Markdown Article Formatter

Markdown Formatter

Transforms plain text or markdown into well-structured, reader-friendly markdown. The goal is to help readers quickly grasp key points, highlights, and structure — without changing any original content.

Core principle: Only adjust formatting and fix obvious typos. Never add, delete, or rewrite content.

User Input Tools

When this skill prompts the user, follow this tool-selection rule (priority order):

1. Prefer built-in user-input tools exposed by the current agent runtime — e.g., AskUserQuestion, request_user_input, clarify, ask_user, or any equivalent.
2. Fallback: if no such tool exists, emit a numbered plain-text message and ask the user to reply with the chosen number/answer for each question.
3. Batching: if the tool supports multiple questions per call, combine all applicable questions into a single call; if only single-question, ask them one at a time in priority order.

Concrete AskUserQuestion references below are examples — substitute the local equivalent in other runtimes.

Script Directory

Scripts in scripts/ subdirectory. {baseDir} = this SKILL.md's directory path. Resolve ${BUN_X} runtime: if bun installed → bun; if npx available → npx -y bun; else suggest installing bun. Replace {baseDir} and ${BUN_X} with actual values.

Preferences (EXTEND.md)

Check EXTEND.md in priority order — the first one found wins:

If none found, use defaults — no first-time setup required for this skill.

EXTEND.md supports:

Usage

The workflow has two phases: Analyze (understand the content) then Format (apply formatting). Claude performs content analysis and formatting (Steps 1-5), then runs the script for typography fixes (Step 6).

Workflow

Step 1: Read & Detect Content Type

Read the user-specified file, then detect content type:

If Markdown detected, use AskUserQuestion to ask:

Detected existing markdown formatting. What would you like to do?

1. Optimize formatting (Recommended)
   - Analyze content, improve headings, bold, lists for readability
   - Run typography script (spacing, emphasis fixes)
   - Output: {filename}-formatted.md

2. Keep original formatting
   - Preserve existing markdown structure
   - Run typography script only
   - Output: {filename}-formatted.md

3. Typography fixes only
   - Run typography script on original file in-place
   - No copy created, modifies original file directly

Based on user choice:

• Optimize: Continue to Step 2 (full workflow)
• Keep original: Skip to Step 5, copy file then run Step 6
• Typography only: Skip to Step 6, run on original file directly

Step 2: Analyze Content (Reader's Perspective)

Read the entire content carefully. Think from a reader's perspective: what would help them quickly understand and remember the key information?

Produce an analysis covering these dimensions:

2.1 Highlights & Key Insights

• Core arguments or conclusions the author makes
• Surprising facts, data points, or counterintuitive claims
• Memorable quotes or well-phrased sentences (golden quotes)

2.2 Structure Assessment

• Does the content have a clear logical flow? What is it?
• Are there natural section boundaries that lack headings?
• Are there long walls of text that could benefit from visual breaks?

2.3 Reader-Important Information

• Actionable advice or takeaways
• Definitions, explanations of key concepts
• Lists or enumerations buried in prose
• Comparisons or contrasts that would be clearer as tables

2.4 Formatting Issues

• Missing or inconsistent heading hierarchy
• Paragraphs that mix multiple topics
• Parallel items written as prose instead of lists
• Code, commands, or technical terms not marked as code
• Obvious typos or formatting errors

Save analysis to file: {original-filename}-analysis.md

The analysis file serves as the blueprint for Step 3. Use this format:

# Content Analysis: {filename}

## Highlights & Key Insights
- [list findings]

## Structure Assessment
- Current flow: [describe]
- Suggested sections: [list heading candidates with brief rationale]

## Reader-Important Information
- [list actionable items, key concepts, buried lists, potential tables]

## Formatting Issues
- [list specific issues with location references]

## Typos Found
- [list any obvious typos with corrections, or "None found"]

Step 3: Check/Create Frontmatter, Title & Summary

Check for YAML frontmatter (--- block). Create if missing.

Title Generation

Whether or not a title already exists, run the title optimization flow unless auto_select_title is set.

Preparation — read the full text and extract:

• Core argument (one sentence: "what is this article about?")
• Most impactful opinion or conclusion
• Reader pain point or curiosity trigger
• Most memorable metaphor or golden quote

Generate candidates using formulas from references/title-formulas.md:

1. Select the 2-3 best-matching hook formulas based on the article's content, tone, and structure (see "When to pick each formula" in the reference)
2. Generate 1-2 straightforward titles (descriptive or declarative, no formula — clear and accurate)
3. If the user specifies a direction (e.g., "make it suspenseful"), prioritize that direction
4. Total: 4-5 candidates

Present via AskUserQuestion:

Pick a title:

1. [Hook title A] — (recommended) [formula name]
2. [Hook title B] — [formula name]
3. [Hook title C] — [formula name]
4. [Straightforward title D] — straightforward
5. [Straightforward title E] — straightforward

Enter number, or type a custom title:

Put the strongest hook first and mark it (recommended). See references/title-formulas.md for principles and prohibited patterns.

If the first line is an H1, extract it to frontmatter and remove it from the body. If frontmatter already has a title, include it as context but still generate fresh candidates — the existing title may be weak.

Skip behavior: If auto_select: true or auto_select_title: true, skip the user prompt and use the top candidate directly.