Prose Principles

Rules for the sentences themselves, whatever the container. unslop applies these to a Markdown file and adds document mechanics. final-response applies them to a chat turn and adds what a response owes its reader. writing-for-agents covers a different axis: the structure of a document an agent acts on.

Core Rule

Name the mechanism, the number, or the action. A sentence that would read the same in another project's document says nothing about this one: cut it, or replace it with the concrete fact.

Words To Replace

• AI vocabulary. additionally, comprehensive, crucial, delve, enhance, intricate, leverage, robust, seamless, showcase, underscore, utilize. Use the plain word: "use", not "utilize"; "help", not "facilitate"; "many", not "numerous".
• Fancy ways to say "is". "serves as", "stands as", "boasts", "features". Write "is" or "has".
• Filler. "in order to" is "to". "due to the fact that" is "because". "in the event that" is "if". "it is important to note that" is nothing.
• Hedge stacks. "could potentially possibly" is "may". Keep one calibrated qualifier.
• Abstract metaphor nouns. substrate, wedge, vector, nexus, bedrock, flywheel, north star, endgame, plus "ratchet", "scaffolding", and "surface" used as metaphors. Pick the concrete word: "base", "add", "way", "the last phase". A word used literally is fine, so the agent harness in this repo is a real thing rather than a metaphor.
• Puffery. "pivotal", "testament to", "evolving landscape", "setting the stage for", and "production-ready" or "best practice" with no evidence behind them. State what happened or what was measured.

Constructions To Avoid

• Superficial -ing clauses. "...highlighting the need for", "...ensuring reliability". Delete them, or name the mechanism that follows.
• Formulaic contrast. "not just X, but Y". "Despite challenges, X continues to thrive." State the point directly.
• Passive voice with a hidden actor. "queries are validated" becomes "the compiler validates queries". Passive is fine when the actor is unknown or beside the point.
• An adverb propping up a weak verb. "significantly improves" is the measured delta. "runs quickly" is the number.
• Dense sentences. One idea per sentence. If the reader has to backtrack to parse it, split it.
• Synonym cycling. Pick one name for a thing and repeat it. Three names teach three things.
• Forced counts. Use the natural number of items, not three.

Check

Read the draft once more. For each sentence, ask whether it names something concrete, and whether the reader would act differently without it. If neither holds, cut it.