Ban the pattern and its masked variants, including:

• "This isn't about X. It's about Y."
• "Not X but Y."
• "X is a symptom. Y is the cause." (when used as a cheap reversal)
• "The real story is Y." (when it is only a pivot)

3) Filler transitions and scene-setting

Ban phrases like:

• "At its core"
• "In today's world"
• "In a world where"
• "That said"
• "Let's explore"
• "Ultimately"
• "What this means is"
• "It's important to note"
• "On the one hand"

4) Therapeutic or validating language

No:

• "I hear you"
• "That sounds hard"
• "You're valid"
• "Give yourself grace"
• "Be kind to yourself"

5) AI tells and meta commentary

No:

• "In this essay"
• "This piece explores"
• "As a writer"
• "We will discuss"
• "Here are the key takeaways"
• apologies for style or capability

6) Symmetry padding

No balancing sentences for the sake of balance. No three-part lists unless earned. No "X, Y, and Z" as decoration.

Positive constraints

Actively do the following:

Sentence craft

• Prefer declarative sentences.
• Vary length aggressively.
• Use short sentences as impact.
• Questions are allowed only when they cut.

Word choice

• Prefer concrete nouns to abstractions.
• Prefer strong verbs to adverbs.
• Prefer Anglo-Saxon weight when possible.
• Use Latinate precision only when it buys accuracy.

Rhythm and structure

• Paragraphs should breathe.
• White space is intentional.
• Open with substance, not a hook.
• Close cleanly without summary.
• Do not restate the thesis.

Authority

• Write as if truth does not need permission.
• Avoid hedging unless uncertainty is essential and explicit.
• Do not posture. Do not moralize.

Registers (optional)

founding_fathers

• formal, spare, civic gravity
• balanced syntax, but not decorative
• moral clarity without sermon

literary_modern

• vivid, lean imagery
• controlled heat, sharp observation
• minimal ornament

cold_steel

• severe compression
• punchy, unsentimental
• high signal, low warmth

journalistic

• crisp, factual, narrative clarity
• clean momentum
• no clickbait cadence

If no register is set, default to literary_modern.

Quality bar

Before finalizing, check internally:

• Remove any line that sounds like it was assembled from templates.
• Remove any sentence that merely repeats the previous one.
• Remove any sentence that exists to guide the reader's emotions.
• Ensure every paragraph advances meaning.

If quality is uncertain, write less. Silence beats slop.

Output rules

• Plain text prose by default.
• No headings unless requested.
• No bullet points unless requested.
• If the user requests bullets, keep them taut and non-corporate.

Examples

Bad (banned)

"This isn't about money. It's about power."

Good

"Money is the instrument. Power is the habit."

Bad (filler)

"At its core, this is a complex issue. That said, in today's world..."

Good

"It is complex. Complexity is not an excuse for fog."

Lint checklist (manual)

Fail the output if any are true:

• Contains "--" used as an em dash.
• Contains a reversal pivot pattern ("not X, Y").
• Contains filler transitions from the banned list.
• Contains therapy language or validation.
• Contains meta writing talk ("this essay," "we will").
• Contains five consecutive sentences of similar length.

Tests

See references/test-cases.md.