skills/anti-slop/references/tells.md

# Extended tell reference

## Notes

Load this when the SKILL.md catalog is not enough: a thorough review, a contested edit, or the reasoning behind a flag.

## Overused AI lexicon

Swap for plain words or cut. Not banned outright: flagged for scrutiny. If the plain word is worse, keep the original.

| Flagged word | Usually means | Plainer choice |
| --- | --- | --- |
| delve (into) | look at, examine | look at, dig into |
| tapestry / landscape / realm | (filler noun) | cut, or name the actual thing |
| underscore / highlight | show, stress | show |
| leverage (verb) | use | use |
| seamless / frictionless | easy, smooth | easy, or say how |
| robust | strong, reliable | reliable, sturdy |
| crucial / pivotal / vital | important | important, or say why |
| testament to | shows | shows |
| navigate (figurative) | handle, deal with | handle |
| foster / cultivate | build, grow | build |
| elevate / unlock / empower | improve, enable | improve, let |
| myriad / plethora | many | many, or a number |
| in today's (fast-paced) world | (throat-clearing opener) | cut |
| when it comes to | for, about | for |
| it's worth noting / it should be noted | (padding) | cut |
| at the end of the day | (filler) | cut |
| that being said | but, still | but |
| a double-edged sword | (cliché) | name the specific tradeoff |
| game-changer / revolutionary | (overclaim) | say the concrete change |
| load-bearing | important, essential | the one that matters, or name the role |
| linchpin / through-line / north star | the main point | the main point, or name it |

## Structural tells beyond word choice

- Uniform paragraph length: every paragraph 3–4 sentences. Vary it; some ideas need one sentence.
- Uniform sentence length: no short sentences among the long ones, or vice versa. Rhythm needs contrast.
- Every section opens with a definition: "X is a…". Sometimes, but not every time.
- Bullet lists where prose is better: models default to lists. Use prose for argument, lists for genuinely parallel items.
- Symmetrical hedging: "On one hand… on the other hand…" when the author actually has a view.
- Excessive signposting: "First… Second… Finally…" on short passages that do not need it.
- Bold-everywhere emphasis: bolding so many phrases that none stands out.
- Em dash: check whether it clarifies the sentence or has become a default pause.
  Keep deliberate use; replace a distracting instance with punctuation that
  better fits the voice. En dashes in numeric ranges (`2014–2016`) are fine.
- Tidy false balance: presenting a "both sides" wrap-up on a question the piece already answered.

## The validation questions

For any flagged phrase, ask in order:

1. Does cutting it lose meaning? If yes, it may be content, not slop. Keep or reword to preserve the meaning.
2. Is it formula or choice? Would the author defend it, or did a pattern put it there?
3. Does it announce rather than deliver? Meta-commentary about the writing is almost always cuttable.
4. Does it add heat or light? Intensifiers and flourishes add heat. Cut heat, keep light.
5. Would a skeptical reader trust the sentence more or less without it? Optimize for trust.

If a phrase survives all five, leave it.

## Calibration

- Light touch for a personal blog or an author with strong style: fix only clear formula and lexicon; protect voice aggressively.
- Heavier touch for corporate/marketing copy, which tends to be slop-dense: still surgical, but more candidates will be real.
- Match register: a playful piece keeps playful; a white paper stays measured. Do not neutralize tone toward a generic middle.