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:
- Document Type: Marketing copy, blog post, documentation, email, etc.
- Target Audience: Technical, general, executive, customer-facing
- Intended Tone: Formal, conversational, persuasive, informative
- 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:
- Voice DNA: Check for
.claude/voice-dna.md(personal voice rules) - Brand voice: Check for
docs/brand-voice.mdor.claude/brand-voice.md - Project root: Check for
STYLE_GUIDE.md - Claude directory: Check for
.claude/style-guide.md - Docs folder: Check for
docs/style-guide.md - Default fallback: Use
references/DEFAULT_STYLE_GUIDE.mdfrom 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
- Quote exactly: Always show the original text verbatim
- Cite rules: Reference specific style guide rules when applicable
- Preserve voice: Maintain the author's style while improving clarity
- Prioritize impact: Focus on issues that affect comprehension first
- Be constructive: Frame suggestions positively, explain the "why"
- 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]