Proof / Style Checker

Overview

Validates cross-references (especially Quarto @fig-, @tbl- — the most common pain point), checks terminology consistency, tracks acronyms, and flags prose quality issues. Works with .qmd and .tex files, including mixed Quarto+LaTeX documents.

Constraints

•NEVER auto-change document content — this is a checking/reporting tool only
•ALWAYS report issues with file path, line number, and surrounding context
•MUST distinguish severity: ERROR (will break output), WARNING (likely mistake), SUGGESTION (style improvement)
•CAN suggest fixes, including near-miss label corrections
•MUST scan all project files for multi-file documents (follow {{< include >}}, \input{}, \include{})

Modes

Mode A: Full Check (default)

Run all checks in priority order. Triggered by: "proof check", "check this document", "run proof-checker".

Mode B: Cross-Reference Only

Run checks 1–3 only. Triggered by: "check references", "find broken links", "check refs", "broken references".

Mode C: Style Only

Run checks 4–8 only. Triggered by: "check writing", "style check", "check prose".

Check Priority Table

Priority	Check	Severity	Reference
1	Dangling Quarto refs (`@fig-X` with no matching label)	ERROR	`references/crossref-validation.md` §A
2	Dangling LaTeX refs (`\ref{X}` with no `\label{X}`)	ERROR	`references/crossref-validation.md` §B
3	Orphaned labels (defined but never referenced)	WARNING	`references/crossref-validation.md` §A–B
4	Undefined acronyms (used before first definition)	WARNING	`references/style-rules.md` §B
5	Inconsistent terminology ("Figure" vs "figure" for specific refs)	WARNING	`references/style-rules.md` §A
6	Number formatting (when to spell out vs digits)	SUGGESTION	`references/style-rules.md` §C
7	Excessive hedging density (may/might/could/suggests clusters)	SUGGESTION	`references/style-rules.md` §D
8	Long sentences (>40 words)	SUGGESTION	`references/style-rules.md` §D

Workflow

•Detect document type: .qmd → Quarto mode; .tex → LaTeX mode; both present → mixed mode
•Collect all files: Follow includes/inputs to build complete file list
•Run checks in priority order per the selected mode
•Pattern-match known errors using references/common-errors.md (knitr syntax in Quarto, unmatched environments, unclosed math, unescaped special characters)
•Near-miss detection: For dangling refs, compute edit distance to all known labels; suggest matches with distance <= 2
•Generate report in the output format below

Output Format

code

=== PROOF CHECK REPORT ===

--- ERRORS (2) ---

[E1] DANGLING REF: @fig-regresion
     File: analysis.qmd, Line 142
     Context: "As shown in @fig-regresion, the effect is..."
     Suggestion: Did you mean @fig-regression? (label found at line 87)

[E2] DANGLING REF: @tbl-sumstats
     File: analysis.qmd, Line 45
     Context: "Table @tbl-sumstats presents summary..."
     Suggestion: No similar label found. Check that the code chunk has
                 both `#| label: tbl-sumstats` AND `#| tbl-cap: "..."`

--- WARNINGS (3) ---

[W1] ORPHANED LABEL: {#fig-robustness}
     File: appendix.qmd, Line 210
     This label is defined but never referenced in any document.

[W2] UNDEFINED ACRONYM: "IV" used at line 23 (intro.qmd)
     First definition found at line 89 (methodology.qmd)
     Suggestion: Define as "instrumental variables (IV)" at first use

[W3] INCONSISTENT TERMINOLOGY
     "Figure" (capitalized, 12 occurrences) vs "figure" (lowercase, 3 occurrences)
     when referring to specific numbered figures.
     Lines with lowercase: 45, 102, 198

--- SUGGESTIONS (2) ---

[S1] LONG SENTENCE (47 words): analysis.qmd, Line 156
     "We find that the treatment effect on..."
     Consider splitting into two sentences.

[S2] HEDGING CLUSTER: methodology.qmd, Lines 78–82
     5 hedging words in one paragraph: "may", "might", "could", "possibly", "suggests"
     Consider strengthening language.

=== SUMMARY ===
Errors: 2 | Warnings: 3 | Suggestions: 2

Quick Reference

Quarto label rules

•Figure from R chunk: needs BOTH #| label: fig-X AND #| fig-cap: "Caption"
•Figure from image: ![Caption](path){#fig-X}
•Table from R chunk: needs BOTH #| label: tbl-X AND #| tbl-cap: "Caption"
•Equation: $$ ... $$ {#eq-X}
•Section: ## Heading {#sec-X}
•Reference syntax: @fig-X, @tbl-X, @eq-X, @sec-X

Acronym rule

Define at first use: "full term (ABBREV)". Use abbreviation only thereafter.

Number rule

Spell out one through ten in prose. Use digits for 11+, all statistical values, and numbers with units.

Capitalization rule

"Figure 1" (specific) vs "the figure" (generic). Same for Table, Section, Equation, Appendix, Panel.

Common econ acronyms

ATE, ATT, ITT, IV, OLS, RCT, RDD, DID, DiD, FE, RE, 2SLS, GMM, LATE, TOT, SUTVA, CIA, MTE, MLE, SE, FDR, FWER, GDP, CPI, PPP