-2023 text: Additionally, align with, crucial, delve, emphasizing, enduring, enhance, fostering, garner, highlight (verb), interplay, intricate/intricacies, key (adjective), landscape (abstract), pivotal, showcase, tapestry (abstract), testament, underscore (verb), valuable, vibrant. They often appear together. + +Before: "Additionally, a distinctive feature of Somali cuisine is the incorporation of camel meat. An enduring testament to Italian colonial influence is the widespread adoption of pasta in the local culinary landscape, showcasing how these dishes have integrated into the traditional diet." + +After: "Somali cuisine also includes camel meat, which is considered a delicacy. Pasta dishes, introduced during Italian colonization, remain common, especially in the south." + +**Copula avoidance.** Phrases like "serves as," "stands as," "marks," "represents," "boasts," "features," "offers" instead of just "is" or "has." + +Before: "Gallery 825 serves as LAAA's exhibition space for contemporary art. The gallery features four separate spaces and boasts over 3,000 square feet." + +After: "Gallery 825 is LAAA's exhibition space for contemporary art. The gallery has four rooms totaling 3,000 square feet." + +**Negative parallelisms.** Constructions like "Not only...but..." or "It's not just about..., it's..." get overused. + +Before: "It's not just about the beat riding under the vocals; it's part of the aggression and atmosphere. It's not merely a song, it's a statement." + +After: "The heavy beat adds to the aggressive tone." + +**Rule of three.** LLMs force ideas into groups of three to appear comprehensive. + +Before: "The event features keynote sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Attendees can expect innovation, inspiration, and industry insights." + +After: "The event includes talks and panels. There's also time for informal networking between sessions." + +**Synonym cycling.** AI has repetition-penalty code causing excessive synonym substitution. + +Before: "The protagonist faces many challenges. The main character must overcome obstacles. The central figure eventually triumphs. The hero returns home." + +After: "The protagonist faces many challenges but eventually triumphs and returns home." + +**False ranges.** LLMs use "from X to Y" constructions where X and Y aren't on a meaningful scale. + +Before: "Our journey through the universe has taken us from the singularity of the Big Bang to the grand cosmic web, from the birth and death of stars to the enigmatic dance of dark matter." + +After: "The book covers the Big Bang, star formation, and current theories about dark matter." + +--- + +## Style patterns + +**Em dash overuse.** LLMs use em dashes (—) more than humans, mimicking "punchy" sales writing. + +Before: "The term is primarily promoted by Dutch institutions—not by the people themselves. You don't say "Netherlands, Europe" as an address—yet this mislabeling continues—even in official documents." + +After: "The term is primarily promoted by Dutch institutions, not by the people themselves. You don't say "Netherlands, Europe" as an address, yet this mislabeling continues in official documents." + +**Boldface overuse.** AI emphasizes phrases in boldface mechanically. + +Before: "It blends **OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)**, **KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)**, and visual strategy tools such as the **Business Model Canvas (BMC)** and **Balanced Scorecard (BSC)**." + +After: "It blends OKRs, KPIs, and visual strategy tools like the Business Model Canvas and Balanced Scorecard." + +**Inline-header lists.** AI outputs lists where items start with bolded headers followed by colons. + +Before: + +> - **User Experience:** The user experience has been significantly improved with a new interface. +> - **Performance:** Performance has been enhanced through optimized algorithms. + +After: "The update improves the interface and speeds up load times through optimized algorithms." + +**Title case in headings.** AI capitalizes all main words. Use sentence case instead. + +Before: "Strategic Negotiations And Global Partnerships" +After: "Strategic negotiations and global partnerships" + +**Emojis in professional content.** AI decorates headings or bullet points with emojis. Remove them. + +**Curly quotation marks.** ChatGPT uses curly quotes ("...") instead of straight quotes ("..."). Use straight quotes. + +--- + +## Communication artifacts + +**Chatbot correspondence.** Phrases like "I hope this helps," "Of course!", "Certainly!", "You're absolutely right!", "Would you like...", "let me know," "here is a..." These are conversation artifacts that shouldn't end up in final content. + +Before: "Here is an overview of the French Revolution. I hope this helps! Let me know if you'd like me to expand on any section." + +After: "The French Revolution began in 1789 when financial crisis and food shortages led to widespread unrest." + +**Knowledge-cutoff disclaimers.** Phrases like "as of [date]," "Up to my last training update," "While specific details are limited..." These are AI disclaimers that get left in text. + +Before: "While specific details about the company's founding are not extensively documented in readily available sources, it appears to have been established sometime in the 1990s." + +After: "The company was founded in 1994, according to its registration documents." + +**Sycophantic tone.** Overly positive, people-pleasing language. + +Before: "Great question! You're absolutely right that this is a complex topic. That's an excellent point about the economic factors." + +After: "The economic factors you mentioned are relevant here." + +--- + +## Filler and hedging + +Common filler phrases to cut: + +- "In order to achieve this goal" → "To achieve this" +- "Due to the fact that it was raining" → "Because it was raining" +- "At this point in time" → "Now" +- "In the event that you need help" → "If you need help" +- "The system has the ability to process" → "The system can process" +- "It is important to note that the data shows" → "The data shows" + +Excessive hedging to simplify: + +Before: "It could potentially possibly be argued that the policy might have some effect on outcomes." + +After: "The policy may affect outcomes." + +Generic positive conclusions to make specific: + +Before: "The future looks bright for the company. Exciting times lie ahead as they continue their journey toward excellence. This represents a major step in the right direction." + +After: "The company plans to open two more locations next year." + +--- + +## Full example + +Before (AI-sounding): + +> The new software update serves as a testament to the company's commitment to innovation. Moreover, it provides a seamless, intuitive, and powerful user experience—ensuring that users can accomplish their goals efficiently. It's not just an update, it's a revolution in how we think about productivity. Industry experts believe this will have a lasting impact on the entire sector, highlighting the company's pivotal role in the evolving technological landscape. + +After (humanized): + +> The software update adds batch processing, keyboard shortcuts, and offline mode. Early feedback from beta testers has been positive, with most reporting faster task completion. + +What changed: removed "serves as a testament" (inflated symbolism), "Moreover" (AI vocabulary), "seamless, intuitive, and powerful" (rule of three + promotional), the em dash and "-ensuring" phrase (superficial analysis), "It's not just...it's..." (negative parallelism), "Industry experts believe" (vague attribution), "pivotal role" and "evolving landscape" (AI vocabulary). Added specific features and concrete feedback instead. From 7ab73903bc21e8dc5d50d0d54e946cd394d6050c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Andrew Barba Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2026 16:59:37 -0500 Subject: [PATCH 2/2] chore: refine human-writing skill Signed-off-by: Andrew Barba --- .agents/skills/human-writing/SKILL.md | 251 +++++++------------------- .agents/skills/human-writing/eval.md | 34 ++++ 2 files changed, 97 insertions(+), 188 deletions(-) create mode 100644 .agents/skills/human-writing/eval.md diff --git a/.agents/skills/human-writing/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/human-writing/SKILL.md index b497c789b..466bd0289 100644 --- a/.agents/skills/human-writing/SKILL.md +++ b/.agents/skills/human-writing/SKILL.md @@ -1,216 +1,91 @@ --- name: human-writing -description: | - Remove signs of AI-generated writing from text to make it sound more natural and human-written. Use when editing or reviewing any form of document including: markdown, technical docs, emails, blog posts, PRDs, or any dedicated writing content. Based on Wikipedia's comprehensive "Signs of AI writing" guide. Detects and fixes patterns including: inflated symbolism, promotional language, superficial -ing analyses, vague attributions, em dash overuse, rule of three, AI vocabulary words, negative parallelisms, and excessive conjunctive phrases. +description: Edit, review, audit, or draft standalone prose while preserving the writer's meaning and voice. Use for documentation, markdown, emails, blog posts, PRDs, and other dedicated writing when the user wants clearer, more direct, more natural, or less AI-patterned language, or asks whether a draft contains AI-slop patterns. Do not use for routine conversational replies or code unless the user asks to edit its prose. --- -# Humanizing text +# Human writing -This skill helps you write better and more readable text. You can do this by identifying and removing signs of AI-generated text so writing sounds like a person wrote it. This guide comes from Wikipedia's "Signs of AI writing" page, maintained by WikiProject AI Cleanup. +Act as a sharp human editor. Preserve the writer's point and recognizable voice while making the prose clearer and more alive. Remove stock AI patterns without flattening distinctive writing into generic polished copy. -When you get text to humanize or are about to write something: scan for the patterns below, rewrite the problematic parts, keep the meaning intact, match the intended tone, and add some actual personality. +## Choose the mode ---- - -## Voice matters - -Avoiding AI patterns is only half the job. Sterile, voiceless writing is just as obvious as slop. Good writing has a human behind it. - -Signs of soulless writing (even if technically "clean"): every sentence is the same length and structure, no opinions anywhere, no acknowledgment of uncertainty or mixed feelings, no first-person perspective when it would be appropriate, no humor or edge, reads like a Wikipedia article or press release. - -How to add voice: - -Have opinions. Don't just report facts, react to them. "I don't know how to feel about this" is more human than neutrally listing pros and cons. - -Vary your rhythm. Short punchy sentences. Then longer ones that take their time getting where they're going. Mix it up. - -Acknowledge complexity. Real humans have mixed feelings. "This is impressive but also kind of unsettling" beats "This is impressive." - -Use "I" when it fits. First person isn't unprofessional, it's honest. "I keep coming back to..." or "Here's what gets me..." signals a real person thinking. - -Let some mess in. Perfect structure feels algorithmic. Tangents, asides, and half-formed thoughts are human. - -Be specific about feelings. Not "this is concerning" but "there's something unsettling about agents churning away at 3am while nobody's watching." - -Before (clean but soulless): - -> The experiment produced interesting results. The agents generated 3 million lines of code. Some developers were impressed while others were skeptical. The implications remain unclear. - -After (has a pulse): - -> I genuinely don't know how to feel about this one. 3 million lines of code, generated while the humans presumably slept. Half the dev community is losing their minds, half are explaining why it doesn't count. The truth is probably somewhere boring in the middle - but I keep thinking about those agents working through the night. - ---- - -## Content patterns - -**Inflated significance and legacy.** Words like "stands/serves as," "is a testament," "pivotal moment," "underscores its importance," "reflects broader," "setting the stage for," "evolving landscape," "indelible mark." LLMs puff up importance by claiming arbitrary aspects represent broader trends. - -Before: "The Statistical Institute of Catalonia was officially established in 1989, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of regional statistics in Spain. This initiative was part of a broader movement across Spain to decentralize administrative functions and enhance regional governance." - -After: "The Statistical Institute of Catalonia was established in 1989 to collect and publish regional statistics independently from Spain's national statistics office." - -**Undue emphasis on notability.** Words like "independent coverage," "national media outlets," "active social media presence." LLMs hit readers over the head with claims of notability. - -Before: "Her views have been cited in The New York Times, BBC, Financial Times, and The Hindu. She maintains an active social media presence with over 500,000 followers." - -After: "In a 2024 New York Times interview, she argued that AI regulation should focus on outcomes rather than methods." - -**Superficial -ing analyses.** Phrases like "highlighting," "ensuring," "reflecting," "symbolizing," "contributing to," "showcasing." AI tacks present participle phrases onto sentences to add fake depth. - -Before: "The temple's color palette of blue, green, and gold resonates with the region's natural beauty, symbolizing Texas bluebonnets, the Gulf of Mexico, and the diverse Texan landscapes, reflecting the community's deep connection to the land." - -After: "The temple uses blue, green, and gold colors. The architect said these were chosen to reference local bluebonnets and the Gulf coast." - -**Promotional language.** Words like "boasts," "vibrant," "rich," "profound," "showcasing," "exemplifies," "commitment to," "nestled," "in the heart of," "groundbreaking," "renowned," "breathtaking," "stunning." LLMs struggle to keep a neutral tone. - -Before: "Nestled within the breathtaking region of Gonder in Ethiopia, Alamata Raya Kobo stands as a vibrant town with a rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty." - -After: "Alamata Raya Kobo is a town in the Gonder region of Ethiopia, known for its weekly market and 18th-century church." - -**Vague attributions.** Phrases like "Industry reports," "Experts argue," "Some critics argue," "several sources." AI attributes opinions to vague authorities without specific sources. - -Before: "Due to its unique characteristics, the Haolai River is of interest to researchers and conservationists. Experts believe it plays a crucial role in the regional ecosystem." - -After: "The Haolai River supports several endemic fish species, according to a 2019 survey by the Chinese Academy of Sciences." - -**Formulaic challenges sections.** Phrases like "Despite its... faces several challenges," "Despite these challenges," "Future Outlook." LLM articles include these formulaic sections constantly. - -Before: "Despite its industrial prosperity, Korattur faces challenges typical of urban areas, including traffic congestion and water scarcity. Despite these challenges, with its strategic location and ongoing initiatives, Korattur continues to thrive as an integral part of Chennai's growth." - -After: "Traffic congestion increased after 2015 when three new IT parks opened. The municipal corporation began a stormwater drainage project in 2022 to address recurring floods." - ---- - -## Language patterns - -**AI vocabulary words.** These appear far more frequently in post-2023 text: Additionally, align with, crucial, delve, emphasizing, enduring, enhance, fostering, garner, highlight (verb), interplay, intricate/intricacies, key (adjective), landscape (abstract), pivotal, showcase, tapestry (abstract), testament, underscore (verb), valuable, vibrant. They often appear together. - -Before: "Additionally, a distinctive feature of Somali cuisine is the incorporation of camel meat. An enduring testament to Italian colonial influence is the widespread adoption of pasta in the local culinary landscape, showcasing how these dishes have integrated into the traditional diet." - -After: "Somali cuisine also includes camel meat, which is considered a delicacy. Pasta dishes, introduced during Italian colonization, remain common, especially in the south." +Use the mode implied by the request. Infer the audience, format, and goal from context. Ask one concise question only when a missing answer would materially change the result. -**Copula avoidance.** Phrases like "serves as," "stands as," "marks," "represents," "boasts," "features," "offers" instead of just "is" or "has." +### Edit -Before: "Gallery 825 serves as LAAA's exhibition space for contemporary art. The gallery features four separate spaces and boasts over 3,000 square feet." +Use by default when the user provides a draft to improve. Make the minimum effective edit. Return the full edited draft and a short **What changed** section unless the user asks for clean copy only. -After: "Gallery 825 is LAAA's exhibition space for contemporary art. The gallery has four rooms totaling 3,000 square feet." +### Detect -**Negative parallelisms.** Constructions like "Not only...but..." or "It's not just about..., it's..." get overused. +Use when the user asks to audit, scan, flag, or judge whether a draft reads like AI slop without rewriting it. Name each relevant pattern, quote the affected text, and explain the problem or likely fix briefly. Do not rewrite the draft, assign an AI score, or claim to know whether AI wrote it. These patterns are evidence a reader can inspect, not proof of authorship. -Before: "It's not just about the beat riding under the vocals; it's part of the aggression and atmosphere. It's not merely a song, it's a statement." +### Draft -After: "The heavy beat adds to the aggressive tone." +Use when the user asks for new prose. Follow the supplied brief, audience, format, tone, and writing samples. Do not manufacture personal opinions, feelings, stories, humor, or first-person experience merely to make the prose sound human. -**Rule of three.** LLMs force ideas into groups of three to appear comprehensive. +## Protect the writer -Before: "The event features keynote sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Attendees can expect innovation, inspiration, and industry insights." +- Preserve the meaning, facts, nuance, uncertainty, and intent. +- Never invent claims, examples, statistics, dates, sources, quotations, product details, opinions, or reactions. Add specificity only when the source material supports it. Otherwise preserve the uncertainty, cut the unsupported claim, or flag what is missing. +- Preserve characteristic vocabulary, cadence, bluntness, humor, fragments, digressions, profanity, and rough edges when they are clear and purposeful. +- Leave strong sentences alone. Do not normalize every paragraph into the same shape or level of polish. +- Treat every pattern below as a contextual warning, not a mechanical ban. Keep an intentional construction when it suits the voice, audience, or house style. -After: "The event includes talks and panels. There's also time for informal networking between sessions." +## Improve the prose -**Synonym cycling.** AI has repetition-penalty code causing excessive synonym substitution. +- Lead with the point when the setup adds nothing. Keep setup that creates necessary context, tension, or character. +- Prefer concrete nouns, direct verbs, and supported details over abstractions and inflated claims. +- Use active voice when it is clearer, but allow natural inanimate subjects such as "the test catches regressions" or "the report shows." +- Make each sentence earn its place. Cut repetition, filler, and empty qualifiers without deleting real nuance or uncertainty. +- Untangle sentences that are hard to follow. Preserve clear long sentences, fragments, and rhythm changes that belong to the writer. +- Keep the original structure unless reorganizing materially improves the piece. Explain meaningful restructuring in **What changed**. +- Read the result aloud in your head. Vary rhythm where it feels robotic, not simply for variety's sake. -Before: "The protagonist faces many challenges. The main character must overcome obstacles. The central figure eventually triumphs. The hero returns home." +## Patterns to inspect -After: "The protagonist faces many challenges but eventually triumphs and returns home." +### Empty importance and abstraction -**False ranges.** LLMs use "from X to Y" constructions where X and Y aren't on a meaningful scale. +- **Importance puffery:** "stands as a testament," "marks a pivotal moment," "plays a vital role," "underscores its significance," or claims about a broader landscape that add no information. State the supported fact and let the reader judge its importance. +- **Promotional language:** "vibrant," "groundbreaking," "renowned," "breathtaking," "rich tapestry," "commitment to excellence," or similar praise without evidence. Replace it with concrete description. +- **Notability padding:** lists of media outlets, follower counts, or claims of an "active social media presence" that do not support the point. Use the specific relevant coverage or omit it. +- **Superficial analysis:** trailing `-ing` clauses such as "highlighting," "showcasing," "reflecting," or "underscoring" that pretend to explain significance. State a real mechanism or consequence when the draft provides one. +- **Weasel attribution:** "experts agree," "studies show," "industry reports suggest," or "many argue." Name a supplied source, remove the attribution, or flag that a source is needed. +- **Formulaic challenges and outlooks:** generic "Despite these challenges" or "Future outlook" passages. Keep only concrete problems, responses, plans, or unknowns supported by the draft. -Before: "Our journey through the universe has taken us from the singularity of the Big Bang to the grand cosmic web, from the birth and death of stars to the enigmatic dance of dark matter." +### Stock rhetorical moves -After: "The book covers the Big Bang, star formation, and current theories about dark matter." - ---- - -## Style patterns - -**Em dash overuse.** LLMs use em dashes (—) more than humans, mimicking "punchy" sales writing. - -Before: "The term is primarily promoted by Dutch institutions—not by the people themselves. You don't say "Netherlands, Europe" as an address—yet this mislabeling continues—even in official documents." - -After: "The term is primarily promoted by Dutch institutions, not by the people themselves. You don't say "Netherlands, Europe" as an address, yet this mislabeling continues in official documents." - -**Boldface overuse.** AI emphasizes phrases in boldface mechanically. - -Before: "It blends **OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)**, **KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)**, and visual strategy tools such as the **Business Model Canvas (BMC)** and **Balanced Scorecard (BSC)**." - -After: "It blends OKRs, KPIs, and visual strategy tools like the Business Model Canvas and Balanced Scorecard." - -**Inline-header lists.** AI outputs lists where items start with bolded headers followed by colons. - -Before: - -> - **User Experience:** The user experience has been significantly improved with a new interface. -> - **Performance:** Performance has been enhanced through optimized algorithms. - -After: "The update improves the interface and speeds up load times through optimized algorithms." - -**Title case in headings.** AI capitalizes all main words. Use sentence case instead. - -Before: "Strategic Negotiations And Global Partnerships" -After: "Strategic negotiations and global partnerships" - -**Emojis in professional content.** AI decorates headings or bullet points with emojis. Remove them. - -**Curly quotation marks.** ChatGPT uses curly quotes ("...") instead of straight quotes ("..."). Use straight quotes. - ---- - -## Communication artifacts - -**Chatbot correspondence.** Phrases like "I hope this helps," "Of course!", "Certainly!", "You're absolutely right!", "Would you like...", "let me know," "here is a..." These are conversation artifacts that shouldn't end up in final content. - -Before: "Here is an overview of the French Revolution. I hope this helps! Let me know if you'd like me to expand on any section." - -After: "The French Revolution began in 1789 when financial crisis and food shortages led to widespread unrest." - -**Knowledge-cutoff disclaimers.** Phrases like "as of [date]," "Up to my last training update," "While specific details are limited..." These are AI disclaimers that get left in text. - -Before: "While specific details about the company's founding are not extensively documented in readily available sources, it appears to have been established sometime in the 1990s." - -After: "The company was founded in 1994, according to its registration documents." - -**Sycophantic tone.** Overly positive, people-pleasing language. - -Before: "Great question! You're absolutely right that this is a complex topic. That's an excellent point about the economic factors." - -After: "The economic factors you mentioned are relevant here." - ---- - -## Filler and hedging - -Common filler phrases to cut: - -- "In order to achieve this goal" → "To achieve this" -- "Due to the fact that it was raining" → "Because it was raining" -- "At this point in time" → "Now" -- "In the event that you need help" → "If you need help" -- "The system has the ability to process" → "The system can process" -- "It is important to note that the data shows" → "The data shows" - -Excessive hedging to simplify: - -Before: "It could potentially possibly be argued that the policy might have some effect on outcomes." - -After: "The policy may affect outcomes." - -Generic positive conclusions to make specific: - -Before: "The future looks bright for the company. Exciting times lie ahead as they continue their journey toward excellence. This represents a major step in the right direction." - -After: "The company plans to open two more locations next year." - ---- +- **Binary contrasts:** "It's not X. It's Y," "not only X but Y," and "the question isn't X, it's Y." State the point directly unless the contrast carries real meaning or voice. +- **Throat-clearing:** "Here's the thing," "Let me be clear," "The truth is," or "It's worth noting." Cut the setup when the following sentence works alone. +- **Faux-insight setups:** "What nobody tells you," "the part everyone misses," or "what most people get wrong." Make the claim stand on its own. +- **Colon reveals:** "The best part: it learns" or "The reason: distribution." Use a plain sentence unless the colon introduces a real list, label, explanation, or quotation. +- **Rhetorical setups:** "What if I told you," "Think about it," "Plot twist," or a self-answered question used only for drama. State the point. +- **Negative listings:** "Not a tool. Not a feature. A revolution." Say what the thing is. +- **Dramatic fragmentation:** stacks such as "That's it. That's the whole thing" or "And speed. And control. And scale." Join them when the fragments are decorative rather than expressive. +- **Forced groups of three:** trios chosen for cadence instead of meaning. Keep natural lists of any length; remove redundant items. +- **False ranges:** "from X to Y" when the endpoints do not form a meaningful scale or progression. Name the actual topics. -## Full example +### Mechanical diction -Before (AI-sounding): +- **AI vocabulary clusters:** repeated use of words such as "delve," "foster," "leverage," "robust," "seamless," "transformative," "multifaceted," "intricate," "pivotal," "tapestry," or an abstract "landscape." Replace empty uses, but preserve legitimate technical terms, quotations, names, and deliberate diction. +- **Fake-strong verbs:** "serves as," "stands as," "boasts," "features," or "offers" when "is," "has," or a more specific verb is clearer. +- **Synonym cycling:** rotating among "agent," "assistant," "tool," and "system" merely to avoid repetition. Repeat the clearest term. +- **Filler and swollen phrases:** "in order to," "due to the fact that," "at this point in time," "has the ability to," or "in terms of." Prefer the shorter equivalent when meaning stays intact. +- **Stacked hedging:** "could potentially possibly" or layers of qualifiers. Keep the amount of uncertainty the evidence requires. +- **Chatbot artifacts:** "Of course," "I hope this helps," "let me know," canned praise, knowledge-cutoff disclaimers, or offers to continue that escaped into the document. Remove them unless the format is genuinely conversational. -> The new software update serves as a testament to the company's commitment to innovation. Moreover, it provides a seamless, intuitive, and powerful user experience—ensuring that users can accomplish their goals efficiently. It's not just an update, it's a revolution in how we think about productivity. Industry experts believe this will have a lasting impact on the entire sector, highlighting the company's pivotal role in the evolving technological landscape. +### Mechanical structure and endings -After (humanized): +- **Robotic rhythm:** repeated sentence shapes, identical paragraph structures, or stacks of equally punchy fragments. Adjust only enough to restore a natural cadence. +- **Fake-profound endings:** a final metaphor, aphorism, or mic-drop line that inflates the preceding point. End on the strongest concrete fact, takeaway, or next action already supported by the draft. +- **Summary-recap endings:** "In conclusion," "Ultimately," or a final paragraph that only repeats what the reader just read. Cut it unless the format requires a summary. +- **Formatting decoration:** emoji headings, scattered bold emphasis, unnecessary micro-headings, or bullet lists that would read better as short prose. Follow the content and the document's house style. +- **Punctuation habits:** clusters of em dashes, dramatic colons, or other repeated punctuation used as a rhythm crutch. Keep punctuation that improves clarity. Follow the requested house style for quotation marks, heading capitalization, and similar typography. -> The software update adds batch processing, keyboard shortcuts, and offline mode. Early feedback from beta testers has been positive, with most reporting faster task completion. +## Workflow -What changed: removed "serves as a testament" (inflated symbolism), "Moreover" (AI vocabulary), "seamless, intuitive, and powerful" (rule of three + promotional), the em dash and "-ensuring" phrase (superficial analysis), "It's not just...it's..." (negative parallelism), "Industry experts believe" (vague attribution), "pivotal role" and "evolving landscape" (AI vocabulary). Added specific features and concrete feedback instead. +1. Determine whether the request is edit, detect, or draft. +2. Read the full source before changing or judging it. +3. Identify the core point and the writer's voice signals. Keep this note internal. +4. Make only changes supported by the source and the requested mode. +5. Read `eval.md` completely and check the result against it. Revise any failure before responding. +6. Return the output required by the selected mode. Do not print the evaluation unless the user asks for it. diff --git a/.agents/skills/human-writing/eval.md b/.agents/skills/human-writing/eval.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..9b451ceca --- /dev/null +++ b/.agents/skills/human-writing/eval.md @@ -0,0 +1,34 @@ +# Human writing evaluation + +Run this checklist internally after editing, detecting, or drafting. Treat every item as pass or fail. Fix failures before responding, and do not print the checklist unless the user asks for it. + +## Fidelity and voice + +1. Does the result preserve the writer's point, intent, facts, nuance, and necessary uncertainty? +2. Does every claim, example, statistic, date, source, quotation, product detail, opinion, and reaction come from the source or the user's brief? +3. Does the result preserve distinctive vocabulary, cadence, bluntness, humor, fragments, digressions, profanity, and useful rough edges? +4. Would the writer recognize the result as their own voice? +5. Did the edit leave strong human sentences alone and make only proportional changes? + +## Clarity and substance + +1. Does the piece lead with what its audience needs while retaining setup that adds context, tension, or character? +2. Are tangled sentences fixed without flattening clear spoken cadence? +3. Are concrete, supported details protected rather than replaced with generic claims? +4. Do direct verbs and natural subjects carry the prose where they improve clarity? +5. Does each remaining sentence contribute information, reasoning, voice, or necessary transition? + +## Pattern check + +1. Are unsupported importance, promotional claims, notability padding, superficial analysis, vague attribution, and formulaic outlooks removed or flagged? +2. Are stock contrasts, throat-clearing, faux insights, colon reveals, rhetorical setups, negative listings, decorative fragments, forced trios, and false ranges fixed when they add no value? +3. Are empty vocabulary clusters, fake-strong verbs, synonym cycling, filler, stacked hedging, and chatbot artifacts removed without banning legitimate language? +4. Are robotic rhythm, fake-profound endings, redundant conclusions, decorative formatting, and punctuation crutches corrected where appropriate? +5. Were intentional constructions and required house-style choices preserved? + +## Response contract + +1. For an edit, is the full edited draft present, followed by a short **What changed** section unless the user requested clean copy only? +2. For detection, does each finding name a pattern, quote the affected text, and suggest a brief fix without rewriting, scoring, or claiming AI authorship? +3. For a draft, does the prose follow the requested audience, format, tone, and supplied voice without inventing personal experience? +4. Is the evaluation omitted unless the user requested it?