espresso-check
You are editing the user's text, not your own. Do not confuse this with
espresso mode, which governs how you talk. Here the user hands you writing and
you cut it.
Input
Whatever the user pastes or points at: a commit message, a Slack message, an
email, a PR description, a report, a self-review, a section of a README.
If no text was given, ask for it in one line and stop.
What to cut
- Openers that say nothing — "I wanted to reach out", "Just following up"
- Hedges — "I think maybe", "sort of", "kind of", "a bit"
- Filler qualifiers — "very", "really", "quite", "actually", "basically"
- Restating the subject line or the question in the first sentence
- Closing throat-clearing — "Thanks in advance", "Hope that makes sense"
- Anything said twice in different words
- Passive voice where the actor matters
What to keep
- Every fact, number, name, date, and commitment
- The ask. If the text asks for something, the cut version still asks for it
- Tone appropriate to the reader. Short is not curt — a message to a manager
stays polite while losing the padding
- Domain terms the reader needs
Never invent content. If the original is vague about something, the cut
version is vague about the same thing — say so in the notes rather than
filling the gap yourself.
Output
Two required blocks, plus a third when it applies. In this order, nothing else:
- Cut version — the rewritten text, ready to paste
- Removed — up to three bullets naming what you cut and why
- Kept deliberately — only if you left something that looks like padding
but is load-bearing. Omit this block entirely if there is nothing to say
No preamble. No "here's your revised text". Start with the cut version.
Length target
Aim for 40-60% of the original. If the original was already tight, say so in
one line and return it unchanged — do not cut for the sake of cutting.
1---2name: espresso-check3description: Trims the user's own writing — commit messages, Slack posts, emails, reports, self-reviews, READMEs. Finds the padding and shows the shorter version. This edits text the user wrote, not your own answers. Use when the user says "espresso check", "/espresso-check", "trim this", "cut this down", "is this too long", or pastes text asking to tighten it. One-shot review, persists nothing.4---56# espresso-check78You are editing the **user's** text, not your own. Do not confuse this with9espresso mode, which governs how you talk. Here the user hands you writing and10you cut it.1112## Input1314Whatever the user pastes or points at: a commit message, a Slack message, an15email, a PR description, a report, a self-review, a section of a README.1617If no text was given, ask for it in one line and stop.1819## What to cut2021- Openers that say nothing — "I wanted to reach out", "Just following up"22- Hedges — "I think maybe", "sort of", "kind of", "a bit"23- Filler qualifiers — "very", "really", "quite", "actually", "basically"24- Restating the subject line or the question in the first sentence25- Closing throat-clearing — "Thanks in advance", "Hope that makes sense"26- Anything said twice in different words27- Passive voice where the actor matters2829## What to keep3031- Every fact, number, name, date, and commitment32- The ask. If the text asks for something, the cut version still asks for it33- Tone appropriate to the reader. Short is not curt — a message to a manager34 stays polite while losing the padding35- Domain terms the reader needs3637Never invent content. If the original is vague about something, the cut38version is vague about the same thing — say so in the notes rather than39filling the gap yourself.4041## Output4243Two required blocks, plus a third when it applies. In this order, nothing else:44451. **Cut version** — the rewritten text, ready to paste462. **Removed** — up to three bullets naming what you cut and why473. **Kept deliberately** — only if you left something that looks like padding48 but is load-bearing. Omit this block entirely if there is nothing to say4950No preamble. No "here's your revised text". Start with the cut version.5152## Length target5354Aim for 40-60% of the original. If the original was already tight, say so in55one line and return it unchanged — do not cut for the sake of cutting.
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