Learnings and changelog for Writing Conventions and its media (Professional Email Tone). Agents read the Learnings section before drafting and append to it in-session; the Changelog is for reflection. Shape and rules: 0020-conventions-and-learnings-two-type-capture.
Learnings
- 2026-03-29 · correction · em dashes in a draft read as disconnected thoughts; replaced with colons and full sentences · Buckmaster/SAP update to Grace Shin, Green Card - PERM Project Tracker
- 2026-07-13 · correction · remove em dashes, make it less formal and less AI-sounding; natural conversational prose over structured writing · PopSockets warranty claim email
- 2026-08-08 · correction · em dash to comma; cut the recital of the recipient’s own letter back to him; dropped “for the file” framing; deleted “a one-line reply is perfectly fine” · letterhead confirmation to Stephan Wehner, Green Card - PERM Project Tracker
- 2026-08-08 · correction · removed a line interpreting SAP’s policy back at the HR rep (“wouldn’t require manager approval”); describe the ask, let them apply their rules · employment letter request to SAP HR, Green Card - PERM Project Tracker
- 2026-08-08 · confirmation · sent drafts land about 40% shorter than the first pass with the same content · same two emails
Changelog
- 2026-09-06 · added · rules 1 to 10 of Writing Conventions · pulled the general principles out of Professional Email Tone (no em dashes, natural over formal, shorter wins, say it once, don’t recite, don’t manage replies) and added the ones already in use for AI output (lead with the point, minimal formatting, every word adds something)
- 2026-09-19 · changed · moved to
Atlas/References/Conventions/; edit log split into this file · 0020-conventions-and-learnings-two-type-capture - 2026-09-19 · demoted · rules 5 (say it once), 8 (minimal formatting), 9 (link what’s verifiable) became Defaults in prefer-X-over-Y form; remaining rules renumbered 1 to 7 · each has a justified exception, so they are defaults not rules · Prefer X over Y, 0020-conventions-and-learnings-two-type-capture