From d38c1295e90fe275aa79d97243a85441e379776d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: user Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2026 14:50:18 -0800 Subject: [PATCH] expand checklist item 16 --- prompts/LLM_PROSE_TELLS.md | 10 +++++++--- 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-) diff --git a/prompts/LLM_PROSE_TELLS.md b/prompts/LLM_PROSE_TELLS.md index 41f3c28..882741f 100644 --- a/prompts/LLM_PROSE_TELLS.md +++ b/prompts/LLM_PROSE_TELLS.md @@ -402,9 +402,13 @@ passes, because fixing one pattern often introduces another. delete it or expand it into a complete sentence that adds actual information. -16. Check for unnecessary elaboration at the end of sentences. Read the last - clause or phrase of each sentence and ask whether the sentence would lose - any meaning without it. If not, cut it. +16. Check for unnecessary elaboration. Read every clause, phrase, and adjective + in each sentence and ask whether the sentence loses meaning without it. This + includes trailing clauses that restate what the sentence already said, + redundant modifiers ("a single paragraph" when "a paragraph" works), + secondary clauses that add nothing ("which is why this matters"), and any + words whose removal doesn't change the meaning. If you can cut it and the + sentence still says the same thing, cut it. 17. Find every pivot paragraph ("But here's where it gets interesting." and similar) and delete it. The paragraph after it always contains the actual