Every rule, and how hard it binds

20 rules match. Clear filters

1. GRM-006 Stable grammatical person IF a passage shifts person without changing speaker, audience, or viewpoint, THEN restore the established person ELSE preserve the motivated shift. Context default
2. SYN-003 Prefer visible actor–action order IF the reader must act or identify responsibility AND no stronger reason favors passive voice, THEN place the actor before the action ELSE retain. Context default
3. SYN-004 Use passive voice for a reason IF a clause is passive, THEN retain it only when the receiver is the topic, the actor is unknown or irrelevant, blame should be softened, or domain convention requires it ELSE convert to active. Context default
4. SYN-005 Put conditions before instructions IF an instruction applies only under a condition, THEN state the condition before the imperative ELSE give the action directly. Context default
5. STR-012 Introduce lists with a clear purpose IF a list appears, THEN make its category or task clear in a heading or lead-in ELSE retain. Context default
6. STR-013 Use numbered lists for order or rank IF list order changes meaning, sequence, priority, or reference, THEN number the items ELSE use bullets or a table. Context default
7. CLR-002 Define necessary jargon IF a domain term is necessary AND the intended reader may not know it, THEN define it at first use and use it consistently ELSE replace it with plain language. Context default
8. CLR-003 Expand unfamiliar abbreviations IF an abbreviation is not universally familiar to the audience, THEN spell it out at first use and pair it with the abbreviation ELSE retain. Context default
9. CLR-017 Make dates and units unambiguous IF a date, time, quantity, currency, or unit could be interpreted differently by locale, THEN use an unambiguous format and label ELSE retain. Hard constraint
10. CLR-019 Prefer literal language in critical content IF content is safety-critical, translated, or for a broad cognitive-accessibility audience, THEN replace figurative idiom with literal language ELSE retain purposeful imagery. Context default
11. VOI-001 Declare voice before polishing IF a document lacks a voice profile, THEN define relationship, formality, energy, warmth, confidence, and permitted vocabulary ELSE use the profile. Context default
12. VOI-002 Tone responds to reader state IF reader emotion changes, THEN adjust directness, warmth, pace, and reassurance without changing facts ELSE maintain baseline tone. Context default
13. VOI-003 Address the reader directly in instructions IF the reader performs the action, THEN use an imperative or YOU; do not call the reader THE USER ELSE name the actual actor. Context default
14. VOI-012 Avoid institutional self-centering IF WE/OUR language displaces the reader’s need or action, THEN rewrite around the reader or subject ELSE retain clear author responsibility. Heuristic
15. TEC-006 Imperative starts the step IF the reader performs a procedural action, THEN start with a specific imperative verb and name the object ELSE name the actual actor. Context default
16. TEC-012 Interface labels match exactly IF documentation names a visible label, command, field, endpoint, or code identifier, THEN match its current spelling and capitalization exactly ELSE flag version mismatch. Hard constraint
17. TEC-015 Version-sensitive statement declares scope IF behavior varies by version, platform, plan, locale, or configuration, THEN state the applicable scope beside the claim ELSE retain. Hard constraint
18. TEC-017 Terms and examples globalize safely IF content will be translated or read globally, THEN avoid culture-bound idioms, ambiguous dates, concatenated fragments, and unstable synonyms ELSE retain. Context default
19. ACC-011 Respect user dignity IF language stereotypes, infantilizes, blames, or defines people solely by a condition without contextual reason, THEN replace it with accurate respectful language ELSE retain self-identified terms. Hard constraint
20. ETH-011 No discriminatory default IF examples, labels, or rules assign capability, risk, role, or worth by protected or irrelevant identity, THEN remove the inference and audit downstream rules ELSE retain identity only when relevant and responsibly handled. Hard constraint