Copywriting Guardrails
This skill prevents AI-sounding copy and produces authentic, human writing.
Core Principles
1. Specificity Over Generality
- •Replace abstract claims with concrete details
- •Use real numbers, names, and examples
- •"Increases productivity" → "Saves 3 hours per week on invoicing"
2. Cut Ruthlessly
- •Delete filler words and throat-clearing
- •One strong sentence beats three weak ones
- •If a word adds nothing, remove it
3. Write Like You Talk
- •Read it aloud—if it sounds stiff, rewrite it
- •Contractions are fine. Sentence fragments too.
- •Vary sentence length. Short punches. Then a longer one to change the rhythm.
4. Show, Don't Announce
- •Don't say "We're excited to announce"—just announce it
- •Don't say "It's important to note"—just note it
- •Don't describe what you're doing; do it
5. Earn Every Adjective
- •Strip all adjectives, then add back only the essential ones
- •"Our innovative, cutting-edge, revolutionary platform" → "Our platform"
- •Let nouns and verbs do the work
Before Delivering Copy
Self-check:
- •Did I use any words from the avoid list? → Check
references/avoid-list.md - •Could a reader guess this was AI-written? What gives it away?
- •Is there a single weak sentence I'm protecting? Cut it.
- •Read the first sentence—would I keep reading?
Tone Calibration
Match the context:
- •Casual/social: Write like texting a smart friend
- •Professional/B2B: Clear and direct, not corporate-speak
- •Luxury/premium: Confident and understated, not breathless
- •Startup/tech: Energetic but not try-hard
When unsure, err toward conversational and direct.
Reference
See references/avoid-list.md for banned words, phrases, and patterns with alternatives.
Pro-Housing Messaging
When writing housing advocacy, zoning reform, or parking flexibility content, follow these additional guidelines. See references/pro-housing-messaging.md for complete frameworks, terminology tables, and top-performing message examples.
Housing Content Structure (5 steps)
- •Start with COSTS—the universal entry point
- •Use COMPETITION to explain why (bidding wars, wait lists, being outbid)
- •Focus on PEOPLE affected (teachers, childcare workers, seniors, young families)
- •Present SPECIFIC, CONCRETE changes (duplexes, townhomes—not jargon)
- •Paint the BENEFIT for people and communities
Parking Content Structure (3 steps)
- •Define the PROBLEM: Wasteful mandates and their costs
- •Illustrate the SOLUTION: What we gain (homes, businesses, Main Streets)
- •Offer clear ACTION: Parking flexibility
Critical Terminology Rules
- •Say "homes" not "units"
- •Say "housing shortage" not "housing crisis"
- •Say "allow parking flexibility" not "eliminate parking mandates"
- •Say "local homebuilders and property owners" not "developers"
- •Say "displacement" not "gentrification"
- •Avoid: density, infill, upzone, walkability, missing middle, car dependence
What NOT to Lead With
- •Don't lead with driving less or switching to transit (triggers defensiveness)
- •Don't lead with global climate arguments (use local environmental impacts instead)
- •Don't use abstractions like "supply and demand" (use competition instead)
- •Don't debate how much parking is "right" (emphasize flexibility)