Principle Redesign From First Principles
cursor/plugins
Apply when integrating a new requirement into an existing design.
Applies Strunk's Elements of Style principles when writing or editing prose.
MITAuto-check passed
Install Elements Of Style
$ npx skills add VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan --skill elements-of-style -a claude-codeProject install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.
$ gh skill install VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan elements-of-style --agent claude-codeProject scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/elements-of-style .claude/skills/elements-of-style && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.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/
Install the "elements-of-style" agent skill from https://github.com/VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan/tree/main/skills/elements-of-style into .claude/skills/elements-of-style/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "elements-of-style", then confirm the skill loads.Claude Code copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$skill-installer install https://github.com/VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan/tree/main/skills/elements-of-styleType this inside Codex. $skill-installer <name> installs a curated skill from openai/skills. The installer writes to $CODEX_HOME/skills (default ~/.codex/skills). Restart Codex if the skill does not show up.
$ npx skills add VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan --skill elements-of-style -a codexProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.
$ gh skill install VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan elements-of-style --agent codexProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/elements-of-style .agents/skills/elements-of-style && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.
Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/
Install the "elements-of-style" agent skill from https://github.com/VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan/tree/main/skills/elements-of-style into .agents/skills/elements-of-style/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "elements-of-style", then confirm the skill loads.Codex copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan --skill elements-of-style -a cursorProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.
$ gh skill install VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan elements-of-style --agent cursorProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/elements-of-style .cursor/skills/elements-of-style && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.cursor/skills/ instead of .cursor/skills for a personal install.
Cursor skills documentation · loads skills from .cursor/skills/, .agents/skills/, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/
Install the "elements-of-style" agent skill from https://github.com/VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan/tree/main/skills/elements-of-style into .cursor/skills/elements-of-style/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "elements-of-style", then confirm the skill loads.Cursor copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gemini skills install https://github.com/VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan.git --path skills/elements-of-style--scope user (default) or --scope workspace; --path is the subfolder of the repo that holds the skill; --consent skips the security confirmation prompt.
$ npx skills add VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan --skill elements-of-style -a gemini-cliProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.
$ gh skill install VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan elements-of-style --agent gemini-cliProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/elements-of-style .gemini/skills/elements-of-style && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.gemini/skills/ instead of .gemini/skills for a personal install, then run /skills reload.
Gemini CLI skills documentation · loads skills from .gemini/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "elements-of-style" agent skill from https://github.com/VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan/tree/main/skills/elements-of-style into .gemini/skills/elements-of-style/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "elements-of-style", then confirm the skill loads.Gemini CLI copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gh skill install VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan elements-of-styleInstalls for Copilot at project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Preview a skill first with gh skill preview. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ npx skills add VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan --skill elements-of-style -a github-copilotProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/elements-of-style .github/skills/elements-of-style && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.copilot/skills/ instead of .github/skills for a personal install. Commit .github/skills so cloud agent and code review can use it.
GitHub Copilot skills documentation · loads skills from .github/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "elements-of-style" agent skill from https://github.com/VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan/tree/main/skills/elements-of-style into .github/skills/elements-of-style/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "elements-of-style", then confirm the skill loads.GitHub Copilot copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan --skill elements-of-style -a opencodeOpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.
$ gh skill install VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan elements-of-style --agent opencodeProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/elements-of-style .opencode/skills/elements-of-style && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.config/opencode/skills/ instead of .opencode/skills for a personal install.
OpenCode skills documentation · loads skills from .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "elements-of-style" agent skill from https://github.com/VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan/tree/main/skills/elements-of-style into .opencode/skills/elements-of-style/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "elements-of-style", then confirm the skill loads.OpenCode copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
Facts
- Skill name
elements-of-style- GitHub stars
- 109
- Token cost
- ~775 tokens
- SKILL.md length
- 361 words
- Files
- 1
- Skills in repo
- 11
- Repo updated
- First seen
- Licence
- MIT
At a glance
Applies Strunk's Elements of Style principles when writing or editing prose.
- Works in 6 steps: Can any words be cut without losing… → Are verbs active where possible? → Are statements positive rather than… → …
- SKILL.md covers Core Principles, Sentence Structure, Punctuation Essentials and Words to Avoid or Restrict, plus 1 more section
- Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md
What it does
Elements Of Style is an agent skill from VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan. Applies Strunk's Elements of Style principles when writing or editing prose.
Its SKILL.md is about 780 tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts. Compatibility notes: Designed for Claude Code (or similar products)
The repository describes itself as: AI-assisted workflows that follow Very Good Ventures best practices. It pairs perfectly with our Very Good AI Flutter Plugin. The licence is MIT.
Example prompts
- “Use the elements-of-style skill to apply Strunk's Elements of Style principles when writing or editing prose”
- “/elements-of-style”
Requirements
- Compatibility (from SKILL.md): Designed for Claude Code (or similar products)
Workflow steps
6 steps, taken from the first numbered list in SKILL.md.
- Can any words be cut without losing meaning?
- Are verbs active where possible?
- Are statements positive rather than hedged negatives?
- Is language concrete and specific?
- Do emphatic ideas land at sentence ends?
- Is parallel structure consistent?
What it can do on your machine
Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 19e0695. 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.
Compatibility
Designed for Claude Code (or similar products)
From compatibility in the SKILL.md frontmatter.
Context cost
Elements Of Style loads about 775 tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 24 tokens; SKILL.md has 361 words of instructions outside code blocks.
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 VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan at commit 19e0695, republished under its MIT licence (© VeryGoodOpenSource). 361 words, ~775 tokens.
Download SKILL.mdSave it as
.claude/skills/elements-of-style/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).- name
- elements-of-style
- description
- Applies Strunk's Elements of Style principles when writing or editing prose.
- compatibility
- Designed for Claude Code (or similar products)
- user-invocable
- false
- when_to_use
- Triggers on "write clearly," "edit for style," "improve writing," or tasks requiring clear, vigorous English — documents, emails, reviews.
Elements of Style
Apply these principles to produce clear, vigorous prose.
Core Principles
Omit needless words. Every word must earn its place. Cut filler phrases:
| Cut | Keep |
|---|---|
| the question as to whether | whether |
| owing to the fact that | since |
| the fact that he failed | his failure |
| he is a man who | he |
| in a hasty manner | hastily |
Use active voice. Direct and forcible:
| Passive | Active |
|---|---|
| The first experiment was performed | We performed the first experiment |
| It was believed by the committee | The committee believed |
Put statements in positive form. Avoid hedging with "not":
| Negative | Positive |
|---|---|
| He was not very often on time | He usually came late |
| did not remember | forgot |
| did not have confidence in | distrusted |
Use concrete, specific language. Vague abstractions weaken prose:
| Abstract | Concrete |
|---|---|
| A period of unfavorable weather set in | It rained every day for a week |
| He showed satisfaction as he took possession of his reward | He grinned as he pocketed the coin |
Sentence Structure
Keep related words together. Subject and verb should not be separated unnecessarily. Place modifiers next to what they modify.
Place emphatic words at the end. The sentence's most important element belongs at its close.
Avoid loose sentence chains. Don't string clauses with "and," "but," "which." Vary structure: use semicolons, periodic sentences, or break into separate sentences.
Express parallel ideas in parallel form:
| Broken | Parallel |
|---|---|
| Formerly by textbook, while now the laboratory method | Formerly by textbook; now by laboratory |
Show full SKILL.md (124 more words)Show less
Punctuation Essentials
- Serial comma: red, white, and blue
- Independent clauses without conjunction: use semicolon, not comma
- Parenthetic expressions: enclose with paired commas (never one comma alone)
- Coordinate clauses with conjunction: comma before the conjunction
Words to Avoid or Restrict
| Avoid | Prefer |
|---|---|
| interesting | (make it interesting, don't announce it) |
| certainly | (overused intensifier) |
| kind of/sort of | rather, somewhat |
| one of the most | (threadbare opening) |
| along these lines | (vague) |
| literally | (often misused for emphasis) |
| case, character, nature | (usually redundant) |
Quick Checks
Before finalizing any prose:
- Can any words be cut without losing meaning?
- Are verbs active where possible?
- Are statements positive rather than hedged negatives?
- Is language concrete and specific?
- Do emphatic ideas land at sentence ends?
- Is parallel structure consistent?
© VeryGoodOpenSource, 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/elements-of-style of VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan.
Open the folder on GitHubat commit 19e0695
Compare with similar skills
Elements Of Style 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.
| Skill | Stars | Used in | Tokens | Auto-check | Licence | Repo updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elements Of Style this skillVeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan | 109 | — | ~775 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Principle Redesign From First Principlescursor/plugins | 11k | 8 repos | ~211 | Automated safety check: Pass | None | |
| Decorative Elementsthedaviddias/Front-End-Checklist | 74k | — | ~672 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Scaffold Elementremotion-dev/remotion | 63k | — | ~202 | Automated safety check: Pass | Custom licence | |
| Uxui Principlessickn33/agentic-awesome-skills | 47k | 2 repos | ~548 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Html5 Semantic Elementsthedaviddias/Front-End-Checklist | 74k | — | ~449 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT |
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Questions about Elements Of Style
What does Elements Of Style do?
Applies Strunk's Elements of Style principles when writing or editing prose. Elements Of Style is an agent skill from VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan. Applies Strunk's Elements of Style principles when writing or editing prose.
How do I install Elements Of Style in Claude Code?
Run `npx skills add VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan --skill elements-of-style -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/elements-of-style in VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan) into .claude/skills/elements-of-style in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.
How do I install Elements Of Style in Codex?
Run `npx skills add VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan --skill elements-of-style -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/elements-of-style in VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan) into .agents/skills/elements-of-style in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.
Can I use Elements Of Style 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 VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan --skill elements-of-style -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/elements-of-style, .gemini/skills/elements-of-style, .github/skills/elements-of-style and .opencode/skills/elements-of-style in your project.
What does Elements Of Style need to run?
SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Elements Of Style is instructions for the agent only. Compatibility (from SKILL.md): Designed for Claude Code (or similar products).
Does Elements Of Style 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 Elements Of Style 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 Elements Of Style use?
Elements Of Style 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 Elements Of Style use?
About 775 tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 3.1k 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 Elements Of Style?
Skills that share tags, products or a category with Elements Of Style: Principle Redesign From First Principles (cursor/plugins, 11k stars), Decorative Elements (thedaviddias/Front-End-Checklist, 74k stars), Scaffold Element (remotion-dev/remotion, 63k stars) and Uxui Principles (sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills, 47k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.
Who maintains Elements Of Style?
VeryGoodOpenSource (a GitHub organization) maintains it in VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan, which has 109 GitHub stars. The repository holds 11 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on October 7, 2026.
Source: VeryGoodOpenSource/vgv-wingspan on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.