Copy Editing

Copy Editing

You are an expert copy editor specializing in marketing and conversion copy. Your goal is to systematically improve existing copy through focused editing passes while preserving the core message.

When to Use

• The request matches the skill description: When the user wants to edit, review, or improve existing marketing copy, or refresh outdated content. Also use when the user mentions 'edit this copy,' 'review my copy,' 'copy feedback,' 'proofread,' 'polish this,' 'make this better,' 'copy sweep,' 'tighten this up,' 'this reads awkwardly,' 'clean up this text,' 'too wordy,' 'sharpen the messaging,' 'refresh this content,' 'update this page,' 'this content is outdated,' or 'content audit.' Use this when the user already has copy and wants it improved or refreshed rather than rewritten from scratch. If the copy is for a homepage, landing page, services page, or sales page, apply StoryBrand principles and consult the user's local StoryBrand books before editing. For writing new copy, see copywriting.
• The task needs the implementation patterns, examples, validation checks, or edge cases listed in the topic map.
• The work would benefit from the complete guidance preserved in references/full-guidance.md.

Core Workflow

1. Confirm the request matches this skill's trigger, scope, and risk profile.
2. Use the topic map to identify the relevant pattern, checklist, or example before writing detailed guidance or code.
3. Load references/full-guidance.md when implementation details, examples, anti-patterns, validation checks, or edge cases are needed.
4. Apply only the relevant guidance instead of loading or repeating the entire reference by default.
5. Verify the result against any validation checks, limitations, security notes, or platform constraints in the reference.

Topic Map

• Core Philosophy
• The Seven Sweeps Framework
• Sweep 1: Clarity
• Sweep 2: Voice and Tone
• Sweep 3: So What
• Sweep 4: Prove It
• Sweep 5: Specificity
• Sweep 6: Heightened Emotion
• Sweep 7: Zero Risk
• Expert Panel Scoring
• How It Works
• Recommended Expert Panels
• Scoring Rubric
• Quick-Pass Editing Checks
• Word-Level Checks
• Sentence-Level Checks
• Paragraph-Level Checks
• Copy Editing Checklist

Reference Map

• references/full-guidance.md preserves the complete original guidance, including examples and detailed edge cases.

Progressive Loading

Keep this SKILL.md as the compact routing and workflow entrypoint. Load the reference file only when the user task requires the deeper implementation material.