CPY-014
Hard constraint
layer: section
Guarantee states enforceable terms
IF a guarantee is offered, THEN state coverage, duration, request process, exclusions, remedy, and jurisdictional limits ELSE do not rely on vague risk reversal.
Why the rule exists
A guarantee reduces risk only when the buyer can understand and use it.
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.
- copy.guarantee.exists eq true
Facts this rule reads
| Path | Source |
|---|---|
copy.guarantee.exists |
You supply it |
Then
- complete — target
copy.guarantee
Else
- retain — target
current_text, No triggering condition is present.
LAKA
- Smallest sufficient intervention
- Yes
- Primary axes
Sources
-
The Ultimate Sales Letter — Dan S. Kennedy
Direct-response structure, offer presentation, and action. -
Advertising and Marketing Basics — U.S. Federal Trade Commission
link
Advertising claims must be truthful, non-deceptive, fair, and appropriately substantiated.
The raw rule record
Verbatim from 16-copywriting-rules.json. Also available at /v1/rules/CPY-014.
{
"id": "CPY-014",
"name": "Guarantee states enforceable terms",
"domain": "copywriting",
"layer": "section",
"strength": "hard_constraint",
"human_logic": "IF a guarantee is offered, THEN state coverage, duration, request process, exclusions, remedy, and jurisdictional limits ELSE do not rely on vague risk reversal.",
"when": {
"path": "copy.guarantee.exists",
"operator": "eq",
"value": true
},
"then": [
{
"action": "complete",
"target": "copy.guarantee",
"fields": [
"coverage",
"duration",
"request_process",
"exclusions",
"remedy",
"jurisdictional_limits"
]
}
],
"else": [
{
"action": "retain",
"target": "current_text",
"reason": "No triggering condition is present."
}
],
"unless": [],
"because": "A guarantee reduces risk only when the buyer can understand and use it.",
"diagnostics": [],
"examples": {},
"source_ids": [
"BK-034",
"WEB-012"
],
"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-004 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. Context default
- 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