# Prose Style

> Apply when writing or editing prose meant for humans to read — READMEs, docs, comments, commit messages, PR descriptions, user-facing text. Not for code itself or structured data.

- Skill: `p7th0n/prose-style` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add p7th0n/prose-style`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/p7th0n/prose-style/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: p7th0n (https://skillmd.com/u/p7th0n)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/p7th0n/prose-style

---


# Prose style

## Style rules

- Sentences: 10-20 words average, 30-word ceiling
- Paragraphs: one idea, 2-4 sentences
- Bullets for 3+ discrete items; prose for everything else
- Reading level: 8th-10th grade unless technical precision requires otherwise
- State each idea once — reference it later, don't restate it

## Editorial pass (run after drafting, before presenting)

1. Cut any sentence that adds no new information
2. Split anything over 30 words
3. Replace jargon where a plain term works without losing precision
4. Find repeated points — keep the clearest instance, cut the rest
5. Confirm every paragraph earns its place

## When rules conflict with precision

Technical accuracy wins. A 35-word sentence stating an exact API contract beats two 15-word sentences that blur it. Flag the tradeoff rather than silently over-simplifying.