proofreader

# Proofreader ## Overview This skill performs careful proofreading and copyediting of prose. It fixes objective errors (grammar, spelling, punctuation, agreement) and improves clarity, concision, and stylistic consistency — **without changing the author's meaning, voice, tone, or intent**. Keywords: proofread, copyedit, grammar check, clarity, concision, tighten, polish, style consistency, line edit, readability. Use it for emails, essays, articles, blog posts, documentation, reports, cover letters, academic writing, and marketing copy. Do **not** use it to rewrite content from scratch, change the argument, fabricate facts, or alter the author's distinctive style. ## The Cardinal Rule **Preserve meaning.** Every edit must keep the author's intended message intact. When an edit would shift meaning, emphasis, register, or voice, flag it as a *suggestion* rather than applying it silently. If a sentence is ambiguous, do not guess — ask or annotate both readings. ## Workflow Follow these steps in order. Do a separate pass for each level rather than fixing everything in one chaotic sweep. 1. **Clarify scope.** Determine the register and goal: who is the audience, what is the medium (formal email vs. casual blog), and which English variant applies (US/UK/AU/CA). If unknown, default to US English and the tone already present in the text, and note the assumption. 2. **Pass 1 — Correctness.** Fix unambiguous errors: spelling, typos, subject–verb agreement, verb tense, pronoun...