stop-slop

<!-- Adapted from stop-slop (MIT © Hardik Pandya). Changes: added YAMTAM origin/Anti-Fake-Pass fields, integrated scoring rubric, added Vietnamese-language support notes. -->

When to Use

• Use when: output reads like a template ("It's worth noting that...", "In conclusion...")
• Use when: user says the copy sounds robotic, AI-generated, or stiff
• Use when: reviewing README, docs, blog posts, commit messages, PR descriptions
• Use when: prose has hedging language ("arguably", "quite", "somewhat", "perhaps")
• Do NOT use for: code comments, technical specs, log output

The 8 Rules

Rule 1 — Cut filler phrases Remove throat-clearing openers. Start with the point.

✗ "It's worth noting that performance improved significantly."
✓ "Performance improved 40%."

Rule 2 — Break formulas Avoid binary contrasts and rhetorical setups.

✗ "While X is important, Y is equally crucial."
✓ State X. State Y. Let the reader connect them.

Rule 3 — Active voice, human subjects

✗ "The function was refactored to improve readability."
✓ "I refactored the function — now it reads in one pass."

Rule 4 — Be specific, not vague

✗ "This approach offers significant benefits."
✓ "This cuts build time from 4 minutes to 40 seconds."

Rule 5 — Direct address, no narrator distance

✗ "Users may find it helpful to..."
✓ "Run this once to set it up."

Rule 6 — Vary rhythm Mix short and long sentences. Kill em-dashes. Kill semicolons used for drama. One idea per sentence is usually enough.

Rule 7 — Trust the reader State facts. Skip the softening.

✗ "This might be one way to consider approaching the problem."
✓ "Do X."

Rule 8 — No pull-quote sentences If a sentence reads like it belongs on a LinkedIn post, rewrite it.

✗ "Great teams move fast and stay aligned."
✓ [Delete. Say what your team actually does.]

Quick Scan Checklist

Before delivering any prose, scan for:

• Adverbs ("significantly", "essentially", "importantly", "notably")
• Passive constructions ("was done", "is considered", "has been implemented")
• Em-dashes used for drama (—)
• Vague quantifiers ("many", "various", "several", "numerous")
• Opening with "I" or "This" followed by a meta-statement about the content
• Sentences that start with "It is" / "There are" / "This is"

Scoring Rubric (35/50 = revision needed)

Dimension	1 (AI slop)	10 (human)
Directness	Hedged, passive, vague	Direct, active, specific
Rhythm	Uniform sentence length	Varied, natural cadence
Trust	Over-explains, softens	States facts, respects reader
Authenticity	Template language	Genuine voice
Density	Padded, filler words	Every word earns its place

Score each dimension 1–10. Total < 35 = rewrite.

Anti-Fake-Pass

❌ Removing one adverb and claiming the prose is clean
❌ Rewriting without reading the full piece first
❌ Applying rules mechanically without reading for flow
❌ Fixing one paragraph and ignoring the rest
✅ Score before and after using the 5-dimension rubric
✅ Read aloud — AI slop sounds different spoken