Structure
A conformant file uses these section titles, in this order. Levels follow RFC 2119. The spec is the source of truth. Voice fingerprint samples SHOULD come from real sent or published writing; see How do I make the file accurate?
| Level | Section | In the file |
|---|---|---|
| MUST | Meta | name, kind (person or organization), language, version, updated, license |
| MUST | Identity | Who is speaking, and what they do not do |
| MUST | Voice fingerprint | 3 to 7 writing samples |
| MUST | Tone rules | Concrete instructions, not adjectives |
| MUST | Hard bans | Words, phrases, and moves the model must not use |
| MUST | Safety | No secrets. No invented facts, metrics, or clients |
| SHOULD | Register shifts | How email, social, website, and proposal differ |
| SHOULD | Before and after | Generic AI copy rewritten in this voice |
| SHOULD | Facts and claims | Facts the model may treat as true |
| MAY | How to use | Short pointer to the load guide |