copy-editing

Overview of copy-editing skill

What the copy-editing skill does

The copy-editing skill is a marketing-focused editing workflow for improving existing copy without replacing the original message. It is designed for “edit this,” “proofread this,” “make this clearer,” “review my landing page,” and similar requests where the draft already exists and the goal is sharper, more readable, more persuasive copy.

Unlike a single generic rewrite prompt, this copy-editing skill uses focused editorial passes. The upstream SKILL.md is built around a seven-sweep framework covering clarity, voice, tone, concision, flow, persuasion, and polish, with a reminder to loop back when one edit weakens another.

Best fit for Copywriting and marketing teams

This is a strong fit for copywriters, marketers, founders, product marketers, and content teams editing landing pages, email campaigns, ads, website sections, launch copy, sales pages, or in-product marketing messages. It is especially useful when you want useful copy feedback before rewriting everything.

The skill also checks for product marketing context first: if .claude/product-marketing-context.md exists, it should use that brand, positioning, and customer language before editing. That makes it more practical for teams with an existing voice guide or messaging source of truth.

What makes this more than proofreading

The most useful differentiator is the discipline of separate passes. Instead of fixing grammar, tone, and conversion logic all at once, the skill asks the agent to inspect one dimension at a time and explain why edits matter. Supporting files add practical depth: references/plain-english-alternatives.md helps replace inflated wording, while scripts/readability_scorer.py and scripts/ai_content_detector.py can flag readability issues, filler, passive voice, flat rhythm, and common AI-sounding phrases.

When this skill is not the right choice

Do not install copy-editing if you mainly need first-draft generation, long-form SEO strategy, legal review, technical documentation architecture, or brand positioning from scratch. It works best when the message, audience, and draft are already present. If those are missing, you will get better results by first creating a brief, then using this skill for the editing pass.

How to Use copy-editing skill

copy-editing install and repository path

Install the skill from the GitHub repository with:

npx skills add alirezarezvani/claude-skills --skill copy-editing

The source is in marketing-skill/skills/copy-editing at https://github.com/alirezarezvani/claude-skills/tree/main/marketing-skill/skills/copy-editing. Start by reading SKILL.md, then inspect the two reference files and two scripts:

• references/plain-english-alternatives.md
• references/ai-detection-patterns.md
• scripts/readability_scorer.py
• scripts/ai_content_detector.py

The skill’s own file is the main operating guide; the support files are useful when you want measurable checks or a stronger plain-English pass.

Inputs that make copy-editing usage better

For best results, give the agent the draft, target reader, offer, channel, desired action, tone constraints, and what must not change. A weak prompt is: “Polish this copy.” A stronger prompt is:

Use the copy-editing skill to edit this homepage hero for startup founders evaluating accounting software. Keep the core promise and product name unchanged. Improve clarity, reduce hype, make the CTA more specific, and preserve a confident but plain-spoken tone. Show the revised copy first, then list the top five edits and why they matter.

This gives the skill enough context to preserve intent while improving execution.

Suggested workflow for real editing sessions

Use the copy-editing guide in stages. First, ask for diagnosis only: what is unclear, inflated, off-brand, or weak from a conversion perspective? Second, request a revised version using the seven-sweep approach. Third, ask for a change log so you can accept or reject edits intelligently.

For larger assets, split the work by section: hero, proof points, features, objections, FAQ, CTA. This reduces over-editing and helps the agent preserve the role of each section. If your project has .claude/product-marketing-context.md, tell the agent to read and apply it before editing.

Using the helper scripts

If you work locally, the scripts can turn subjective editing into a more repeatable review. Run readability checks with:

python3 scripts/readability_scorer.py --file copy.txt

Use the AI-pattern detector as a heuristic, not a verdict:

python3 scripts/ai_content_detector.py copy.txt

The detector looks at sentence-length variation, vocabulary diversity, and known AI-style phrases. Treat flagged passages as places to add specificity, rhythm, customer language, or sharper verbs—not as proof that text is “bad.”

copy-editing skill FAQ

Is copy-editing only for marketing copy?

Mostly, yes. The skill’s framing, examples, and checks are oriented toward marketing and conversion copy. It can still improve general business writing, but its highest value is for copy that must persuade a reader to understand, trust, click, sign up, reply, or buy.

How is this different from asking for a rewrite?

A rewrite prompt often replaces your voice and may optimize for fluency over intent. The copy-editing skill explicitly prioritizes preserving the core message, making focused passes, and giving reasons for changes. That makes it better when you need controlled improvements rather than a brand-new version.

Is the copy-editing skill beginner friendly?

Yes, as long as you provide context. Beginners benefit from asking for “edits plus rationale” because the output becomes a mini editing lesson. If you only paste copy with no audience, offer, or goal, the agent may make safe but generic changes.

When should I avoid this skill?

Avoid it when you need legal, medical, compliance, or claims substantiation review. Also avoid using it as a substitute for customer research. The skill can make copy clearer and more persuasive, but it cannot verify whether your promise, positioning, or evidence is true.

How to Improve copy-editing skill

Improve copy-editing results with better briefs

The most common failure mode is under-briefing. Add the reader’s awareness level, pain point, objections, desired action, brand voice, forbidden claims, and examples of copy you like. If you have customer quotes, include them. Specific inputs help the skill replace generic language with language your audience actually recognizes.

A useful brief format is:

• Audience:
• Channel:
• Goal:
• Current draft:
• Must keep:
• Must avoid:
• Tone:
• Proof or evidence available:

Ask for constrained edits, not maximum polish

“Make it better” can lead to over-smoothing. Stronger instructions are more selective: “shorten by 20%,” “keep the founder’s direct tone,” “remove jargon,” “make the CTA outcome-led,” or “preserve all technical claims.” Constraints protect voice and prevent the editor from turning distinctive copy into generic SaaS language.

Iterate after the first edited version

After the first pass, ask what tradeoffs the edit introduced. For example: “Did the shorter version lose credibility?” or “Where did persuasion improve but voice become less distinctive?” This works well with the seven-sweep model because clarity, concision, tone, and persuasion can compete. The best output often comes from two or three targeted revisions, not one broad pass.

Use references to reduce generic AI copy

For plain-language cleanup, ask the agent to apply references/plain-english-alternatives.md and explain the highest-impact replacements. For AI-sounding copy, use references/ai-detection-patterns.md and the detector script to identify flat rhythm, repeated vocabulary, and stock phrases. Then prompt for concrete fixes: shorter and longer sentence variation, more specific nouns, stronger verbs, customer phrases, and fewer abstract claims.