glossary-builder

Glossary Builder

What This Skill Does

Creates a glossary of key terms for a specific topic or article, with concise plain-language definitions formatted for publication as a sidebar, companion box, or standalone reference.

When To Use This Skill

• You're writing about a technical, legal, financial, or scientific subject and readers will encounter unfamiliar terminology
• An editor has asked for a glossary sidebar to accompany a feature or investigative piece
• You're preparing a special issue or series on a complex topic and need a consistent reference document for readers
• You want to standardize terminology usage across a multi-part series or team of writers

What You Need To Provide

Required:

• The topic, article text, or list of terms that need defining
• Target audience: general reader, informed reader, or specialist (determines the depth and register of definitions)

Optional:

• Number of terms to include (defaults to 8–15)
• Maximum definition length per term (defaults to one to two sentences)
• Whether definitions should be purely neutral or can include editorial context (e.g., "Critics argue this term obscures...")
• Publication format: sidebar, inline glossary, standalone page, or digital tooltip text
• Any terms the publication has already defined in a house style guide (to avoid contradiction)

How the Assistant Approaches This

1. Identifies the terms that need defining. If given an article, scans for jargon, technical language, acronyms, and terms that a general reader would not know or might misunderstand. If given a topic, selects the most essential terms a reader would encounter. Prioritizes terms where misunderstanding would undermine comprehension of the article.

2. Writes definitions in plain language. Each definition explains the term as you would to a smart colleague who doesn't work in your field. No circular definitions ("blockchain: a type of chain of blocks"). No jargon in the definition of jargon. Technical precision is maintained, but clarity comes first.