[
{
"id": "quietly-magic-adverbs",
"category": "word_choice",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["quietly", "deeply", "fundamentally", "remarkably", "arguably"],
"message": "Uses magic adverbs that inflate ordinary claims.",
"suggestion": "Cut the adverb or replace it with a concrete detail.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "\"Quietly\" and Other Magic Adverbs"
}
},
{
"id": "delve-and-friends",
"category": "word_choice",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "seed",
"patterns": [
"delve",
"delving",
"certainly",
"utilize",
"leverage",
"robust",
"streamline",
"harness"
],
"message": "Uses overworked AI-assistant vocabulary.",
"suggestion": "Use a plainer, more specific word.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "\"Delve\" and Friends"
}
},
{
"id": "tapestry-and-landscape",
"category": "word_choice",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["tapestry", "landscape", "paradigm", "synergy", "ecosystem", "framework"],
"message": "Uses ornate nouns where simpler terms are usually clearer.",
"suggestion": "Name the actual field, system, or relationship.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "\"Tapestry\" and \"Landscape\""
}
},
{
"id": "serves-as-dodge",
"category": "word_choice",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "seed",
"patterns": ["serves as", "stands as", "marks", "represents"],
"message": "Uses a pompous substitute for a direct verb.",
"suggestion": "Use `is`, `are`, or another direct verb where possible.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "The \"Serves As\" Dodge"
}
},
{
"id": "negative-parallelism",
"category": "sentence_structure",
"kind": "structure",
"severity": "high",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": [
"not X -- it's Y",
"not because X, but because Y",
"The question isn't X. The question is Y."
],
"message": "Uses a repeated negative reframe for false contrast.",
"suggestion": "State the real claim directly.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Negative Parallelism"
}
},
{
"id": "not-not-just",
"category": "sentence_structure",
"kind": "structure",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": [
"Not a bug. Not a feature. A fundamental design flaw.",
"Not ten. Not fifty.",
"not recklessly, not completely, but enough"
],
"message": "Builds drama through serial negation before the point.",
"suggestion": "Remove the countdown and make the claim once.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "\"Not X. Not Y. Just Z.\""
}
},
{
"id": "self-posed-question",
"category": "sentence_structure",
"kind": "structure",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["The result?", "The worst part?", "The scary part?"],
"message": "Asks and immediately answers a rhetorical question.",
"suggestion": "Fold the answer into a normal sentence.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "\"The X? A Y.\""
}
},
{
"id": "anaphora-abuse",
"category": "sentence_structure",
"kind": "structure",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["They assume that", "They could", "They have built"],
"message": "Repeats the same sentence opening in close succession.",
"suggestion": "Vary the sentence structure or combine related claims.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Anaphora Abuse"
}
},
{
"id": "tricolon-abuse",
"category": "sentence_structure",
"kind": "structure",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": [
"Products impress people; platforms empower them.",
"identity, payments, compute, distribution",
"workflows, decisions, and interactions"
],
"message": "Leans on repeated rule-of-three or extended list rhythm.",
"suggestion": "Use the list length the content actually needs.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Tricolon Abuse"
}
},
{
"id": "worth-noting",
"category": "sentence_structure",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "low",
"scope": "seed",
"patterns": [
"it's worth noting",
"it is worth noting",
"it bears mentioning",
"importantly",
"interestingly",
"notably"
],
"message": "Uses a filler transition instead of a real connection.",
"suggestion": "Delete the transition or connect the point to the previous sentence.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "\"It's Worth Noting\""
}
},
{
"id": "superficial-analyses",
"category": "sentence_structure",
"kind": "regex",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": [
"highlighting its importance",
"reflecting broader trends",
"contributing to the development",
"underscoring its role"
],
"message": "Adds a shallow participial analysis that does not explain much.",
"suggestion": "Replace the phrase with a concrete consequence or remove it.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Superficial Analyses"
}
},
{
"id": "false-ranges",
"category": "sentence_structure",
"kind": "structure",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": [
"From innovation to implementation",
"From the singularity of the Big Bang",
"From problem-solving and tool-making"
],
"message": "Uses a `from X to Y` range where the endpoints are not a real scale.",
"suggestion": "Use a direct list or name the actual range.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "False Ranges"
}
},
{
"id": "short-punchy-fragments",
"category": "paragraph_structure",
"kind": "structure",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": [
"He published this. Openly. In a book. As a priest.",
"Platforms do.",
"one thought per sentence"
],
"message": "Stacks short fragments for manufactured emphasis.",
"suggestion": "Combine fragments where they belong to the same thought.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Short Punchy Fragments"
}
},
{
"id": "listicle-in-a-trench-coat",
"category": "paragraph_structure",
"kind": "structure",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["The first", "The second", "The third", "The fourth"],
"message": "Uses listicle numbering while pretending to be continuous prose.",
"suggestion": "Use a real list or rewrite the section as connected prose.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Listicle in a Trench Coat"
}
},
{
"id": "heres-the-kicker",
"category": "tone",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": [
"here's the kicker",
"here's the thing",
"here's where it gets interesting",
"here's what most people miss",
"here's the starting point",
"here's the deal"
],
"message": "Uses a false suspense transition.",
"suggestion": "State the point without announcing a reveal.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "\"Here's the Kicker\""
}
},
{
"id": "teacher-voice",
"category": "tone",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "seed",
"patterns": ["think of it as", "think of it like", "it's like a", "its like a"],
"message": "Defaults to a patronizing explanatory analogy.",
"suggestion": "Use the direct explanation unless the analogy adds precision.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "\"Think of It As...\""
}
},
{
"id": "imagine-a-world",
"category": "tone",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["imagine a world where", "in that world"],
"message": "Uses a generic invitation to futurism.",
"suggestion": "Describe the actual scenario or outcome.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "\"Imagine a World Where...\""
}
},
{
"id": "false-vulnerability",
"category": "tone",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["and yes", "since we're being honest", "this is not a rant"],
"message": "Uses polished self-awareness as a credibility move.",
"suggestion": "Keep only the concrete admission or remove the aside.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "False Vulnerability"
}
},
{
"id": "truth-is-simple",
"category": "tone",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": [
"the reality is simpler",
"history is unambiguous",
"history is clear",
"the real story is"
],
"message": "Asserts clarity or privileged insight instead of proving the point.",
"suggestion": "Show the evidence and remove the announcement.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "\"The Truth Is Simple\""
}
},
{
"id": "grandiose-stakes-inflation",
"category": "tone",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["fundamentally reshape", "define the next era", "something entirely new"],
"message": "Inflates stakes beyond what the evidence supports.",
"suggestion": "Name the specific consequence and its scope.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Grandiose Stakes Inflation"
}
},
{
"id": "lets-break-this-down",
"category": "tone",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "low",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["let's break this down", "let's unpack", "let's explore", "let's dive in"],
"message": "Uses teacherly hand-holding.",
"suggestion": "Begin with the substance instead.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "\"Let's Break This Down\""
}
},
{
"id": "vague-attributions",
"category": "tone",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": [
"experts argue",
"industry reports suggest",
"observers have cited",
"several publications"
],
"message": "Attributes a claim to unnamed or vague sources.",
"suggestion": "Name the source or remove the attribution.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Vague Attributions"
}
},
{
"id": "invented-concept-labels",
"category": "tone",
"kind": "regex",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["supervision paradox", "acceleration trap", "workload creep"],
"message": "Uses an invented label as if it were an established concept.",
"suggestion": "Define the issue directly before naming it.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Invented Concept Labels"
}
},
{
"id": "em-dash-addiction",
"category": "formatting",
"kind": "document",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["--", "—"],
"message": "Uses many dash pivots or parenthetical interruptions.",
"suggestion": "Replace repeated dashes with commas, periods, or simpler sentence structure.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Em-Dash Addiction"
}
},
{
"id": "bold-first-bullets",
"category": "formatting",
"kind": "regex",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "seed",
"patterns": ["^-\\s+\\*\\*[^*]+\\*\\*:"],
"message": "Starts list items with the same bold-label pattern.",
"suggestion": "Use plain bullets or real section headings.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Bold-First Bullets"
}
},
{
"id": "unicode-decoration",
"category": "formatting",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "low",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["→"],
"message": "Uses decorative Unicode punctuation or arrows.",
"suggestion": "Use plain punctuation unless the symbol is meaningful.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Unicode Decoration"
}
},
{
"id": "fractal-summaries",
"category": "composition",
"kind": "document",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["In this section", "as we've seen in this section", "And so we return"],
"message": "Repeats preview-summary structure at multiple levels.",
"suggestion": "Remove summaries that do not add new information.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Fractal Summaries"
}
},
{
"id": "dead-metaphor",
"category": "composition",
"kind": "document",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["ecosystem", "walls", "doors", "primitives"],
"message": "Repeats one metaphor until it stops adding meaning.",
"suggestion": "Keep the best metaphor use and cut the rest.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "The Dead Metaphor"
}
},
{
"id": "historical-analogy-stacking",
"category": "composition",
"kind": "document",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": [
"Apple didn't build Uber",
"Every major technological shift",
"Take Spotify",
"Or consider Uber"
],
"message": "Stacks historical analogies to create false authority.",
"suggestion": "Use the single comparison that actually supports the argument.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Historical Analogy Stacking"
}
},
{
"id": "one-point-dilution",
"category": "composition",
"kind": "document",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["same point", "restated eight ways", "rephrases the thesis"],
"message": "Pads one argument through repeated reframing.",
"suggestion": "Cut repeated sections that do not add evidence.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "One-Point Dilution"
}
},
{
"id": "content-duplication",
"category": "composition",
"kind": "document",
"severity": "high",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": [
"same section appeared twice",
"word-for-word identical",
"same sentence reworded"
],
"message": "Repeats whole sections, paragraphs, or sentences.",
"suggestion": "Delete duplicated content and keep one version.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "Content Duplication"
}
},
{
"id": "signposted-conclusion",
"category": "composition",
"kind": "phrase",
"severity": "low",
"scope": "seed",
"patterns": ["in conclusion", "to sum up", "in summary"],
"message": "Announces the conclusion instead of letting the structure close.",
"suggestion": "Start the final point directly.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "The Signposted Conclusion"
}
},
{
"id": "despite-its-challenges",
"category": "composition",
"kind": "structure",
"severity": "medium",
"scope": "catalog",
"patterns": ["Despite its", "faces challenges", "Despite these challenges"],
"message": "Uses a rigid concession followed by an optimistic dismissal.",
"suggestion": "Handle the tradeoff directly and avoid the stock turn.",
"source": {
"file": "tropes.md",
"heading": "\"Despite Its Challenges...\""
}
}
]