CPY-004
Context default
layer: section
Mechanism explains the promise
IF the promise is unfamiliar, counterintuitive, or in a sophisticated market, THEN explain why and how the offer produces the result ELSE keep the mechanism concise.
Why the rule exists
A mechanism converts a bare claim into an understandable causal story.
Condition
The rule fires when this evaluates true. Paths marked below must be present in the fact base; the engine reports the rest rather than guessing them.
- ANY
- copy.promise.familiarity eq "low"
- copy.promise.counterintuitive eq true
- market.sophistication in [high, very_high]
Facts this rule reads
| Path | Source |
|---|---|
copy.promise.familiarity |
You supply it |
copy.promise.counterintuitive |
You supply it |
market.sophistication |
You supply it |
Then
- insert — target
copy.mechanism
Else
- retain — target
current_text, No triggering condition is present.
LAKA
- Smallest sufficient intervention
- Yes
- Primary axes
Sources
-
Breakthrough Advertising — Eugene M. Schwartz
Market awareness, sophistication, desire, and message strategy. -
Scientific Advertising — Claude C. Hopkins
Testing, measurement, offers, and accountable advertising.
The raw rule record
Verbatim from 16-copywriting-rules.json. Also available at /v1/rules/CPY-004.
{
"id": "CPY-004",
"name": "Mechanism explains the promise",
"domain": "copywriting",
"layer": "section",
"strength": "context_default",
"human_logic": "IF the promise is unfamiliar, counterintuitive, or in a sophisticated market, THEN explain why and how the offer produces the result ELSE keep the mechanism concise.",
"when": {
"any": [
{
"path": "copy.promise.familiarity",
"operator": "eq",
"value": "low"
},
{
"path": "copy.promise.counterintuitive",
"operator": "eq",
"value": true
},
{
"path": "market.sophistication",
"operator": "in",
"value": [
"high",
"very_high"
]
}
]
},
"then": [
{
"action": "insert",
"target": "copy.mechanism",
"include": [
"cause",
"process",
"difference",
"boundary"
]
}
],
"else": [
{
"action": "retain",
"target": "current_text",
"reason": "No triggering condition is present."
}
],
"unless": [],
"because": "A mechanism converts a bare claim into an understandable causal story.",
"diagnostics": [],
"examples": {},
"source_ids": [
"BK-030",
"BK-033"
],
"laka": {
"smallest_sufficient_intervention": true,
"primary_axes": [
"scope",
"depth",
"magnitude",
"reversibility"
]
}
}
Other copywriting rules
- CPY-001 Start from market awareness IF writing persuasive copy, THEN classify the audience as unaware, problem-aware, solution-aware, product-aware, or most-aware before choosing the message ELSE request research. Hard constraint
- CPY-002 Match lead to awareness and evidence IF awareness is known, THEN select a lead type that bridges the reader’s current state to the offer ELSE do not default to a hype lead. Context default
- CPY-003 Headline makes one credible promise IF a headline is used, THEN make its audience relevance, benefit or curiosity, and credible scope legible ELSE revise. Hard constraint
- CPY-005 Translate feature into buyer outcome IF copy names a feature, THEN connect it to functional benefit, practical outcome, and relevant emotional meaning when supported ELSE remove the feature. Context default
- CPY-006 Specificity earns credibility IF a claim uses generic superiority language AND verifiable specifics exist, THEN replace the generic phrase with the relevant specific ELSE qualify or remove it. Heuristic
- CPY-007 Proof appears after or near the claim IF a material sales claim is made, THEN attach the strongest appropriate proof close to it ELSE weaken or remove the claim. Hard constraint
- CPY-008 Testimonial is real, typicality-aware, and specific IF a testimonial is used, THEN verify identity permission, authenticity, result context, and any required typicality disclosure ELSE remove it. Hard constraint
- CPY-009 Objection response names the real risk IF research shows a recurring material objection, THEN acknowledge it, answer with proof or terms, and preserve any legitimate limitation ELSE do not invent objections. Context default