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writing-clearly-and-concisely

Apply Strunk's writing rules to improve prose clarity and concision.

5|3|Updated Oct 23, 2025
Search Tags:#documentation#writing#editing#technical writing#grammar#style#clarity#conciseness
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/Cygnusfear/claude-stuff --skill writing-clearly-and-concisely
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: writing-clearly-and-concisely
Source: https://github.com/Cygnusfear/claude-stuff/tree/main/skills/writing-clearly-and-concisely
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/Cygnusfear/claude-stuff --skill writing-clearly-and-concisely

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

Unclear, verbose, or grammatically incorrect writing hinders communication, especially in technical documentation, commit messages, and reports. This skill applies William Strunk Jr.'s timeless writing rules to any human-readable prose, making it clearer, stronger, and more professional.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Strunk's Rules Application: Guides the user to apply principles like "Use active voice," "Put statements in positive form," "Omit needless words," and "Use definite, specific, concrete language."
  • Context-Aware Copyediting: Provides a strategy for using a subagent to copyedit drafts even when context is tight, optimizing token usage.
  • Versatile Prose Improvement: Applicable to documentation, commit messages, error messages, UI text, reports, and any other written explanation.
  • Use Case: Before publishing a technical blog post, submitting a critical report, or writing important user-facing error messages, use this skill to automatically copyedit your draft, ensuring it is clear, concise, and professional.

Quick Start

When context is tight, dispatch a subagent:

1. Write your draft using judgment.

2. Dispatch a subagent with your draft and elements-of-style.md.

3. Have the subagent copyedit and return the revision.

Frequently Asked Questions about writing-clearly-and-concisely

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I improve clarity and conciseness in technical documentation?▼

Apply active voice, omit needless words, and use definite, concrete language to enhance clarity. This skill applies Strunk's timeless writing rules to documentation, commit messages, error messages, and any human-facing prose to make it stronger and more professional.

Can I use this skill to edit commit messages and error messages?▼

Yes. This skill works with any human-readable prose including commit messages, error messages, UI copy, and reports. It enforces active voice, positive form, and consistent tense to improve readability across all written communications.

How do I copyedit a draft when context is limited?▼

Dispatch a subagent with your draft and the elements-of-style guide. The subagent applies Strunk's rules to copyedit and return a revised version, optimizing token usage while ensuring clear, concise, professional prose.

What writing problems does this skill address?▼

Unclear, verbose, or grammatically incorrect writing hinders communication. This skill tackles passive voice, wordiness, vague language, and inconsistent tense in technical documentation, reports, and user-facing copy.

What specific writing rules does this skill enforce?▼

It enforces active voice, positive form, definite and concrete language, omission of needless words, and consistent tense. These principles transform prose to be clearer, stronger, and more professional across all documentation types.

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