Skip to content

/compare-versions

Shows the diff between current and proposed text together with the reason for each change.

Category: editing
Field: general
License: MIT (repo LICENSE, "Copyright (c) 2025 Alex Dickerson")
Updated: 2026-03-12
Stages: revision-editing

Compare Versions Skill

Show a side-by-side comparison of old vs. new text after an edit, with rationale for each change.

Examples

  • /compare-versions -- compare after the most recent edit
  • /compare-versions introduction -- compare current vs. proposed introduction text

Workflow

  1. Identify the two text versions (before and after edit)
  2. Align paragraphs between versions
  3. For each changed paragraph, show:
  4. Before: The original text
  5. After: The revised text
  6. Why: Category of change (banned word, terminology, voice, precision, concision, restructure)
  7. Summarize total changes by category

Output Format

Text Only
COMPARISON: [section name]
==========================

CHANGE 1 [Banned word]:
  Before: "...we utilize a comprehensive set of..."
  After:  "...we use a thorough set of..."

CHANGE 2 [Terminology]:
  Before: "...microstructure noise affects..."
  After:  "...measurement error affects..."

[etc.]

SUMMARY:
- Banned words fixed: N
- Terminology corrections: N
- Voice improvements: N
- Precision additions: N
- Concision cuts: N
- Total changes: N