Style Harmonizer (de-slot editor)

Purpose: remove subtle generator-voice signals that can survive structural gates.

This skill is not a full rewrite. It is a targeted rewrite queue:

• only touch the specific sections/*.md files flagged under ## Style Smells (non-blocking)
• keep facts and citation keys unchanged

Inputs

Required:

• output/WRITER_SELFLOOP_TODO.md (Style Smells section)
• the referenced sections/*.md files

Optional (helps you stay in-scope while rewriting):

• outline/writer_context_packs.jsonl (allowed citations + opener_mode hints)

Output

• Updated sections/*.md files (same filenames; still body-only; no headings)
• Re-running writer-selfloop is the audit trail (Style Smells should shrink).
• Optional (pipeline signal): create sections/style_harmonized.refined.ok (empty file) when you are done.

Role cards (use explicitly)

Style Harmonizer (editor)

Mission: remove slot phrases and stem repetition while keeping meaning unchanged.

Do:

• rewrite the surface form (opener/closer/cadence), not the claim
• keep each paragraph content-bearing (argument bridge, not navigation)
• prefer small local edits over global style refactors

Avoid:

• adding new factual claims or new citations
• moving citations to different paragraphs or different subsections
• rewriting a thin section instead of routing upstream for more evidence

Evidence Steward (skeptic)

Mission: prevent style work from becoming content drift.

Do:

• after each rewrite, spot-check that every cited claim still matches the same sentence
• if you feel forced to add new material to make prose sound better, stop and route upstream

Common style smells and how to fix them

1) Count-based opener slots (Two limitations..., Three takeaways...)

Why it is high-signal: it creates a reusable sentence slot that repeats across H3s.

Rewrite moves (choose one):

• Integrate the caveat into a contrast paragraph (last sentence): state the boundary that changes interpretation.
• Use a single caveat sentence opener (no counting): "A caveat is that ..." / "These results hinge on ..." / "Evidence is thin when ...".
• If enumeration is truly needed, hide the count: use two coordinated clauses in one sentence, or vary the syntax (do not repeat across sections).

Mini example (paraphrase only):

• Bad: Two limitations stand out. First, ...
• Better: A caveat is that ...; this matters because it changes how results transfer across protocols.

2) Reused discourse stems (The key point is that ...)

Rewrite moves:

• Replace with one of: "A practical implication is that ...", "One takeaway is that ...", "A useful way to read these results is ...".
• Change cadence: split into a short claim sentence plus a follow-up sentence with the condition/why.

3) Same opener cadence across many H3s

Rewrite moves:

• Switch opener mode for the section (tension-first / decision-first / protocol-first / contrast-first).
• Replace generic connectors (Additionally/Moreover) with content-bearing pivots ("At the protocol level, ...", "Under budget constraints, ...").

4) Overview / narration openers ("This section provides an overview ...")

Why it is high-signal: it reads like a generated ToC narration rather than a paper argument.

Rewrite moves:

• Replace "overview" narration with a content-bearing lens: tension/decision/failure/protocol/contrast.
• Keep the first sentence falsifiable: name the constraint and why it matters (not what you are about to do).

Mini example (paraphrase only):

• Bad: This section provides an overview of tool interfaces for agents.
• Better: Tool interfaces define what actions are executable; interface contracts therefore determine which evaluation claims transfer across environments.

Workflow (minimal)

1. Read output/WRITER_SELFLOOP_TODO.md

• Find ## Style Smells (non-blocking) and the file list.

2. Rewrite only the flagged files

• Make small edits: opener/closer stems, sentence shape, connector variety.
• If needed, consult outline/writer_context_packs.jsonl for opener_mode hints and to stay citation-scope safe while rewriting.
• Do not touch citation keys.

3. Re-run writer-selfloop

• Expect: PASS remains PASS.
• Expect: Style Smells section is shorter (or disappears).

Done checklist

• The same slot phrase does not repeat across multiple H3s (especially count-based openers).
• No citation keys were added/removed/moved.
• writer-selfloop still reports PASS, and Style Smells shrinks.