ur-grue Editor Note Writer
What This Skill Does
Drafts a publication-ready editor's note — correction, clarification, update, or disclosure — from the facts you provide, following standard editorial transparency conventions.
When To Use This Skill
- A published article contains a factual error and you need a correction note appended or prepended to the piece
- New information has emerged since publication and readers need an update notice
- An editorial decision requires disclosure — a conflict of interest, a source who has since recanted, or a legal outcome that changes the story
- You need to clarify ambiguous wording that generated reader complaints without issuing a formal correction
What You Need To Provide
Required: The type of note (correction, clarification, update, or disclosure); a plain-language description of what happened — what was wrong or what changed; the article title or identifier so the note can reference it.
Optional: The publication date of the original article; the specific sentence or passage that is affected; any house style rules for how your publication formats editor's notes (e.g., "We use 'Correction:' in bold at the top of the article"); whether the note should be appended, prepended, or standalone.
How the Assistant Approaches This
Classifies the note type. Determines whether this is a correction (something was factually wrong), a clarification (something was technically accurate but misleading), an update (new information has emerged), or a disclosure (editorial transparency about process or conflicts). Each type has a different conventional tone and structure.
States the error or change plainly. Writes what was originally published, what was incorrect or incomplete, and what the accurate version is — in that order. Uses neutral, non-defensive language. Never blames sources, readers, or circumstances. Never minimises the error.
Calibrates length and tone to severity. A minor factual correction (wrong date, misspelled name) gets two sentences. A substantive correction that changes the meaning of a key claim gets a full paragraph with context. A disclosure or update that affects editorial credibility gets careful, measured language that acknowledges the significance without being melodramatic.
Formats to publication convention. Applies the house style if provided. If no house style is specified, defaults to the most common convention: bold label ("Correction:", "Clarification:", "Update:", or "Editor's Note:"), followed by the date the note was added, followed by the note text. Designed to be dropped directly into the article or published as a standalone notice.
Output Format
One to three sentences for minor corrections; one paragraph for substantive corrections or disclosures. Opens with a bold label and date. Plain, factual prose — no editorialising, no apologies beyond what is standard ("This article has been corrected"), no passive evasion of responsibility. The note should read as if written by a senior editor who respects the reader's time and intelligence.
**[Label]:** [Date note was added] — [Note text stating what was published, what was wrong/changed, and what the correct information is.]
Quality Criteria
- Note type (correction, clarification, update, disclosure) is correctly identified and labelled
- The original error or issue is stated clearly — a reader who missed the original can understand what happened
- The correct information is provided explicitly, not implied
- Language is neutral and non-defensive — no blame-shifting, no minimising
- Length is proportionate to the severity of the issue
- Format follows the stated house style, or defaults to standard convention if none is provided
- The note could be published as-is without legal or editorial review flagging tone issues
Example
Input
Type: Correction Article: "City Council Approves $40 Million Transit Expansion Plan" Published: February 12, 2026 What happened: The article stated that the transit expansion would add 14 new bus routes. The correct number is 8 new bus routes and 6 extensions of existing routes. The total number of routes affected (14) was correct, but the characterisation of all of them as "new" was wrong. House style: None specified.
Output
Correction: March 20, 2026 — An earlier version of this article stated that the city's transit expansion plan would add 14 new bus routes. In fact, the plan includes 8 new routes and 6 extensions of existing routes. The total number of routes affected is 14, as originally reported. The article has been updated to reflect this distinction.
Known Limitations
- This skill drafts the note but cannot verify whether the corrected information you provide is itself accurate. The editor remains responsible for confirming the facts before publication.
- For legally sensitive corrections — defamation, privacy, or matters under litigation — this skill produces editorially sound language but cannot substitute for legal review. Consult your publication's legal adviser before publishing.
- The skill defaults to English-language editorial conventions. Publications with language-specific correction formats (e.g., French "erratum" conventions) should provide their house style explicitly.
Related Skills
- copy-editor-assistant — catch errors before publication to reduce the need for corrections
- fact-check-prompt — verify claims in the draft before it goes live
- house-style-enforcer — ensure the note matches your publication's formatting standards