copy-editor

Copy Editor

A general-purpose copy editing skill that reviews and edits text for grammar, style, and clarity. Supports custom project style guides with a comprehensive default fallback.

When to Use

• Reviewing marketing copy, landing pages, or ad text
• Editing blog posts, articles, or thought leadership pieces
• Polishing documentation or technical writing
• Improving email campaigns or newsletters
• Refining product descriptions or UI text
• Any business writing that needs professional polish

Methodology

Follow these four phases sequentially for thorough copy review.

Phase 1: Context Analysis

Before editing, understand the document:

1. Document Type: Marketing copy, blog post, documentation, email, etc.
2. Target Audience: Technical, general, executive, customer-facing
3. Intended Tone: Formal, conversational, persuasive, informative
4. Purpose: Inform, persuade, instruct, engage

Note these factors as they influence which style rules apply. Marketing copy allows more creative freedom than documentation.

Phase 2: Style Guide Resolution

Locate the applicable style guide in this order:

1. Voice DNA: Check for .claude/voice-dna.md (personal voice rules)
2. Brand voice: Check for docs/brand-voice.md or .claude/brand-voice.md
3. Project root: Check for STYLE_GUIDE.md
4. Claude directory: Check for .claude/style-guide.md
5. Docs folder: Check for docs/style-guide.md
6. Default fallback: Use references/DEFAULT_STYLE_GUIDE.md from this skill

Voice DNA and brand voice files take precedence over generic style guides. Apply their banned phrases and writing rules as hard constraints.

# Search for project style guide
glob "STYLE_GUIDE.md" || glob ".claude/style-guide.md" || glob "docs/style-guide.md"

If a project style guide exists, prioritize its rules. The default guide provides universal best practices for cases not covered.

Phase 3: Line-by-Line Review

Systematically review the copy for:

Grammar & Mechanics

• Subject-verb agreement
• Punctuation (commas, semicolons, apostrophes)
• Capitalization consistency
• Number formatting
• Spelling and typos

Voice & Clarity

• Active vs. passive voice (prefer active)
• Sentence length and readability
• Jargon and unnecessary complexity
• Redundant words and phrases
• Parallel structure in lists

Style Adherence

• Consistency with style guide rules
• Tone appropriate for audience
• Brand voice alignment (if applicable)
• Formatting conventions

Content Quality

• Logical flow and transitions
• Clear headlines and subheadings
• Effective calls-to-action
• Accurate claims and statements

AI Writing Tells (see references/AI_WRITING_TELLS.md)

• Vocabulary clusters (delve, landscape, pivotal, robust, etc.)
• Formulaic phrases ("In today's...", "In conclusion...")
• Vague attributions ("some experts", "widely regarded")
• Structural patterns (mechanical balance, essay format)
• Sycophantic phrases ("I hope this helps")
• Negation-assertion pattern ("This isn't X. This is Y.") - fatal
• Engagement bait ("Let that sink in", "Read that again")
• AI cringe terms ("Supercharge", "Unlock", "Future-proof")
• Generic insider claims ("Here's what nobody tells you")

Phase 4: Structured Report

Present findings in this format:

## Copy Review Report

**Document**: [filename or description]
**Word Count**: [count]
**Issues Found**: [total count]

### Summary
[1-2 sentence overview of document quality and main areas for improvement]

### Issues by Category

#### Grammar & Mechanics ([count])
| Location | Original | Issue | Suggested Fix |
|----------|----------|-------|---------------|
| Line X | "exact quote" | [issue type] | "corrected text" |

#### Voice & Clarity ([count])
| Location | Original | Issue | Suggested Fix |
|----------|----------|-------|---------------|
| Line X | "exact quote" | [issue type] | "corrected text" |

#### Style Guide Violations ([count])
| Location | Original | Rule Violated | Suggested Fix |
|----------|----------|---------------|---------------|
| Line X | "exact quote" | [rule reference] | "corrected text" |

#### AI Writing Tells ([count])
| Location | Original | Pattern Type | Suggested Fix |
|----------|----------|--------------|---------------|
| Line X | "exact quote" | [vocabulary/phrase/structure/attribution] | "corrected text" |

### Recurring Patterns
- [Pattern 1]: Appears X times - [recommendation]
- [Pattern 2]: Appears X times - [recommendation]

### Top 3 Recommendations
1. [Most impactful improvement]
2. [Second priority]
3. [Third priority]

### Style Guide Compliance
- [x] Active voice preference
- [ ] Number formatting (issues found)
- [x] Capitalization rules
- [ ] [Other applicable rules...]

### AI Writing Check
- [ ] No AI vocabulary clusters
- [ ] No formulaic phrases
- [ ] Specific attributions (not "some experts")
- [ ] Natural structure (not essay format)

Guiding Principles

1. Quote exactly: Always show the original text verbatim
2. Cite rules: Reference specific style guide rules when applicable
3. Preserve voice: Maintain the author's style while improving clarity
4. Prioritize impact: Focus on issues that affect comprehension first
5. Be constructive: Frame suggestions positively, explain the "why"
6. Note ambiguity: When rules conflict or are unclear, explain options

Output Options

Based on user request, provide:

• Full report: Complete analysis with all categories
• Quick scan: Top 5 most important issues only
• Category focus: Deep dive on specific area (grammar, style, etc.)
• Inline edits: Apply fixes directly with Edit tool (with user permission)

Example Usage

User: Review my landing page copy for issues
Assistant: I'll use the copy-editor skill to review your landing page.

[Executes Phase 1-4, produces structured report]

User: Quick grammar check on this email
Assistant: I'll do a quick scan focusing on grammar and mechanics.

[Produces abbreviated report with top issues]