Can I use this for commit messages?

Yes, it is ideal for making commit messages and pull request descriptions more professional and easier for team members to read.

Why does it mention consuming 12,000 tokens?

The skill can optionally include the comprehensive 'elements-of-style.md' guide to provide deep context; it is recommended to use the 'lightweight mode' for simple tasks to conserve tokens.

What is the Elements of Style skill?

It is a specialized capability for Claude Code that applies classic writing principles to improve the clarity and conciseness of your documentation and communications.

Does this work for UI text?

Absolutely. It is highly effective for refining UI copy, help text, and error messages to be more direct and user-friendly.

How do I trigger a deep audit?

You can instruct Claude to use the 'Deep Mode' by explicitly asking it to read the full elements-of-style.md file before refining important documents or final reports.

Elements of Style

Name: Elements of Style
Author: penkzhou

bypenkzhou

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Learning & Documentation

Refines and polishes technical documentation, commit messages, and comments using classic Strunk & White writing principles.

This skill integrates the timeless principles of William Strunk Jr.'s 'The Elements of Style' directly into your development workflow to ensure all human-facing text is clear, concise, and professional. Whether you are drafting a README, explaining a complex Pull Request, or writing UI copy, the skill applies rigorous rules such as using the active voice, deleting needless words, and prioritizing specific language. It offers both a lightweight mode for quick fixes and a deep audit mode for high-stakes documentation, ensuring your technical communication is as clean as your code.

Key Features

01Optimizes commit messages, PR descriptions, and code comments for human readability

02Applies Strunk & White's 'The Elements of Style' rules to technical writing

03Improves clarity by enforcing active voice and positive phrasing

04Reduces wordiness and eliminates redundant expressions

05Offers specialized modes for lightweight edits or comprehensive document audits

061 GitHub stars

Use Cases

01Polishing README files and technical documentation for clarity and impact

02Reviewing and improving UI copy, error messages, and in-code explanations

03Drafting professional and concise pull request descriptions and commit messages

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add penkzhou/swiss-army-knife-plugin elements-of-style

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill