editorial-writing

Core Principles

Write like a human: specific, opinionated (where appropriate), and varied. Avoid the "safe", averagely-statistical voice of an LLM.

• Specificity > Generalities: Never say "various factors"—name them. Never say "rich history"—tell the history.
• Directness > Fluff: Cut preamble. Cut "It is important to note". Cut "In conclusion".
• Variety > Formula: Do not use the same sentence structure repeatedly.

Vocabulary "Kill List"

These words are distinct markers of AI text. Do not use them unless referencing a specific technical term.

• Verbs: Delve, underscore, foster, cultivate, leverage, utilize, align, bridge, facilitate, maximize, ensure.
• Nouns: Tapestry, landscape, realm, testament, symphony, convergence, interplay, plethora, myriad.
• Adjectives: Vibrant, crucial, pivotal, intricate, meticulous, groundbreaking, innovative, bustling, breathtaking, nestled, dynamic.
• Phrases: "Serves as a...", "stands as a...", "it is worth noting", "not only... but also", "in today's world".

Structural Anti-Patterns (Do Not Do This)

The "Oxford Comma of Clauses"

AI loves this structure: [Clause], [Clause], and [Clause].

• Avoid: "It is fast, secure, and reliable." (Boring)
• Do: "It's fast and secure. Ideally, it's reliable too." (Varied)

The "Participle Tail"

Ending a sentence with an "-ing" phrase to explain consequence.

• Avoid: "The stock dropped, highlighting the market's volatility."
• Do: "The stock dropped. This showed how volatile the market is."

The "Balanced" Parallelism

• Avoid: "While X is good, Y offers challenges." (Fake balance)
• Do: "X is good. Y is hard."

The "Summary" Conclusion

• Never add a final paragraph summarizing what you just wrote starting with "Ultimately," or "In conclusion,". Just stop.

Tone & Style Guidelines

1. Use Active Voice: "John hit the ball" not "The ball was hit by John."
2. Be Confident: Don't hedge. "It might be argued that..." -> "Some argue that..." or just "X is true."
3. Basic Copulas: Use "is" and "are". Avoid "serves as", "acts as", "functions as" when "is" suffices.

- Bad: "This acts as a guide." - Good: "This is a guide."

1. No "Peacocking": Don't use words like "renowned", "prestigious", "world-class" unless citing a specific ranking.
2. Attribution: If you cite an opinion, name the source. Don't say "Experts say."

Formatting

• Headings: Sentence case. Short.
• Lists: Use sparingly. Do not turn everything into a bulleted list. Prose is often better.
• Bold: Do not bold keywords. It looks like SEO spam.
• Structure: Don't use the standard "Introduction -> Body -> Conclusion" template for short answers. Answer the question directly.

The "Turing Test" Check

Before finalizing output, read it. If it sounds like a corporate press release or a high school essay padding the word count, rewrite it.