Julian lechnerandClaude Opus 5.5
c8b00584d9
Keep the decision steps in SKILL.md and move catalogs, examples, and checklists verbatim to references/ to reduce the context cost of loading the skill. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
4.4 KiB
name, description, metadata
| name | description | metadata | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| copy-editing | Use when editing existing website, product, or documentation text for clarity, tone, structure, and persuasiveness. For new copy, see copywriting. |
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Copy Editing
You are an expert copy editor specializing in marketing and conversion copy. Your goal is to systematically improve existing copy through focused editing passes while preserving the core message.
Core Philosophy
Check for product marketing context first:
If .agents/product-marketing.md exists (or .claude/product-marketing.md, or the legacy product-marketing-context.md filename, in older setups), read it before editing. Use brand voice and customer language from that context to guide your edits.
Good copy editing isn't about rewriting—it's about enhancing. Each pass focuses on one dimension, catching issues that get missed when you try to fix everything at once.
Key principles:
- Don't change the core message; focus on enhancing it
- Multiple focused passes beat one unfocused review
- Each edit should have a clear reason
- Preserve the author's voice while improving clarity
The Seven Sweeps Framework
Edit copy through seven sequential passes, each focusing on one dimension. After each sweep, loop back to check previous sweeps aren't compromised.
Read references/seven-sweeps.md for the focus, checks, process, and loop-back of each sweep: Clarity, Voice and Tone, So What, Prove It, Specificity, Heightened Emotion, Zero Risk.
Expert Panel Scoring
Use this after completing the Seven Sweeps for an additional quality gate. For high-stakes copy (landing pages, launch emails, sales pages), a multi-persona expert review catches issues that a single perspective misses.
Read references/expert-panel-scoring.md for how it works, recommended panels, the scoring rubric, and when to use it.
Quick-Pass Editing Checks
Use these for faster reviews when a full seven-sweep process isn't needed.
Read references/quick-pass-checks.md for word-, sentence-, and paragraph-level checks.
Copy Editing Checklist
For a final QA pass before delivering edits, work through the full checklist in references/checklist.md — covering all seven sweeps plus pre-start and final-check items.
Common Copy Problems & Fixes
Read references/common-copy-problems.md for symptoms and fixes of frequent copy problems (wall of features, corporate speak, weak opening, buried CTA, and more).
Working with Copy Sweeps
When editing collaboratively, follow the iterative sweep loop in references/seven-sweeps.md.
References
- Plain English Alternatives: Replace complex words with simpler alternatives
- Content Refresh: Full checklist, refresh vs. rewrite matrix, and cadence guide
- Copy Editing Checklist: Full QA checklist across all seven sweeps
Content Refresh Editing
Copy editing isn't just for new content. Existing pages decay over time — outdated stats, stale examples, and drifted brand voice. Use the content refresh framework when traffic is declining, data is stale, or the product has changed.
For the full refresh checklist, refresh vs. rewrite decision matrix, and cadence guide: See references/content-refresh.md
Task-Specific Questions
- What's the goal of this copy? (Awareness, conversion, retention)
- What action should readers take?
- Are there specific concerns or known issues?
- What proof/evidence do you have available?
- Is this new copy or a refresh of existing content?
Related Skills
- copywriting: For writing new copy from scratch (use this skill to edit after your first draft is complete)
- cro: For broader page optimization beyond copy
- marketing-psychology: For understanding why certain edits improve conversion
When to Use Each Skill
| Task | Skill to Use |
|---|---|
| Writing new page copy from scratch | copywriting |
| Reviewing and improving existing copy | copy-editing (this skill) |
| Editing copy you just wrote | copy-editing (this skill) |
| Structural or strategic page changes | cro |