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The Preferent catalogue

The writing habits Preferent marks in model replies.

Preferent Inc. maintains the catalogue. Each of the 19 habits has a definition, a yes/no test, pairs of the text you mark and the text you prefer, and examples that are fine as written. The catalogue also lists 3 reply preferences, such as information density, that you set in your own style guide.

Use it in your toolsRead the habits

Frame

Habits in how a reply opens and closes. 2 habits.

  1. 01

    Wrapper

    Tier 1

    The writer opens or closes the reply with text that announces the answer, restates it, or offers more help, before or after the answer itself.

    Mark

    Here's a quick overview of the museum hours. The museum opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays.

    Prefer

    The museum opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Could you delete the first or last sentence and lose no information the reader asked for?
    Why it matters
    The reader reads past the wrapper to find the answer, and across a long thread the extra reading adds up.
    More examples

    Mark

    A missing null check caused the crash. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

    Prefer

    A missing null check caused the crash.

    Mark

    To answer your question about rice, use two cups of water per cup of rice.

    Prefer

    Use two cups of water per cup of rice.

    Fine as written
    • Two settings changed in the release: the font size and the theme.
    • If the build fails again, send me the full log.
    1. 01a

      Praise opener

      A kind of Wrapper. Tier 1

      The writer opens by praising the question or the reader, or by agreeing with a correction, before giving any content.

      Mark

      Great question! The train from Rome to Florence takes about 90 minutes.

      Prefer

      The train from Rome to Florence takes about 90 minutes.

      The test, why it matters, and more examples
      Test
      Does the first sentence compliment the reader or the question, or announce agreement, before any fact?
      Why it matters
      When every reply opens with praise, the reader gains no information from the praise and stops trusting it.
      More examples

      Mark

      You're absolutely right, the loop starts at 1. I'll change it to start at 0.

      Prefer

      The loop starts at 1, so I'll change it to start at 0.

      Mark

      What a thoughtful plan! Two changes would make the route shorter.

      Prefer

      Two changes would make the route shorter.

      Fine as written
      • Asked whether the meeting movedYes. The meeting moved to Thursday.
      • Thanks for the log. The token expired at 9:02.

Sentence shape

Habits in how a sentence is built. 10 habits.

  1. 02

    Contrastive negation

    Tier 1

    The writer denies a claim that nobody made, then states the real point.

    Mark

    The meeting wasn't about the budget. It was about the timeline.

    Prefer

    The team spent the meeting on the timeline.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Does a sentence deny something the reader did not say or assume, only to set up the claim that follows?
    Why it matters
    The reader reads a false claim first and then the true one, so one point takes two sentences.
    More examples

    Mark

    The pull request isn't just a bug fix. It's a rewrite of the parser.

    Prefer

    The pull request fixes the bug and also rewrites the parser.

    Mark

    It's not that the soil is poor. The plants need more light.

    Prefer

    The plants need more light.

    Fine as written
    • Asked whether the function changes its inputNo, the function does not change its input. It returns a copy.
    • The API does not support batch requests, so send one request per record.
    1. 02a

      Rather than

      A kind of Contrastive negation. Tier 2

      The writer names an option that nobody proposed, with rather than or instead of, so the chosen option sounds deliberate.

      Mark

      We met at the library rather than the café.

      Prefer

      We met at the library.

      The test, why it matters, and more examples
      Test
      Does rather than or instead of name an option the reader did not propose, ask about, or need to rule out? A reply to a reader who asked which option to choose, or who named both options, passes. One use can be fine, so count the uses: several on one page show the habit.
      Why it matters
      The reader stops to weigh an option nobody raised, and after several uses on one page the reader takes the phrase as machine text.
      More examples

      Mark

      I wrote the notes in a shared doc rather than an email.

      Prefer

      I wrote the notes in a shared doc.

      Mark

      I listed the habit in Sentence shape at priority 2, next to Dash aside rather than under it.

      Prefer

      I listed the habit in Sentence shape at priority 2, next to Dash aside.

      Fine as written
      • Asked whether to use a map or a listUse a map rather than a list here, because most of the calls are lookups.
      • Asked whether to fly or take the trainTake the train rather than the plane, because the train is faster door to door.
  2. 03

    Slogan line

    Tier 2

    The writer punctuates a point with a short quotable sentence, a fragment, or a question they answer at once, and adds no new fact.

    Mark

    We cut the build from ten minutes to two. Speed matters.

    Prefer

    We cut the build from ten minutes to two.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Is there a fragment, a sentence of a few words, or a self-answered question that gives the reader no fact they did not already have?
    Why it matters
    The reader gets the point twice, the second time in the tone of an advertisement.
    More examples

    Mark

    The result? Fewer support tickets.

    Prefer

    The result was fewer support tickets.

    Mark

    Book the train early. Fares increase each week. Simple as that.

    Prefer

    Book the train early, because fares increase each week.

    Fine as written
    • Asked whether the pool opens on SundaysYes.
    • Doors open at 7.
  3. 04

    Hedge stack

    Tier 2

    The writer qualifies one claim with two or more hedges, or opens with a phrase such as it's worth noting that.

    Mark

    It's worth noting that the museum is closed on Mondays.

    Prefer

    The museum is closed on Mondays.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Does one claim have more than one qualifier (may, might, could, potentially, generally, arguably, somewhat), or open with a phrase that only announces the claim?
    Why it matters
    The reader cannot tell how sure the writer is, and the claim takes longer to read.
    More examples

    Mark

    The patch could potentially slow down some large uploads.

    Prefer

    The patch could slow down some large uploads.

    Mark

    Generally speaking, tomatoes tend to prefer full sun.

    Prefer

    Tomatoes prefer full sun.

    Fine as written
    • The flight may leave late if the storm reaches Denver.
  4. 05

    Indirect errand

    Tier 2

    The writer reports an action that they did, or that a helper finished for them, as a request, an arrangement, or a passive with no actor, so the reader cannot tell who did it or whether it happened.

    Context: The subagent had already updated the tests.

    Mark

    I asked a subagent to update the tests.

    Prefer

    A subagent updated the tests.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Did the writer or their helper finish the action, and does the sentence hide that behind asked for, had it done, or a passive with no actor? A request that is still open passes.
    Why it matters
    The reader cannot tell whether the work is done or whom to ask about it.
    More examples

    Context: The writer had sent them.

    Mark

    I asked for the action items to be sent to everyone.

    Prefer

    I sent the action items to everyone.

    Mark

    The tests have been run and the config has been updated.

    Prefer

    I ran the tests and updated the config.

    Mark

    I'll have the booking changed to Friday.

    Prefer

    I'll change the booking to Friday.

    Fine as written
    • The subagent is still runningI asked a subagent to update the tests, and I'll report back when it finishes.
    • I asked Dana to review the pull request.
    • The bridge was built in 1932.
  5. 06

    Eternal is

    Tier 3

    The writer uses is or are to equate a subject with something it only contains, causes, resembles, or belongs to, so the sentence reads as a permanent definition.

    Mark

    A good summary is the decisions, the owners, and the dates.

    Prefer

    A good summary lists the decisions, the owners, and the dates.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    If you read the is as equals, does the sentence become false?
    Why it matters
    The reader takes a loose relation for a definition and may repeat it as one.
    More examples

    Mark

    Documentation is a conversation with your future self.

    Prefer

    Documentation helps your future self understand old decisions.

    Mark

    Good onboarding is the first week.

    Prefer

    Good onboarding happens in the first week.

    Fine as written
    • The bottleneck is the database query on the orders page.
    • The meeting is at 3 p.m.
  6. 07

    Present-tense drone

    Tier 3

    The writer narrates a specific past or planned event in the simple present, so a finished or future action reads like a standing fact.

    Mark

    Earlier I open the config, find the wrong port, and fix it.

    Prefer

    Earlier I opened the config, found the wrong port, and fixed it.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Does a simple-present verb describe a specific event that already happened or has not happened yet?
    Why it matters
    The reader cannot tell whether the action is done, under way, or a rule.
    More examples

    Mark

    Next week I update the docs and ship the release.

    Prefer

    Next week I will update the docs and ship the release.

    Fine as written
    • This pull request adds a retry to the upload step.
    • The store opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays.
  7. 08

    Reflex triplet

    Tier 3

    The writer lists three adjectives, nouns, or clauses out of habit, where the content supports one or two distinct items.

    Mark

    The new layout is clean, simple, and intuitive.

    Prefer

    The new layout is simple.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Could you drop one item from a list of three and lose no distinct fact?
    Why it matters
    The reader expects three separate points and finds one point repeated.
    More examples

    Mark

    The guide covers setup, configuration, and installation.

    Prefer

    The guide covers installation and configuration.

    Mark

    The cabin is quiet, peaceful, and calm.

    Prefer

    The cabin is quiet.

    Fine as written
    • The kit includes a tent, a stove, and a water filter.
  8. 09

    Dash aside

    Tier 3

    The writer uses an em dash to splice an aside, a list, or a reveal into a sentence where a comma, a colon, or a new sentence would work.

    Mark

    The fix was simple — a missing semicolon.

    Prefer

    The fix was simple: a missing semicolon.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Does a sentence contain an em dash that a period, comma, or colon could replace with no change in meaning?
    Why it matters
    The dash interrupts the sentence, and many readers now take a reply full of dashes as machine text.
    More examples

    Mark

    Three cities — Lyon, Nice, and Lille — had delays.

    Prefer

    Three cities had delays: Lyon, Nice, and Lille.

    Mark

    We shipped on time — barely.

    Prefer

    We shipped on time, but barely.

    Fine as written
    • Read pages 10–14 before Monday.
  9. 10

    Dot chain

    Tier 2

    The writer joins labels, values, or clauses with middots (·), vertical bars, or a run of em dashes in place of a sentence, a list, or labelled fields.

    Mark

    Lisbon · 3 nights · €420 · breakfast included

    Prefer

    The Lisbon hotel costs €420 for three nights, with breakfast included.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Does a separator such as ·, |, or an em dash join items of different kinds, such as a status, a date, and a count, with no label or verb to say what each item is? Items of one kind, such as the links in a footer or the pages in a breadcrumb, pass.
    Why it matters
    The reader has to work out what each item is and how it relates to the next, and many readers now take a reply full of middots as machine text.
    More examples

    Mark

    Fixed the login bug · added tests · deployed to staging

    Prefer

    I fixed the login bug, added tests, and deployed the fix to staging.

    Mark

    Classifier · claude-haiku-4.5 · set1 · n=12

    Prefer

    Classifier run: Claude Haiku 4.5 on 12 sentences from set 1.

    Fine as written
    • Footer linksPrivacy · Terms
    • Page breadcrumbSettings / Billing / Invoices

Word choice

Habits in the choice of a single word. 5 habits.

  1. 11

    Empty pointer

    Tier 1

    The writer uses this, that, or a phrase such as the thing or the key without a noun, so the reader has to reconstruct what the word refers to.

    Mark

    The tests pass on Linux but fail on macOS. That is the thing to fix first.

    Prefer

    The tests pass on Linux but fail on macOS. I would fix the macOS failure first.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Does a bare this or that, or a phrase such as the thing, the key, or the part, refer to an idea the reader has to rebuild from earlier or later text?
    Why it matters
    The reader stops to work out the referent and sometimes picks the wrong one.
    More examples

    Mark

    Here's the thing: the oven runs hot.

    Prefer

    The oven runs hot.

    Mark

    We moved the standup to 10 a.m. This should help.

    Prefer

    We moved the standup to 10 a.m. The later start should help.

    Fine as written
    • This function returns null when the list is empty.
    • Restart the router, and then check that the light turns green.
  2. 12

    Inflated word

    Tier 1

    The writer picks a formal or elevated word where a plain word means the same thing, such as delve, leverage, utilize, robust, seamless, pivotal, or crucial.

    Mark

    Let's delve into the error log.

    Prefer

    Let's look at the error log.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Can you swap a word for a plainer, shorter word with the same meaning and lose nothing?
    Why it matters
    Elevated words add syllables, and readers now read them as a sign of machine text.
    More examples

    Mark

    We leverage a cache to reduce load times.

    Prefer

    We use a cache to reduce load times.

    Mark

    The new form makes signup seamless.

    Prefer

    The new form makes signup quick.

    Mark

    It is crucial that you preheat the oven.

    Prefer

    You need to preheat the oven.

    Fine as written
    • The model reports robust standard errors for each coefficient.
  3. 13

    Broad word

    Tier 2

    The writer uses a general word such as thing, aspect, element, factor, issue, or signal where the context already supplies a more specific term.

    Mark

    The signal from the survey was positive.

    Prefer

    The survey responses were positive.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Is there a more specific word the writer could use here, and does the surrounding text already supply it?
    Why it matters
    The reader has to guess which specific item the general word stands for.
    More examples

    Mark

    We need to look at a few aspects of the plan: cost and timing.

    Prefer

    We need to look at the plan's cost and timing.

    Mark

    Check the numbers each week to stay under the budget.

    Prefer

    Check the monthly spend each week to stay under the budget.

    Fine as written
    • Is there anything else in the box?
    • The factor of two accounts for the round trip.
    1. 13a

      Physical stand-in

      A kind of Broad word. Tier 2

      The writer uses a word for a physical object or quality, such as shape, surface, layer, lever, anchor, texture, or weight, to name an abstract relation.

      Mark

      The shape of the answer depends on your budget.

      Prefer

      The amount of detail in the answer depends on your budget.

      The test, why it matters, and more examples
      Test
      Does a word whose literal meaning is a physical object or property describe an idea, a plan, or a piece of writing?
      Why it matters
      The reader pictures the object first and then has to work out which abstract property the writer meant.
      More examples

      Mark

      Pricing is our biggest lever for growth.

      Prefer

      A price change would increase growth more than any other change we can make.

      Mark

      The survey surfaced three complaints.

      Prefer

      Respondents raised three complaints in the survey.

      Fine as written
      • Sand the surface of the table before you paint it.
  4. 14

    Narrow word

    Tier 3

    The writer names one part or one instance, such as a line, a word, or a click, when the claim applies to the whole text, reply, or action.

    Mark

    Send me any line you want changed.

    Prefer

    Send me any text you want changed.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Does the writer mean the whole that the narrow word belongs to?
    Why it matters
    The reader takes the claim literally and applies it only to the smaller unit.
    More examples

    Mark

    I edited the sentence you flagged in the second section.

    Prefer

    I edited the paragraph you flagged in the second section.

    Fine as written
    • Line 12 has a typo.

Figure

Habits in figures of speech. 2 habits.

  1. 15

    Inanimate overload

    Tier 2

    The writer gives a non-human subject a verb of speech, feeling, intent, posture, or carrying that only a person or an animal can do.

    Mark

    The data tells a clear story about churn.

    Prefer

    Churn has a clear pattern in the data.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Does a document, object, idea, or piece of code speak, want, feel, sit, carry, hold, or live, where a literal verb would state the same fact?
    Why it matters
    The reader translates the figure back into a literal claim, and the figure often hides who acted.
    More examples

    Mark

    The new doc speaks to every open question.

    Prefer

    The new doc includes an answer to every open question.

    Mark

    These notes carry every decision from the meeting.

    Prefer

    These notes list every decision from the meeting.

    Mark

    The recipe wants a pinch of salt at the end.

    Prefer

    The recipe includes a pinch of salt at the end.

    Fine as written
    • The function returns a list of users.
    • The thermostat holds the room at 20 degrees.
  2. 16

    Place figure

    Tier 2

    The writer treats an idea, a text, a topic, or a conversation as a place that someone enters, stays in, moves through, or leaves.

    Mark

    The thread is a conversation you can stay in.

    Prefer

    You can keep replying to the thread.

    The test, why it matters, and more examples
    Test
    Does a place noun (space, landscape, realm, world, journey) or a movement verb (stay, go, come, dive, navigate, land) describe something with no location? Rooms, routes, menus, and screens have a location.
    Why it matters
    The reader pictures a place that does not exist, and the literal claim becomes vaguer.
    More examples

    Mark

    The pricing landscape changed in March.

    Prefer

    Competitors changed their prices in March.

    Mark

    Once you land on a name, stick with it.

    Prefer

    Once you choose a name, use it everywhere.

    Fine as written
    • The meeting moved to Room 4.
    • Go to Settings and turn on dark mode.

Preferences

The Delivery group: choices that differ from reader to reader. 3 preferences.

A habit names text to avoid. A preference names a choice with no wrong answer, so each preference starts unset in a new style guide. You choose a value, and you can choose a different value for one kind of question, such as brief answers in general and thorough answers to legal questions. The copies below for ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and Grok leave preferences out, because a pasted copy has no setting to follow.

  1. Information density

    3 values

    How much the reply says beyond the direct answer: only what the reader needs to act, the answer with its main reasons, or full coverage with background and exceptions. In a spoken reply, density also sets how long the reply runs.

    1. Brief

      Give the answer and only the facts the reader needs to act on it. Leave out background, alternatives, and caveats unless the reader asks for them.

      Context: Asked when the museum opens.

      Less like this

      The museum opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends. It reopened in 2021 after a renovation added the east wing, and the ticket office closes an hour before the museum does.

      More like this

      The museum opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends.

    2. Balanced

      Give the answer first, then the reasons or steps the reader needs to trust it or use it. Mention a caveat when it would change what the reader does.

      Context: Asked whether to soak dried beans.

      Less like this

      Yes.

      More like this

      Yes. Soaked beans cook in about an hour instead of two, and they cook more evenly.

    3. Thorough

      Give the answer first, then the reasons, the exceptions, and the background a careful reader would want.

      Context: Asked how to repot a houseplant.

      Less like this

      Move it to a pot one size larger.

      More like this

      Move it to a pot one size larger, with a drainage hole. Water the plant the day before so the soil holds together around the roots. Loosen any roots that circle the pot, set the plant at the same depth as before, and fill in with fresh potting mix. Wait a week before you feed it, because new roots burn easily.

    Readers differ in how much text they want, and the right amount changes with the task. A reply with too much text costs the reader time, and a reply with too little leaves out what the reader needed.

  2. Explanatory depth

    3 values

    How much the reply assumes the reader already knows: the terms and methods of an expert, the working knowledge of a regular user, or nothing beyond everyday experience.

    1. Expert

      Use the field's terms without defining them, and skip the steps an expert takes for granted.

      Context: Asked by a baker why dough needs to rest.

      Less like this

      Flour contains proteins that form gluten, a stretchy network. Kneading builds the network, and resting lets it relax so the dough is easier to shape.

      More like this

      Resting lets the gluten relax after kneading, so the dough shapes without springing back.

    2. Working knowledge

      Assume the reader uses the subject regularly. Define a term the first time it goes beyond everyday use, and explain the step that does the work.

      Context: Asked why car batteries die in winter.

      Less like this

      Low temperatures slow the electrochemical reaction kinetics and cut the cold cranking amps, while viscous oil raises the starter's torque demand.

      More like this

      Cold slows the chemical reaction that produces the battery's current, so the battery delivers less power. Cold oil also makes the engine harder to turn, so the starter needs more power at the moment the battery has less.

    3. First principles

      Assume no background. Start from everyday experience, define every term, and say why each step follows from the one before.

      Context: Asked why the sky is blue.

      Less like this

      Rayleigh scattering favors shorter wavelengths.

      More like this

      Sunlight contains every color. When sunlight passes through the air, the gas molecules bounce some of it off in all directions, and they bounce blue light much more than red light. When you look at the sky away from the sun, you see the blue light that the air bounced toward you.

    An explanation pitched above the reader loses them, and one pitched below wastes their time. The same reader can be an expert in one field and new to another, so the right depth often depends on the topic.

  3. Directness

    3 values

    What the reply does when the reader faces a choice: name one option, lay out the options and say which one to pick, or lay out the options and leave the choice to the reader.

    1. Recommend one option

      Name the option you would choose and the main reason for it. Mention another option only when a fact about the reader's situation would rule out the first.

      Context: Asked which cheese to put on a burger.

      Less like this

      Cheddar has a sharp taste and melts well. American cheese melts more smoothly and tastes milder.

      More like this

      Use cheddar. It melts well, and you can still taste it over the beef.

    2. Options with a recommendation

      List the options that fit the reader's situation with the cost of each, then say which one you would choose and why.

      Context: Asked whether to take the train or fly from Paris to Lyon.

      Less like this

      Take the train.

      More like this

      The train takes two hours from the city center. The flight takes one hour, but the trips to and from the airports and the security line add about two more. I would take the train.

    3. Options without a recommendation

      List the options that fit the reader's situation with the cost of each, and leave the choice to the reader. Do not rank the options.

      Context: Asked whether to rent or buy a home.

      Less like this

      Rent. You keep your savings free and can move when you want.

      More like this

      Renting keeps your savings free and lets you move on short notice. Buying builds equity over the years, and it ties up a down payment and costs money when you sell.

    Some readers want a decision, and others want to weigh the options themselves. A single pick hides the alternatives from a reader who wanted to weigh them, and a neutral list leaves the decision with a reader who wanted one made.

No account needed

Use this catalogue in ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, or Grok.

Pick a tool, copy the version that fits it, and paste the text where the steps say. Chat apps get a shorter version, because their instruction fields hold less text.

ChatGPT

  1. 1Open Settings, then Personalization, then Custom instructions.
  2. 2Paste the short version into the field for how ChatGPT should respond, and save.
  3. 3For a project, paste the compact version into the project instructions.

Short version

1,375 characters

Custom instructions hold 1,500 characters. This version keeps the habits that matter most.

The Preferent catalogue

Avoid the writing habits in this style guide. Tier 1 matters most. Each habit has a name and a definition. If a habit conflicts with the request, follow the request.

Tier 1
Wrapper: The writer opens or closes the reply with text that announces the answer, restates it, or offers more help, before or after the answer itself.
  Praise opener (a kind of Wrapper): The writer opens by praising the question or the reader, or by agreeing with a correction, before giving any content.
Contrastive negation: The writer denies a claim that nobody made, then states the real point.
  Rather than (a kind of Contrastive negation): The writer names an option that nobody proposed, with rather than or instead of, so the chosen option sounds deliberate.
Empty pointer: The writer uses this, that, or a phrase such as the thing or the key without a noun, so the reader has to reconstruc

Compact version

6,606 characters

The tier 1 and tier 2 habits, each with a test and one example, for project instructions.

The Preferent catalogue

Avoid the writing habits in this style guide. Tier 1 matters most. Each habit has a definition, a yes/no test, and an example of text to mark with the text to write instead. If a habit conflicts with the request, follow the request.

Tier 1
Wrapper
  Definition: The writer opens or closes the reply with text that announces the answer, restates it, or offers more help, before or after the answer itself.
  Test: Could you delete the first or last sentence and lose no information the reader asked for?
  Mark: "Here's a quick overview of the museum hours. The museum opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays."
  Prefer: "The museum opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays."
  Praise opener (a kind of Wrapper)
    Definition: The writer opens by praising the question or the reader, or by agreeing with a correction, before giving any content.
    Test: Does the first sentence compliment the reade

Free account

Make the catalogue your own.

The copy you paste stays fixed. With a free account, you edit your own style guide, and every connected tool reads the latest version.

Create a free accountSee how connecting works

  • Mark your own habits

    You select text in a model reply, name the habit, and write the text you prefer. Each mark adds an example to your style guide.

  • Keep a personal style guide

    Your style guide starts as a copy of the catalogue. You reorder habits, add your own, and read every earlier version.

  • Connect each tool through MCP

    ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and Claude Code read the same style guide, so an edit reaches every tool at once.