How do I install the Writing Style skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add majiayu000/writing-style-4 in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Writing Style safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. Capability flags: docs only. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Writing Style?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Writing Style free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Writing Style?

majiayu000 (@majiayu000) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Writing Style by majiayu000 — Agent Skill

Name: Writing Style
Rating: 4.666666666666667 (3 reviews)
Author: majiayu000

Writing Style

Human writing standards to eliminate AI-generated text patterns. This skill should be used for any copywriting, marketing content, documentation, or professional writing to ensure output reads as genuinely human. Covers banned vocabulary, punctuation discipline, sentence variety, and tone guidelines.

majiayu000 Updated Sep 9, 2026 567 repo stars

File contents

Human Writing Standards

Purpose

AI-generated text has recognizable patterns that erode trust and signal inauthenticity. This skill enforces rules for writing that reads as genuinely human—the standard used by Zed, Basecamp, Linear, Stripe, and Apple.

Workflow

To produce human-quality writing:

Draft content normally
Run the self-check (see Quick Self-Check below)
Fix any violations using the reference material

Quick Self-Check

Before publishing any content, verify:

Vocabulary scan: Search for banned words (delve, tapestry, landscape, leverage, robust, seamless, comprehensive, crucial, multifaceted, embark, journey, moreover, furthermore, utilize, foster, showcase)
Em-dash count: More than 2 on the page? Rewrite.
Opening check: Does it start with "In today's..." or "Whether you're..."? Rewrite.
Colon check: Does the headline have a colon? Remove it.
Vagueness check: Replace "helps you manage" with something specific.
Read aloud: Does it sound like a person talking, or a press release?
"The" count: Too many sentences starting with "The [product]..."? Vary it.
Enthusiasm check: More than one exclamation point? Cut some.

Core Rules (Summary)

Rule	Key Point
Banned Vocabulary	Avoid AI-overrepresented words (delve, leverage, robust, seamless, etc.)
Em-Dash Discipline	Max 1 per paragraph, 2 per page
Banned Phrases	No "In today's...", "Whether you're...", "In conclusion..."
Punctuation	Sparingly use semicolons, max 1 exclamation per page
Sentence Variety	Mix short and long, vary paragraph length
Specificity	Concrete details over vague benefits
Headers	Short, scannable, no colons
Tone	Direct, confident, personal ("we" and "you")
Filler	Cut "very", "really", "in order to", etc.

Reference

For complete lists of banned words, replacement suggestions, and before/after examples, see:

references/writing-rules.md — Full vocabulary lists, punctuation rules, and examples

---name: writing-style-4description: Human writing standards to eliminate AI-generated text patterns. This skill should be used for any copywriting, marketing content, documentation, or professional writing to ensure output reads as genuinely human. Covers banned vocabulary, punctuation discipline, sentence variety, and tone guidelines.--- # Human Writing Standards ## Purpose AI-generated text has recognizable patterns that erode trust and signal inauthenticity. This skill enforces rules for writing that reads as genuinely human—the standard used by Zed, Basecamp, Linear, Stripe, and Apple. ## Workflow To produce human-quality writing: 1. **Draft content normally** 2. **Run the self-check** (see Quick Self-Check below) 3. **Fix any violations** using the reference material ## Quick Self-Check Before publishing any content, verify: 1. **Vocabulary scan**: Search for banned words (delve, tapestry, landscape, leverage, robust, seamless, comprehensive, crucial, multifaceted, embark, journey, moreover, furthermore, utilize, foster, showcase) 2. **Em-dash count**: More than 2 on the page? Rewrite. 3. **Opening check**: Does it start with "In today's..." or "Whether you're..."? Rewrite. 4. **Colon check**: Does the headline have a colon? Remove it. 5. **Vagueness check**: Replace "helps you manage" with something specific. 6. **Read aloud**: Does it sound like a person talking, or a press release? 7. **"The" count**: Too many sentences starting with "The [product]..."? Vary it. 8. **Enthusiasm check**: More than one exclamation point? Cut some. ## Core Rules (Summary) | Rule | Key Point | |------|-----------| | Banned Vocabulary | Avoid AI-overrepresented words (delve, leverage, robust, seamless, etc.) | | Em-Dash Discipline | Max 1 per paragraph, 2 per page | | Banned Phrases | No "In today's...", "Whether you're...", "In conclusion..." | | Punctuation | Sparingly use semicolons, max 1 exclamation per page | | Sentence Variety | Mix short and long, vary paragraph length | | Specificity | Concrete details over vague benefits | | Headers | Short, scannable, no colons | | Tone | Direct, confident, personal ("we" and "you") | | Filler | Cut "very", "really", "in order to", etc. | ## Reference For complete lists of banned words, replacement suggestions, and before/after examples, see: - `references/writing-rules.md` — Full vocabulary lists, punctuation rules, and examples

Frequently asked questions