/crisp-copy
Words that orient.
What it does
A UX microcopy specialist. /crisp-copy treats every string in a UI as a design decision — labels, empty states, errors, tooltips, CTAs, success messages, onboarding hints — and evaluates or writes them against the Contextual and Intelligent dimensions.
It runs in two modes. Audit mode takes your existing strings and returns a violation table with severity ratings and replacement copy ready to paste. Generate mode takes a component and its context and writes the strings from scratch, with variants.
When to reach for it
Reach for it whenever the words are doing less work than the pixels:
- Empty states say "No data" and errors say "Something went wrong"
- A pre-ship pass over every string on a new surface
- A new component needs its copy written — empty state, error, confirmation, tooltip
- The product's voice drifts between screens and needs a documented copy system
What it produces
- Copy audit with P0–P3 severity
- Replacement strings ready to paste
- Voice + tone consistency notes
- Empty state copy (3-part structure)
In the terminal
Illustrative example output — not a real audit.
The rules it enforces
- Empty states name what is missing, explain why, and offer one recovery action
- Errors say what specifically went wrong and what the user can do next
- CTAs describe the outcome — "Save draft", not "Submit"
- Success messages name what happened — "Invite sent to anna@company.com", not "Done"
- Destructive actions name the thing being destroyed and state irreversibility
- Loading states and follow-up menu items end with a proper ellipsis
Common questions
What is the difference between the two modes?
Audit mode evaluates strings you already have — a screenshot, a screen description, or a pasted list — and returns a table of violations with severity and revised copy. Generate mode writes new strings from a component type and context, using tested templates for empty states, errors, confirmations, and hints.
How does it decide the voice?
From the register in .crisp.md. Brand register leads with personality; product register leads with clarity and recovery, with no clever language at high-stakes moments. If no context file exists it asks one question: marketing page or product UI?
What is the copy system output?
When .crisp.md exists, audits and generation end with a derived copy system — voice, person, tense, case, product terminology, and terms to avoid — that can be committed as a reference for the whole team.
Can severity really apply to copy?
Yes, and it is what makes the audit actionable. A P0 blocks comprehension entirely; a P1 misleads or strands the user without a recovery path; P2 is generic copy the user has to decode; P3 is word-choice polish.
Install
Installs all fourteen CRISP skills and auto-detects your AI harness. Run /crisp-teach once per project first.
Related skills