Anti Slop

anti-slop

A writing discipline for technical prose that humans have to read: code comments, docstrings, commit bodies, PR descriptions, design docs, READMEs.

Four layers, applied together:

1. STE grammar — Simplified Technical English rules from ASD-STE100. One fact per sentence, active voice, simple tenses, short sentences, no dropped articles.
2. Banned vocabulary — Words and phrases that mark text as LLM-generated on sight. Reach for the ordinary word.
3. Structural hygiene — No contrast constructions, rhetorical questions, LinkedIn cadence, or meta-commentary about the text itself.
4. No sycophancy — No flattery, no reflexive agreement, no apology inflation, no servile closer. Verify a correction before you accept it.

When to Use

• Writing or reviewing code comments, docstrings, commit messages
• Drafting PR descriptions or design doc sections
• Any prose a developer will read repeatedly
• Agent-to-agent messages where ambiguity has cost

Not for: marketing copy, user-facing content that needs voice, creative writing.

The Rules

STE Grammar

See references/ste-rules.md for the full 12 rules with examples.

Banned Vocabulary

The worst offender: "load-bearing" — say what actually depends on it.

Puffed verbs/adjectives: delve, leverage, harness, foster, bolster, underscore, showcase, illuminate, facilitate, garner, navigate (figurative), unpack (figurative), elevate, streamline, spearhead, robust, seamless, meticulous, intricate, comprehensive, pivotal, crucial, vital, key (adj), multifaceted, nuanced, holistic, vibrant, compelling

Metaphor nouns: tapestry, landscape, realm, ecosystem (outside software), beacon, cornerstone, backbone, lifeblood, north star, journey, deep dive, game-changer, paradigm, interplay, symphony

Significance inflation: "a testament to", "stands as", "serves as", "plays a crucial role", "underscores the importance of", "marks a shift", "at its core", "the reality is", "it's worth noting", "fundamentally", "profound", "transformative", "powerful" (about code), "elegant" (about your own work)

Transition scaffolding: moreover, furthermore, additionally, notably, importantly, "that said" (paragraph opener), "in today's fast-paced X", "when it comes to X", "let's dive in"

Hedge-and-flatter openers: "Great question", "You're absolutely right", "I hope this finds you well", "Certainly!", "Absolutely."

See references/banned-vocabulary.md for the complete list with rationale.

Structural Patterns to Avoid

Contrast construction — Never define a thing by first negating something unstated:

• "it's not X, it's Y"
• "X isn't just Y"
• "less A, more B"
• "the real question isn't A, it's B"

Delete the negated half. State the real thing on its own.

LinkedIn cadence:

• One-line paragraph dropped in for punch
• Rhetorical question you then answer yourself
• Closing aphorism restating the paragraph as a slogan
• Counting what follows ("Three things...", "Two reasons...")

Sycophancy — Flattery, reflexive agreement, apology inflation:

• "Great question", "Good catch", "You're absolutely right", "That's a clean design"
• "I apologize for the confusion", "Sorry about that", "Thanks for catching that"
• "Absolutely!", "Perfect!", exclamation marks in technical prose
• "Both approaches are valid" where a recommendation belongs

A correction is a claim. Verify it, then state the corrected fact on its own. Say so with evidence when the correction is wrong. See references/sycophancy.md.

Servile closer — A sign-off that hands the decision back instead of ending the message:

• "Say the word and I'll ...", "Just let me know"
• "Happy to ...", "I'd be glad to ...", "Feel free to ..."
• "Hope this helps", "Shall I proceed?", "Does that work for you?"

State what remains available and stop. The reader knows they can reply. Ask a real question only when the answer changes the work and no default is defensible. Then ask it plainly, on its own line.

Meta-commentary:

• "To be clear", "Quick framing first"
• "I don't want this read as..."
• Recapping what the reader already sees

Structural tells:

• Three-item lists where two items are real
• Uniform sentence length across a paragraph
• Bolding a phrase in every bullet
• Emoji as section markers

See references/structural-patterns.md for detection heuristics and references/sycophancy.md for the judgment half.

Process

1. Draft normally. Don't self-censor while writing.
2. Scan for banned vocab. Ctrl+F the worst offenders (delve, leverage, robust, crucial).
3. Check sentence structure. Split compound sentences. Convert passive to active.
4. Cut meta-commentary. Delete sentences about the text itself.
5. Read aloud. If you wouldn't say it to a colleague in a hallway, rewrite it.

Output

When reviewing text, produce a table:

| Violation | Original | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
| Banned: "leverage" | "leverage the cache" | "use the cache" |
| Passive voice | "the file is deleted" | "the handler deletes the file" |
| Contrast construction | "It's not about speed, it's about correctness" | "Correctness matters more here" |

If the text already complies, say so. Don't force changes onto clean prose.

Boundaries

Will:

• Flag banned vocabulary and suggest replacements
• Rewrite passive voice, compound tenses, -ing openers
• Detect and remove contrast constructions
• Strip meta-commentary and LinkedIn cadence

Will not:

• Simplify creative or marketing copy where voice matters
• Drop precision to shorten sentences
• Enforce rules inside code fences or inline code spans