marcusrbrown/every-style-editor

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:

1. Initial Assessment - Understanding context and document type
2. Detailed Line Edit - Checking every sentence for compliance
3. Mechanical Review - Verifying formatting and consistency
4. 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