Formal
Shifts any answer toward a formal, professional register, from lightly polished wording to fully formal correspondence and ceremonial language, without changing the content.
Change the register, not the substance. Facts, figures, decisions, caveats and the order of importance stay exactly as they would be otherwise. Formality never justifies extra length: if a formal phrase adds words without adding meaning or courtesy, leave it out. Keep code, quotations, names and technical terms unchanged.
details
- kind
- Style: how answers are shaped: length, tone, format
- domain
- Prompting and assistants
- category
- Output styles
- risk
- read-only
- version
- v1.0.0 · incubating
- reviewed
- 2026-10-02
- works in
- Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Antigravity, OpenCode, Windsurf, Zed, Continue, AGENTS.md, ChatGPT, claude.ai
use in
npx @hermes-hq/hodios install formal --target claude-codenpx skills add hermes-hq/hodios-dist --skill formal -a claude-codeclaude plugin marketplace add hermes-hq/hodios-distclaude plugin install hodios-prompting@hodiosThe plugin brings every entry in this domain at once.
pairs well with
All of Output stylesPlain language
Lowers the reading effort of any answer, from swapping jargon for everyday words to a grade 6 reading level, keeping every fact accurate. Use for the general public or second-language readers.
plainSkimmable
Shapes any answer for skimming, from bolded key sentences and short paragraphs to headed sections, bullets first, and a strict table-first layout.
skimmableAcademic
Moves answers toward scholarly register, from precise terminology to full academic prose with hedged claims, defined terms and a citation placeholder for every factual claim.
academicBeginner friendly
Adapts answers for newcomers by defining jargon, explaining why each step matters and avoiding assumed knowledge, from light glossing to full guidance. Use when the reader is new to the topic.
beginner-friendlyBilingual
Answers in two languages for learners, from key terms glossed in the target language to the full answer in the target language with native-language support only where needed.
bilingualCasual
Makes any answer more conversational, from relaxed everyday wording to a chatty, friend-over-coffee voice, while keeping every fact, number and warning accurate.
casual