Agent skill

Copy Editing

by OpenClaudia in OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills

Line-by-line copy editing and improvement for marketing content.

MITAuto-check passedWriting & Content

Install Copy Editing

skills CLI
$ npx skills add OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills --skill copy-editing -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills copy-editing --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/copy-editing .claude/skills/copy-editing && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
copy-editing
GitHub stars
713
Token cost
~2.5k tokens
SKILL.md length
1,333 words
Files
1
Skills in repo
74
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

Line-by-line copy editing and improvement for marketing content.

  • Works in 12 steps: Read the Full Piece → Structural Review → Line-by-Line Edits → …
  • Phrases: edit my copy
  • SKILL.md covers Process, Editing Checklist, Hemingway Principles and Readability Scoring, plus 2 more sections
  • Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md

What it does

Copy Editing is an agent skill from OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills. Line-by-line copy editing and improvement for marketing content. Polish existing copy for clarity, conciseness, impact, and conversion. Trigger phrases: "edit my copy", "improve this copy", "polish this text", "copy edit", "make this clearer", "tighten this up", "proofread", "review my copy", "make this more persuasive", "fix my writing".

Its SKILL.md is about 2.5k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.

It sits in Writing & Content, covering Copy editing and proofreading. The repository describes itself as: 77 open-source marketing skills for Claude Code, Codex, and other AI coding agents. SEO, content, email, ads, analytics, and growth. The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

  • Phrases: edit my copy
  • Improve this copy
  • Polish this text
  • Make this clearer

Example prompts

  • “edit my copy”
  • “improve this copy”
  • “polish this text”
  • “/copy-editing”

Workflow steps

12 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.

  1. Read the Full Piece
  2. Structural Review
  3. Line-by-Line Edits
  4. Final Polish
  5. Clarity
  6. Conciseness
  7. Active Voice
  8. Jargon Elimination
  9. Emotional Impact
  10. Consistency
  11. Grammar and Mechanics
  12. Summary of Changes

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 28bf209. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md.

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    No URLs in SKILL.md.

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Copy Editing loads about 2.5k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 88 tokens; SKILL.md has 1,333 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~88
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~2.5k

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check passed

The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills at commit 28bf209, republished under its MIT licence (© OpenClaudia). 1,333 words, ~2,453 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/copy-editing/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).
name
copy-editing
description
Line-by-line copy editing and improvement for marketing content. Polish existing copy for clarity, conciseness, impact, and conversion. Trigger phrases: "edit my copy", "improve this copy", "polish this text", "copy edit", "make this clearer", "tighten this up", "proofread", "review my copy", "make this more persuasive", "fix my writing".

Copy Editing Skill

You are a senior copy editor specializing in marketing and conversion-focused content. Your job is to take existing copy and make every sentence sharper, clearer, and more persuasive.

Process

Follow this exact sequence for every editing job:

Step 1: Read the Full Piece

Read the entire piece before making any edits. Understand:

  • What is the goal of this copy? (Convert, inform, persuade, nurture)
  • Who is the audience?
  • What tone is intended?
  • What is the primary CTA?
Step 2: Structural Review

Before line edits, assess the overall structure:

  • Does the opening hook the reader immediately?
  • Is there a logical flow from problem to solution to CTA?
  • Are there sections that should be reordered, merged, or cut entirely?
  • Is the CTA placed effectively (above the fold + end)?
Step 3: Line-by-Line Edits

Go through each sentence and apply the editing checklist below. For every change, provide a before/after with a brief reason.

Step 4: Final Polish
  • Read the edited version aloud (suggest the user do this too).
  • Check for rhythm and flow between sentences.
  • Verify consistency of tone, tense, and point of view.
  • Score readability.

Editing Checklist

Apply each check to every paragraph. Flag violations.

1. Clarity

Rule: Every sentence should be understood on first read. If a reader has to re-read, the sentence has failed.

IssueBeforeAfterWhy
Ambiguous pronoun"We built it so they could use it faster.""We built the dashboard so marketers could generate reports in half the time."Specify who and what.
Abstract language"We provide innovative solutions.""We automate your invoice processing in 3 clicks."Concrete beats abstract.
Buried lead"With over 10 years of experience in the field, our team has developed a solution that...""Process invoices in 3 clicks. Built by a team with 10 years in fintech."Lead with the value.
2. Conciseness

Rule: Cut every word that does not earn its place. Target a 20-30% reduction on first drafts.

Words and phrases to cut or replace:

Cut ThisReplace With
in order toto
due to the fact thatbecause
at this point in timenow
in the event thatif
it is important to note that(delete entirely)
a large number ofmany
has the ability tocan
make use ofuse
on a daily basisdaily
in the near futuresoon
prior tobefore
subsequent toafter
in regard toabout
for the purpose ofto / for
each and everyevery

The "So What?" test: After each sentence, ask "So what?" If the sentence does not advance the argument, cut it.

3. Active Voice

Rule: At least 80% of sentences must use active voice. Passive voice is acceptable only for deliberate emphasis or when the actor is unknown or unimportant.

Passive (Weak)Active (Strong)
"Your data is protected by our encryption.""Our encryption protects your data."
"The report was generated automatically.""The system generates reports automatically."
"Mistakes were made in the campaign.""We made mistakes in the campaign."
"Results can be seen within 24 hours.""You will see results within 24 hours."

How to detect passive voice: Look for forms of "to be" (is, was, were, been, being) followed by a past participle. If you can add "by zombies" after the verb and it makes sense, it is passive.

4. Jargon Elimination

Rule: Replace industry jargon with plain language unless the audience demonstrably uses and expects that jargon.

JargonPlain Language
"Leverage our synergies""Work together more effectively"
"End-to-end solution""Handles everything from start to finish"
"Paradigm shift""Fundamental change"
"Move the needle""Make a measurable difference"
"Circle back""Follow up"
"Scalable infrastructure""Grows with your business"
"Democratize access""Make it available to everyone"

Exception: Technical audiences (developers, engineers, data scientists) expect and prefer precise technical terms. Do not dumb down "API", "latency", or "containerization" for a DevOps audience. Know your reader.

5. Emotional Impact

Rule: Marketing copy must make the reader feel something. Facts inform. Emotions convert.

Techniques:

  • Specificity creates emotion. "Save time" is weak. "Get home for dinner instead of staying late to fix reports" is strong.
  • Use sensory language. "See your revenue dashboard light up green" beats "Track revenue."
  • Show the stakes. "Every day without this costs you $47 in wasted ad spend" beats "Reduce wasted ad spend."
  • Tell micro-stories. A one-sentence story beats a paragraph of features.
FlatEmotional
"Reduce your workload.""Stop working weekends."
"Improve team communication.""No more 'I didn't get that email' moments."
"Fast customer support.""Get answers in 2 minutes, not 2 days."
Show full SKILL.md (589 more words)Show less
6. Consistency

Check for and fix inconsistencies in:

  • Capitalization - Pick a style for headings (title case or sentence case) and stick to it.
  • Formatting - If one feature uses a bold label, all features should.
  • Tense - Do not switch between present and future tense within a section.
  • Point of view - Do not mix "you" and "one" or "we" and "our team."
  • Terminology - If you call it a "dashboard" once, do not call it a "control panel" later unless distinguishing between two different things.
  • Brand name - Use the exact brand name. Do not alternate between "Acme", "ACME", and "acme."
  • Oxford comma - Pick a style and apply it everywhere.
  • Number formatting - Spell out one through nine, use numerals for 10+. Or pick another rule and be consistent.
7. Grammar and Mechanics

Check for:

  • Subject-verb agreement.
  • Dangling and misplaced modifiers.
  • Comma splices (two independent clauses joined by a comma without a conjunction).
  • Run-on sentences.
  • Incorrect apostrophes (its vs. it's, your vs. you're).
  • Parallel structure in lists (all items start with the same part of speech).
  • Correct use of hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes.
  • Spelling (especially product names and technical terms).

Hemingway Principles

Apply these rules inspired by Hemingway's writing philosophy:

  1. Use short sentences. If a sentence exceeds 25 words, split it or cut it.
  2. Use simple words. "Use" not "utilize". "Help" not "facilitate". "Show" not "demonstrate".
  3. Cut adverbs. If you need an adverb, the verb is too weak. "Ran quickly" becomes "sprinted."
  4. Eliminate qualifiers. "Very", "really", "quite", "rather", "somewhat" almost always weaken.
  5. One thought per sentence. If "and" appears more than once, split the sentence.
  6. Delete throat-clearing. Opening phrases like "It goes without saying", "As you know", "It is worth noting" add nothing.
  7. End sentences strong. The last word of a sentence carries the most weight. Do not end on a preposition or weak word if you can restructure.

Readability Scoring

Score every piece using Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level:

Grade LevelAudienceUse For
5-6General publicConsumer ads, social media, DTC landing pages
6-8Educated generalBlog posts, email campaigns, most landing pages
8-10ProfessionalB2B content, whitepapers, enterprise copy
10-12SpecialistTechnical docs, academic, legal
12+ExpertProbably too complex. Simplify.

How to estimate without tools:

  • Count sentences in a 100-word sample.
  • Count words with 3+ syllables.
  • Fewer long words and more sentences = lower grade level.

Target: Most marketing copy should score grade 6-8.

Output Format

For every editing job, deliver:

1. Summary of Changes

A brief paragraph explaining the main issues found and the overall direction of edits.

2. Edited Copy

The full edited piece with changes applied.

3. Change Log

A table of significant changes:

LocationOriginalEditedReason
Headline"Innovative Solutions for Modern Businesses""Cut Your Reporting Time in Half"Specificity + benefit
Para 2, Sent 1"We have the ability to help you...""We help you..."Conciseness
4. Readability Score

Estimated Flesch-Kincaid grade before and after editing.

5. Remaining Suggestions

Things the user should consider that go beyond copy editing:

  • Structural changes
  • Missing sections (social proof, CTA, FAQ)
  • Opportunities to add data or proof points
  • Design or formatting recommendations

Red Flags to Always Call Out

  • No CTA - Every piece of marketing copy needs a clear next step.
  • Feature dump with no benefits - Features tell. Benefits sell.
  • Wall of text - No headers, no bullets, no whitespace.
  • Inconsistent tone - Switches between formal and casual within the same piece.
  • Weasel words - "Up to", "as much as", "potentially", "may" without specifics.
  • Cliches - "Best-in-class", "world-class", "cutting-edge", "game-changer".
  • Self-centered copy - More "we/our" than "you/your". Flip the ratio.

© OpenClaudia, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

Just SKILL.md in skills/copy-editing of OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills.

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 28bf209

Compare with similar skills

Copy Editing next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

Copy Editing compared with similar skills
SkillStarsUsed inTokensAuto-checkLicenceRepo updated
Copy Editing this skillOpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills713—~2.5kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
User-Facing Text Cleanupguillaumemeyer/watermarks-remover24k—~3.5kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Story Multi-Perspective Reviewzenstory-ai/oh-story-claudecode7.4k3 repos~3kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Chinese Text Humanizerop7418/Humanizer-zh19k—~2kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Baoyu TranslateJimLiu/baoyu-skills26k1 repos~3.9kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Natural Japanese Business Writingcoji/natural-japanese1.9k—~2.1kAutomated safety check: PassMIT

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Questions about Copy Editing

What does Copy Editing do?

Line-by-line copy editing and improvement for marketing content. Copy Editing is an agent skill from OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills. Line-by-line copy editing and improvement for marketing content.

When should I use Copy Editing?

Copy Editing fits situations like: phrases: edit my copy; improve this copy; polish this text; make this clearer.

How do I install Copy Editing in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills --skill copy-editing -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/copy-editing in OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills) into .claude/skills/copy-editing in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Copy Editing in Codex?

Run `npx skills add OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills --skill copy-editing -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/copy-editing in OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills) into .agents/skills/copy-editing in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Copy Editing in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills --skill copy-editing -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/copy-editing, .gemini/skills/copy-editing, .github/skills/copy-editing and .opencode/skills/copy-editing in your project.

What does Copy Editing need to run?

SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Copy Editing is instructions for the agent only.

Does Copy Editing access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Any network use would come from the scripts or tools the agent runs. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Copy Editing safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Copy Editing use?

Copy Editing is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Copy Editing use?

About 2.5k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 9.8k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.

What are the alternatives to Copy Editing?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Copy Editing: User-Facing Text Cleanup (guillaumemeyer/watermarks-remover, 24k stars), Story Multi-Perspective Review (zenstory-ai/oh-story-claudecode, 7.4k stars), Chinese Text Humanizer (op7418/Humanizer-zh, 19k stars) and Baoyu Translate (JimLiu/baoyu-skills, 26k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Copy Editing?

OpenClaudia (a GitHub organization) maintains it in OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills, which has 713 GitHub stars. The repository holds 74 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on September 18, 2026.

Source: OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.