AP Style and Writing Skill Skill

AP Style and Writing Skill

Overview

The AP Style and Writing skill provides AP style compliance, grammar checking, and PR writing assistance capabilities. This skill enables professional-grade PR content creation that meets journalism standards and maintains brand consistency.

Capabilities

Style Compliance

AP Stylebook integration
Real-time style checking
Industry-specific style rules
Company style guide integration
Style exception management

Grammar and Quality

Grammar and readability analysis
Sentence structure optimization
Passive voice detection
Jargon and complexity flagging
Tone consistency checking

Press Release Writing

Press release template library
Headline optimization
Lead paragraph structure
Quote formatting validation
Boilerplate management

Brand Consistency

Brand voice consistency checking
Key message integration
Approved terminology enforcement
Competitor name handling
Product name consistency

Compliance and Risk

Legal/compliance flag detection
Disclaimer requirement checking
SEC disclosure compliance
Trademark and copyright handling
Fact-checking reminders

Usage

Style Check Configuration

const styleCheckConfig = {
  baseStyle: 'AP-Stylebook-2026',
  customRules: {
    companyName: {
      correct: 'Company X',
      incorrect: ['CompanyX', 'Company-X', 'company x']
    },
    productNames: {
      'ProductOne': { trademark: true, firstUseTM: true },
      'ProductTwo': { trademark: false }
    },
    executiveTitles: {
      pattern: 'lowercase-after-name',
      examples: 'Jane Doe, chief executive officer'
    },
    numbers: 'spell-out-under-10',
    dates: 'month-day-year'
  },
  voiceGuidelines: {
    tone: 'professional-but-accessible',
    perspective: 'third-person',
    passiveVoiceLimit: 10,
    jargonLevel: 'minimize'
  },
  complianceRules: {
    forwardLooking: { required: true, template: 'standard-disclaimer' },
    financialDisclosure: { secCompliant: true },
    legalReview: { triggers: ['lawsuit', 'litigation', 'settlement'] }
  }
};

Content Review

const contentReview = {
  document: 'press-release-draft.md',
  results: {
    styleIssues: [
      { line: 5, issue: 'Numbers: "8" should be "eight"', severity: 'style' },
      { line: 12, issue: 'Date format: Use "Feb. 15, 2026"', severity: 'style' },
      { line: 18, issue: 'Company name: Use "Company X" not "Company-X"', severity: 'brand' }
    ],
    grammarIssues: [
      { line: 8, issue: 'Passive voice: Consider active construction', severity: 'suggestion' },
      { line: 22, issue: 'Run-on sentence: Consider splitting', severity: 'warning' }
    ],
    readability: {
      fleschKincaid: 10.2,
      target: 8.0,
      recommendation: 'Simplify for broader audience'
    },
    compliance: [
      { issue: 'Forward-looking statement detected', action: 'Add safe harbor disclaimer' }
    ],
    brandConsistency: {
      keyMessages: { present: 2, expected: 3 },
      toneScore: 85,
      voiceConsistency: 'good'
    }
  },
  summary: {
    totalIssues: 7,
    critical: 0,
    warnings: 3,
    suggestions: 4,
    overallScore: 82
  }
};

Process Integration

This skill integrates with the following PR processes:

| Process | Integration Points | |---------|-------------------| | press-release-development.js | Writing and editing | | corporate-messaging-architecture.js | Message consistency | | csr-communications.js | Report writing | | internal-communications-strategy.js | Internal content |

Best Practices

Style First: Apply AP style consistently throughout
Headline Power: Spend extra time on headline optimization
Lead Strong: Front-load key information in first paragraph
Quote Quality: Ensure quotes add value and sound natural
Readability Focus: Write for your audience's level
Review Process: Always use multiple review passes

Metrics and KPIs

| Metric | Description | Target | |--------|-------------|--------| | Style Compliance | AP style adherence | >95% | | Readability Score | Flesch-Kincaid grade | Audience-appropriate | | Brand Consistency | Message and voice alignment | >90% | | Error Rate | Errors per document | <1 per page | | Review Efficiency | Time to publication-ready | Improving |

Related Skills

SK-003: Media Database (journalist preferences)
SK-004: Press Release Distribution (publication)
SK-007: Internal Comms Platform (internal content)

Agent Skills: AP Style and Writing Skill

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