Docs-writer skill: Update language and style guide information.

This commit is contained in:
Jenna Inouye
2026-01-29 17:46:40 -08:00
parent de9251bcad
commit c0d52403b3
2 changed files with 19 additions and 101 deletions

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@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ approach.
- **Perspective and tense:** Address the reader as "you." Use active voice and
present tense (e.g., "The API returns...").
- **Tone:** Professional, friendly, and direct.
- **Clarity:** Use simple vocabulary. Avoid jargon, slang, and marketing.
- **Clarity:** Use simple vocabulary. Avoid jargon, slang, and marketing hype.
- **Global Audience:** Write in standard US English. Avoid idioms and cultural
references.
- **Requirements:** Be clear about requirements ("must") vs. recommendations
("we recommend"). Avoid "should."
- **Word Choice:** Avoid "please" and anthropomorphism (e.g., "the server
@@ -55,10 +57,13 @@ accessible.
`the Gemini CLI`).
- **Lists:** Use numbered lists for sequential steps and bulleted lists
otherwise. Keep list items parallel in structure.
- **UI & Code:** Use **bold** for UI elements and `code font` for filenames,
snippets, commands, and API elements.
- **UI and code:** Use **bold** for UI elements and `code font` for filenames,
snippets, commands, and API elements. Focus on the task when discussing
interaction.
- **Links:** Use descriptive anchor text; avoid "click here." Ensure the link
makes sense out of context.
- **Accessibility:** Use semantic HTML elements correctly (headings, lists,
tables).
- **Media:** Use lowercase hyphenated filenames. Provide descriptive alt text
for all images.
@@ -91,6 +96,8 @@ project's quality standards.
#### Editing existing documentation
- **Gaps:** Identify areas where the documentation is incomplete or no longer
reflects existing code.
- **Structure:** Apply "Structure (New Docs)" rules (BLUF, headings, etc.) when
adding new sections to existing pages.
- **Tone:** Ensure the tone is active and engaging. Use "you" and contractions.
- **Clarity:** Correct awkward wording, spelling, and grammar. Rephrase
sentences to make them easier for users to understand.
@@ -99,8 +106,12 @@ project's quality standards.
#### Structure (New Docs)
- **BLUF:** Start with an introduction explaining what to expect.
- **Experimental features:** If a feature is experimental, add the following
note immediately after the introductory paragraph:
`> **Note:** This feature is in preview and may be under active development.`
- **Headings:** Use hierarchical headings to support the user journey.
- **Procedures:**
- Introduce lists of steps with a complete sentence.
- Start each step with an imperative verb.
- Number sequential steps; use bullets for non-sequential lists.
- Put conditions before instructions (e.g., "On the Settings page, click...").
@@ -111,7 +122,8 @@ project's quality standards.
- **Next steps:** Conclude with a "Next steps" section if applicable.
#### Verification
- Ensure content accurately reflects the implementation.
- **Accuracy:** Ensure content accurately reflects the implementation and
technical behavior.
## Phase 4: Verification and finalization
Perform a final quality check to ensure that all changes are correctly formatted
@@ -120,4 +132,6 @@ and that all links are functional.
1. **Self-review:** Re-read changes for formatting, correctness, and flow.
2. **Link Check:** Verify all new and existing links leading to or from modified
pages.
3. **Format:** Propose `npm run format` after completing all changes.
3. **Format:** Once all changes are complete, ask to execute `npm run format`
to ensure consistent formatting across the project. If the user confirms,
execute the command.

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@@ -1,96 +0,0 @@
# Documentation style guide
## I. Core principles
1. **Clarity:** Write for easy understanding. Prioritize clear, direct, and
simple language.
2. **Consistency:** Use consistent terminology, formatting, and style
throughout the documentation.
3. **Accuracy:** Ensure all information is technically correct and up-to-date.
4. **Accessibility:** Design documentation to be usable by everyone. Focus on
semantic structure, clear link text, and image alternatives.
5. **Global audience:** Write in standard US English. Avoid slang, idioms, and
cultural references.
6. **Prescriptive:** Guide the reader by recommending specific actions and
paths, especially for complex tasks.
## II. Voice and tone
- **Professional yet friendly:** Maintain a helpful, knowledgeable, and
conversational tone without being frivolous.
- **Direct:** Get straight to the point. Keep paragraphs short and focused.
- **Second person:** Address the reader as "you."
- **Present tense:** Use the present tense to describe functionality (e.g., "The
API returns a JSON object.").
- **Avoid:** Jargon, slang, marketing hype, and overly casual language.
## III. Language and grammar
- **Active voice:** Prefer active voice over passive voice.
- _Example:_ "The system sends a notification." (Not: "A notification is sent
by the system.")
- **Contractions:** Use common contractions (e.g., "don't," "it's") to maintain
a natural tone.
- **Simple vocabulary:** Use common words. Define technical terms when
necessary.
- **Conciseness:** Keep sentences short and focused, but don't omit helpful
information.
- **"Please":** Avoid using the word "please."
## IV. Procedures and steps
- Start each step with an imperative verb (e.g., "Connect to the database").
- Number steps sequentially.
- Introduce lists of steps with a complete sentence.
- Put conditions before instructions, not after.
- Provide clear context for where the action takes place (e.g., "In the
administration console...").
- Indicate optional steps clearly (e.g., "Optional: ...").
## V. Formatting and punctuation
- **Text wrap:** Wrap all text at 80 characters, with exceptions for long links
or tables.
- **Headings, titles, and bold text:** Use sentence case. Structure headings
hierarchically.
- **Lists:** Use numbered lists for sequential steps and bulleted lists for all
other lists. Keep list items parallel in structure.
- **Serial comma:** Use the serial comma (e.g., "one, two, and three").
- **Punctuation:** Use standard American punctuation. Place periods inside
quotation marks.
- **Dates:** Use unambiguous date formatting (e.g., "January 22, 2026").
## VI. UI, code, and links
- **UI elements:** Put UI elements in **bold**. Focus on the task when
discussing interaction.
- **Code:** Use `code font` for filenames, code snippets, commands, and API
elements. Use code blocks for multi-line samples.
- **Links:** Use descriptive link text that indicates what the link leads to.
Avoid "click here."
## VII. Word choice and terminology
- **Consistent naming:** Use product and feature names consistently. Always
refer to Gemini CLI as `Gemini CLI`, never `the Gemini CLI`.
- **Specific verbs:** Use precise verbs.
- **Avoid:**
- Latin abbreviations (e.g., use "for example" instead of "e.g.").
- Placeholder names like "foo" and "bar" in examples; use meaningful names
instead.
- Anthropomorphism (e.g., "The server thinks...").
- "Should": Be clear about requirements ("must") vs. recommendations ("we
recommend").
## VIII. Files and media
- **Filenames:** Use lowercase letters, separate words with hyphens (-), and use
standard ASCII characters.
- **Images:** Provide descriptive alt text for all images. Provide
high-resolution or vector images when practical.
## IX. Accessibility quick check
- Provide descriptive alt text for images.
- Ensure link text makes sense out of context.
- Use semantic HTML elements correctly (headings, lists, tables).