Slop Check

Slop Check

Use this skill to audit writing before publication. Be strict. The goal is not to prove whether text was written by AI; the goal is to remove patterns that make writing feel generic, synthetic, over-polished, or low-signal.

Workflow

1. Read the content and infer the platform if not provided.
2. Scan for Tier 1 rewrite flags.
3. Scan for second-generation 2026 slop patterns.
4. Run the three quality gates.
5. Score the 8 dimensions.
6. Give the top fixes with concrete rewrite direction.
7. Return a PASS, NEEDS REWRITE, or REWRITE verdict.

If no content is provided, ask for it.

Tier 1 Rewrite Flags

Quote the exact phrase or structure when found.

Formatting

• Em dash used as a default rhythm crutch
• Bold markdown used to manufacture emphasis
• Emoji closers used as punctuation
• Excessive bullets for a post that needs an argument
• Perfectly even paragraph lengths throughout
• Template-like headings in short content

Openers

• "Great point"
• "Excellent take"
• "Exactly"
• "This is important"
• "This is fascinating"
• "100%"
• "Let's dive in"
• "Here's what you need to know"
• "In today's landscape"
• "Unpopular opinion"
• "Hot take"
• Definition opener when the reader already knows the topic
• Restating the original post before adding anything new

Filler Phrases

• "It's worth noting"
• "It's important to remember"
• "At the end of the day"
• "The reality is"
• "Ultimately"
• "Furthermore"
• "Moreover"
• "Additionally"
• "In conclusion"
• "To summarize"
• "In other words"
• "To put it simply"
• "This serves as a reminder"
• "Stands as a testament"
• "Marks a pivotal moment"
• Vague attribution such as "some experts argue" without naming a source

Vocabulary Slop

Flag these when they replace a concrete claim:

delve, tapestry, intricate, underscore, leverage, utilize, robust,
seamless, holistic, transformative, pivotal, unprecedented,
groundbreaking, cutting-edge, paradigm, synergy, ecosystem, realm,
landscape, journey, interplay, treasure trove, empower, unleash,
foster, cultivate, showcase, garner, navigate, illuminate, shed light,
resonate, game-changer, move the needle, unlock value, drive impact,
at scale, flywheel, moat, structural tailwind, macro tailwinds

Structural Slop

• Fake balance: "On one hand... on the other hand... truth is in the middle."
• Corrective antithesis: "It's not just X, it's Y" or "Not just X, but Y."
• Generic rule of three: "speed, efficiency, and scalability" with no specific proof.
• Template paragraphing: every paragraph follows claim, evidence, implication.
• Hourglass close: broad intro, narrow body, broad inspirational zoom-out.
• Consensus-adjacent take: sounds bold but repeats the median opinion.
• Policy voice without specifics: authoritative language any account could post.
• Fake burstiness: mechanical short-long-short-long rhythm.
• Staccato chain: two or more consecutive fragments under 8 words.
• Definition stacking: multiple clean definitions with no lived example.
• Screenshot-as-proof: using output or screenshots as if they are the insight.
• Authenticity performance: "just being real", "I almost didn't share this", or similar fake vulnerability.

Second-Generation 2026 Patterns

Look for these after the obvious tells are gone:

• Didactic moral closure: every post ends with a tidy lesson.
• Synthetic specificity: precise numbers, named studies, or citations with weak source trails.
• Forced persona: sass, founder voice, analyst voice, or contrarian voice without earned context.
• Over-clean coherence: every transition is smooth and no sentence feels lived-in.
• Average-internet opinion: 1,000 accounts could post it unchanged.
• Hollow emotional language: "powerful", "profound", "stunning", "deeply human" without concrete evidence.
• Over-structured formatting: headings and bullets doing more work than the idea.
• Model-collapse tropes: repeated stock names, archetypes, cozy moral arcs, or familiar metaphors in creative writing.

Quality Gates

All three must pass.

Gate 1: Adds Value

At least one must be true:

• Specific data point, date, source, or named example
• Reframe that changes how the reader sees the topic
• Prediction with a clear condition
• First-person observation from doing the work
• Named tradeoff others are avoiding

Gate 2: Takes A Position

The claim must be falsifiable. Someone smart should be able to disagree.

Gate 3: Stops The Scroll

The first 8 words must earn attention. Context-setting openers fail.

8-Dimension Score

Score each 1-10:

• original_take
• no_ai_tells
• voice_match
• platform_fit
• specificity
• position
• no_emotional_inflation
• humanness

Overall target: 9.0+. If any dimension is below 8, recommend rewriting that part.

Report Format

SLOP CHECK REPORT

Platform:

TIER 1 VIOLATIONS
- [Exact quote] -> [why it fails]

SECOND-GENERATION PATTERNS
- [Pattern found] -> [rewrite direction]

QUALITY GATES
Gate 1 Adds value: PASS/FAIL
Gate 2 Takes position: PASS/FAIL
Gate 3 Stops scroll: PASS/FAIL

SCORES
original_take:
no_ai_tells:
voice_match:
platform_fit:
specificity:
position:
no_emotional_inflation:
humanness:
overall:

TOP FIXES
1.
2.
3.

VERDICT
PASS / NEEDS REWRITE / REWRITE

Verdict Thresholds

• 9-10: PASS
• 8-8.9: PASS with minor edits
• 6-7.9: NEEDS REWRITE
• Below 6: REWRITE

Core Test

Ask:

Would a sharp human with lived context, taste, and a real stake say this exact thing?

If the answer is "maybe", "it's fine", or "it sounds professional", the draft is not done.

Fine is slop.

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: allanta8
• Source: allanta8/slop-check
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.