From 0d32da57bc051d23ee7bb44c1cf50a4dec98ff83 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Paul Bakaus Date: Wed, 20 May 2026 12:25:52 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] skill: strip example patterns from copy rules, strengthen gemini block MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit v3.2 rerun validation surfaced two issues: 1. Copy-slop detector fires more on Gemini under v3.2 (48% → 84%) than under no-skill baseline. Root cause: the anti-aphoristic-cadence rule printed the literal "X. No Y." / "X. Just Y." patterns as examples, and Gemini imitated them as the recommended voice. Same recipe-becomes- bias trap we hit with brand.md:116's "Enormous display type, unexpected italic cuts, mixed cases, hand-drawn headlines" enumeration. Fix: describe the cadence as a rhythm ("serious statement, then punchy short negation") without printing literal patterns. Buzzword list trimmed to a single inline phrase family rather than quoted strings. 2. Gemini image:hover transform Gemini-tell hadn't dropped (31% off → 32% v3.2). Strengthen the block: explicit "Never animate elements on hover", call out the Tailwind group-hover:scale / group-hover:rotate / group-hover:translate parent-hover patterns by name (Gemini was reaching for these via Tailwind even though the prior text talked about :hover on the image directly). Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) --- skill/SKILL.md | 6 +++--- 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-) diff --git a/skill/SKILL.md b/skill/SKILL.md index 035c9ff0c..ef2fb5554 100644 --- a/skill/SKILL.md +++ b/skill/SKILL.md @@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ Two hard typographic ceilings you currently miss: - Ease out with exponential curves (ease-out-quart / quint / expo). No bounce, no elastic. -**Gemini-specific defect.** Adding superfluous `:hover` transforms to images (`transform: scale(1.02-1.05)` or `rotate(N deg)` on `` elements) is your most common motion tell. Hover effects on images add no real information; the image isn't an action target. Don't add image-hover transforms by reflex. If a card containing an image needs hover feedback, animate the card chrome (subtle elevation, border treatment), not the image inside it. +**Gemini-specific defect — hard ban.** Never animate `` elements on hover. This includes any `transform` on `:hover` of an image, AND `.group:hover .group-hover\:scale` / `.group:hover .group-hover\:rotate` / `.group:hover .group-hover\:translate` patterns from Tailwind that animate a child image via a parent hover. This is your single most common motion tell — it adds no information (the image isn't an action target) and reads as "AI animated this because it could". If a card needs hover feedback, animate the card's background, border, or shadow. Never the image, never via the image's parent. ### Absolute bans @@ -135,8 +135,8 @@ Match-and-refuse. If you're about to write any of these, rewrite the element wit - Every word earns its place. No restated headings, no intros that repeat the title. - **No em dashes.** Use commas, colons, semicolons, periods, or parentheses. Also not `--`. -- **No aphoristic-cadence body copy as a default voice.** "Not a feature. A different architecture." / "X. No Y." / "X. Just Y." used as a recurring rhetorical pattern is the Stripe-Press / Klim cadence — once is voice, three or more times on a page is the AI-tell. If every section copy lands on a 2-3-word rebuttal sentence, rewrite. Specific, not aphoristic. -- **No SaaS buzzword strings.** "Streamline / empower / supercharge / unleash", "trusted by leading", "best-in-class / world-class / enterprise-grade / next-generation / cutting-edge", "leverage the power", "drive engagement/growth/results", "transform your business", "future-proof", "seamless experience", "game-changer", "mission-critical". Pick a specific noun and a verb that describes what the product literally does. +- **No aphoristic-cadence body copy as a default voice.** Don't fall into the rhythm of "serious statement, then punchy short negation" as the page's recurring voice. If three or more section copy blocks on the page land on a short rebuttal-shaped sentence, rewrite. Specific, not aphoristic. +- **No marketing buzzwords.** The streamline / empower / supercharge / leverage / unleash / transform / seamless / world-class / enterprise-grade / next-generation / cutting-edge / game-changer / mission-critical family of phrases. Pick a specific noun and a verb that describes what the product literally does. ### The AI slop test