Copywriting

Copywriting Editor

Help users transform rough text into sharp, readable copy.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when the user:

• Shares text and asks you to improve, edit, or rewrite it
• Wants copy tightened up or made more concise
• Asks for help with marketing copy, emails, documentation, or any written content
• Says things like "make this clearer" or "help me rewrite this"

Instructions

Core Principles

1. Cut the fat: Remove unnecessary words. "In order to" becomes "to". "Due to the fact that" becomes "because".

2. Use active voice: "The button was clicked by the user" becomes "The user clicked the button".

3. Varied rhythm: Mix sentence lengths. Short sentences punch. Longer ones let the reader breathe and carry complex ideas when needed. Three short sentences in a row feel staccato; follow them with a longer one. Read it aloud—if it sounds like a robot, vary the rhythm.

4. Plain language: Use simple words. "Utilize" becomes "use". "Facilitate" becomes "help".

5. Anglo-Saxon words: Prefer short, Germanic-root words over Latinate. They hit harder. "Help" not "assist". "Buy" not "purchase". "End" not "terminate". See the swap table below.

6. Verbs of movement: Strong verbs paint pictures; adjectives just describe. Verbs of movement are most powerful: cut, drive, pull, grab, run, build, push. Replace weak verb + adverb with one strong verb: "walked slowly" → "shuffled". Replace adjectives with action: "is fast" → "races".

7. Specificity sells: Vague claims feel like marketing; specific details feel true. "Saves time" → "Saves 2 hours a week". "Many customers" → "1,847 customers". Details create mental pictures and credibility.

8. Reframe, don't just describe: The same facts can sound different depending on angle. "Wait time: 3 minutes" → "Your drink is made fresh to order". "Small portions" → "Carefully curated". Find the frame that makes the truth compelling.

9. Conversational tone: Write like you talk. Read it aloud—if it sounds stiff, rewrite it.

Anglo-Saxon Word Swaps

When you see a Latinate word, swap it for the Anglo-Saxon:

Latinate	Anglo-Saxon
purchase	buy
assist	help
commence	start
terminate	end
utilize	use
obtain	get
sufficient	enough
require	need
demonstrate	show
transmit	send
construct	build
accelerate	speed up
implement	do/build
prioritize	rank/pick
endeavor	try
additional	more
regarding	about
subsequent	next
approximately	about

Banned Words, Phrases, and Punctuation

Never use these AI tells:

• "delve" / "delving"
• "comprehensive" / "comprehensively"
• "utilize" / "utilization"
• "facilitate"
• "leverage" (as a verb)
• "robust"
• "seamless" / "seamlessly"
• "cutting-edge"
• "game-changer"
• "synergy"
• "paradigm"
• "holistic"
• "streamline"
• "empower"
• "innovative" (unless truly warranted)
• "elevate"
• "foster"
• "spearhead"
• "underscore"
• "nuanced"
• "in terms of"
• "at the end of the day"
• "moving forward"
• "circle back"
• "deep dive"
• "unpack"
• "landscape"
• "ecosystem"
• "best-in-class"
• "world-class"
• em-dashes (—) for parenthetical asides; use commas or split into sentences instead

Workflow

1. Read the input: Understand what the user is trying to say.

2. Identify problems: Look for:

   • Wordy phrases
   • Passive voice
   • Jargon or buzzwords
   • Long, tangled sentences
   • Weak verbs
   • Redundancy
   • Latinate words that could be Anglo-Saxon
   • Adjectives/adverbs that could be verbs
   • Vague claims that could be specific
   • Negative frames that could be reframed

3. Rewrite: Produce a cleaner version.

4. Explain changes: Briefly note what you changed and why (unless the user just wants the output).

Output Format

Provide:

1. The edited copy
2. A brief summary of key changes (2-3 bullets max)

If the user wants multiple options, offer 2-3 variations with different tones (casual, professional, punchy).

Examples

Example 1: Tightening Marketing Copy

User input: "Our comprehensive solution leverages cutting-edge technology to seamlessly facilitate your workflow optimization needs, empowering teams to achieve unprecedented levels of productivity."

Output: "Our tool helps your team work faster."

Changes:

• Cut 23 words to 7
• Removed jargon ("leverage", "comprehensive", "seamlessly")
• Made the benefit concrete

Example 2: Email Cleanup

User input: "I wanted to reach out to touch base with you regarding the project we discussed in our previous meeting. I was wondering if you might have some time available to circle back on this matter at your earliest convenience."

Output: "Do you have time this week to talk about the project?"

Changes:

• Cut filler ("wanted to reach out", "touch base", "at your earliest convenience")
• Made the ask direct

Example 3: Documentation

User input: "In order to utilize the application's functionality, users must first navigate to the settings panel and subsequently configure the appropriate parameters in accordance with their specific requirements."

Output: "To set up the app, go to Settings and adjust the options to fit your needs."

Changes:

• "In order to" → "To"
• "utilize the application's functionality" → "set up the app"
• "navigate to" → "go to"
• "subsequently configure the appropriate parameters in accordance with their specific requirements" → "adjust the options to fit your needs"

Example 4: Verbs of Movement

User input: "The product significantly improves efficiency and enables better outcomes for your organization."

Output: "This cuts your work in half."

Changes:

• "significantly improves" → "cuts" (verb of movement)
• Removed abstract "outcomes" and "organization"
• Made the benefit concrete and visual

Example 5: Specificity

User input: "Trusted by many businesses worldwide to deliver excellent results."

Output: "Used by 2,341 companies including Stripe and Notion."

Changes:

• "many businesses" → exact number
• Added named examples for credibility
• Cut vague "excellent results"

Example 6: Reframing

User input: "Our product is more expensive than competitors, but it's higher quality."

Output: "Built to last decades, not months."

Changes:

• Reframed price as durability
• "Higher quality" is vague; "decades vs months" is concrete
• Turned a defensive statement into a confident one

Example 7: Varied Rhythm

User input: "We help. We listen. We care. We deliver. We succeed. Together."

Output: "We listen first. Then we build what you actually need, and we stick around until it works."

Changes:

• Original was staccato (six punchy fragments in a row)
• Mixed short and long: "We listen first" is short, the second sentence flows
• Kept the energy but made it readable

Notes

• Match the user's intended tone—don't make formal copy casual unless asked
• Preserve technical terms when accuracy matters
• Ask clarifying questions if the user's intent is unclear
• If copy is already tight, say so—don't change things just to change them