revise
// Structurally edit and improve article drafts — reorder sections, tighten arguments, improve clarity. Use when user asks to "revise", "improve my article", "edit my draft", or "/revise". Don't use for typo fixes or formatting (use prose-fix), code documentation, or non-article content.
| name | revise |
|---|---|
| description | Structurally edit and improve article drafts — reorder sections, tighten arguments, improve clarity. Use when user asks to "revise", "improve my article", "edit my draft", or "/revise". Don't use for typo fixes or formatting (use prose-fix), code documentation, or non-article content. |
name: revise description: Structurally edit and improve article drafts — reorder sections, tighten arguments, improve clarity. Use when user asks to "revise", "improve my article", "edit my draft", or "/revise". Don't use for typo fixes or formatting (use prose-fix), code documentation, or non-article content.
Revise
Structurally edit an article draft through an interactive, section-by-section process. Unlike prose-fix (cosmetic polish), this skill rewrites for clarity, flow, and argument strength.
Step 1 — Understand Context
Before editing, ask the user (skip questions they already answered). Use AskUserQuestion when available; otherwise ask directly:
- Audience: "Who is the target audience?" — Options: "Beginners", "Experienced developers", "General tech readers"
- Venue: "Where will this be published?" — Options: "Blog post", "Newsletter", "Documentation"
- Takeaway: "What is the one thing the reader should remember?" — ask separately as text (too specific for predefined options)
Step 2 — Analyze Structure
Read the full article. Map the sections as an information DAG — each concept depends on prior concepts. Identify:
- Dependency violations: concept used before it is introduced
- Redundant sections: same point made twice in different places
- Missing sections: logical gaps the reader needs bridged
- Weak intro: does the first paragraph hook and set expectations?
- Weak conclusion: does it reinforce the one takeaway?
Present the current section outline and a proposed reordering. Wait for user confirmation before proceeding.
Step 3 — Rewrite Section by Section
For each section, in order:
- Lead with the point — first sentence states what the section proves or teaches
- Max 240 characters per paragraph — split longer paragraphs
- Cut ruthlessly — remove sentences that don't serve the section's point
- Smooth transitions — each section's opening should connect to the previous section's conclusion
- Show, don't tell — prefer concrete examples over abstract claims
Edit the file in place, one section at a time.
Step 4 — Final Check
After all sections are revised:
- Re-read the full article for flow
- Verify the intro promises what the article delivers
- Verify the conclusion reinforces the one takeaway
- Check that no concept is used before it is introduced
- Report a summary of structural changes made
Step 5 — Polish Pass
After structural edits, run a single cosmetic pass over the file. Order: formatting → typos → clarity.
Formatting
| Issue | Replace with |
|---|---|
Em dash — (with spaces) | Period, comma, colon, or parentheses depending on context |
Em dash — (no spaces) | Split into two sentences or use comma |
| Double spaces | Single space |
Typos
- Misspelled words
- Wrong word form (e.g. "teh" → "the", "dont" → "don't")
- Missing apostrophes in contractions
Sentence Clarity
- Remove filler words ("very", "just", "really", "basically", "actually")
- Split run-on sentences into two
- Flatten weak constructions ("is able to" → "can", "in order to" → "to")
Workflow: grep for — first, fix all formatting, then typos, then clarity. Grep again to confirm no em dashes remain. Never add words — only remove or substitute. Never rewrite a sentence that is already clear.
Report what was changed by category.
Rules
- Always read the file before editing
- Always confirm structural changes with the user before rewriting (Steps 1–3)
- Preserve the author's voice — restructure and tighten, don't impose a new style
- Preserve code blocks, technical terms, and proper nouns exactly
- If the article is already well-structured, skip to Step 5 (or suggest prose-fix instead for a lighter pass)
Scope
- Works on
.mdfiles - If no file is specified, ask the user which file to revise