What is a brand glossary? +

A structured reference document that defines your brand's approved terminology, terms to avoid, internal jargon translations, and branded term styling rules. It ensures every piece of content uses the same language, whether written by a person or generated by AI.

What input do I need to get started? +

Anything that reflects how your brand talks about its products. A style guide is ideal, but product copy from your website, FAQ pages, customer service templates, or even a partial list of terms you've been tracking informally all work. The skill fills in gaps with targeted questions.

How does this work with other skills? +

The brand glossary is a foundation document. When you use content generation skills (rewriting product copy, writing emails, generating tags), upload the glossary alongside your other brand documents. The skill will follow your terminology rules automatically.

What if my terminology changes over time? +

Run the skill again with your existing glossary as a starting point. It will preserve what's already documented and focus on updating or expanding the areas you flag.

Example skill output +

Brand Glossary: Great Outdoors Co.

Brand Name and Branded Terms

Term	Approved Styling	Usage Notes
Great Outdoors Co.	Always include "Co." with a period. Never abbreviate to "GOC" or "Great Outdoors."	The full name is used in all customer-facing content.
Alpine Meadow 2P	Product name. Capitalize both words. "2P" (no space before P).	Tent product line. Always include "2P" to indicate capacity.
Cascade Rain Shell	Product name. Capitalize all three words.	Flagship rain shell. Never shorten to "Cascade" alone in product listings.
CascadeLite Down Vest	One word, capital C and capital L. "Down Vest" capitalized.	The "Lite" suffix signals the lighter-weight variant. Do not write "Cascade Lite" as two words.
Cedar Ridge 45L Trek Pack	"Cedar Ridge" capitalized. "45L" with capital L, no space. "Trek Pack" capitalized.	Full name in product pages. "Cedar Ridge" alone is acceptable in context where the product has already been identified.
Evergreen Merino Base Top	Product name. Capitalize all words.	Base layer product line.
Frostline 20F Down Sleeping Bag	"Frostline" capitalized. "20F" with capital F, no space.	The temperature rating is part of the product name.
Granite Softshell Pants	Product name. Capitalize all words.	Never "soft shell" as two words in the product name.
Timberline Fleece Pullover	Product name. Capitalize all words.	Fleece midlayer product line.

Approved Terminology

Product Attributes

Approved Term	Use When	Notes
breathable	Describing fabrics that allow moisture vapor to escape.	Always pair with a spec when available (e.g., "15,000 g/m²/24h").
corrosion-resistant	Describing hardware (zippers, buckles, snaps).	Hyphenated. Preferred over "rust-proof" or "rust-resistant."
durable	Describing product longevity in general terms.	Back up with specifics when possible ("built to last 3-5 years of weekly use").
fully taped seams	Describing seam construction on waterproof shells.	Always "fully taped," never just "taped seams."
helmet-compatible	Describing hoods that fit over a climbing or bike helmet.	Hyphenated.
PFAS-free DWR	Describing the water-repellent finish used across the line.	Always "PFAS-free DWR," not just "DWR" or "durable water repellent." Spell out on first use in long-form content: "PFAS-free DWR (durable water repellent) finish."
quick-drying	Describing fabrics that dry fast.	Hyphenated.
recycled nylon	Describing shell and pack fabrics.	Always "recycled nylon," never just "nylon" when the material is recycled.
recycled polyester	Describing fleece fabrics.	Always "recycled polyester," never just "polyester" when the material is recycled.
RDS-certified down	Describing the down fill in insulated products.	Always include "RDS-certified" before "down." Never just "down."
water-resistant	Describing products that repel light moisture but are not fully waterproof.	Hyphenated. Use for softshells and lightly treated fabrics.
waterproof/breathable	Describing laminated shell fabrics.	Slash, not hyphen. This is a specific fabric construction term.

Sizing and Fit

Approved Term	Use When	Notes
regular fit	Describing the standard fit across most products.	Lowercase. "Room for a light midlayer" is the standard clarification for shells.
size up	Advising the customer to choose a larger size for layering.	Two words, no hyphen.
true to size	Advising the customer their usual size will work.	No hyphens.

Materials and Construction

Approved Term	Use When	Notes
2.5-layer	Describing laminated waterproof shell construction.	Hyphenated, numeral with decimal.
650-fill down	Describing down insulation fill power.	Hyphenated. Always include "RDS-certified" nearby.
merino wool	Describing base layer fiber content.	Lowercase. Always "merino wool," not just "merino" or "wool."
nylon ripstop	Describing shell fabric weave type.	Lowercase. Often preceded by "recycled."
YKK zippers	Describing zipper brand/quality.	"YKK" all caps, followed by the zipper type (e.g., "YKK water-resistant").

Shipping, Returns, and Pricing

Approved Term	Use When	Notes
free returns within 30 days	Describing the return policy.	Always state the timeframe.
free shipping on orders over $99	Describing the shipping threshold.	Always include the dollar amount.
limited lifetime warranty	Describing the warranty on flagship products.	Lowercase except at sentence start.
per-outing cost	Framing the value of a product over its lifespan.	Hyphenated. The standard value framing for Great Outdoors Co. (e.g., "$149 over 200 outings is under a dollar per hike").

Activity and Use Cases

Approved Term	Use When	Notes
backpacking	Multi-day trips with overnight gear.	Lowercase.
day hike	A single-day outing on trail.	Two words, no hyphen.
weekend hike	The default use case for all Great Outdoors Co. products.	Two words. The brand's core positioning is built around weekly weekend use.
weekly use	Describing the frequency the gear is designed for.	The standard durability framing. Always "weekly use," not "regular use" or "frequent use."

Terms to Avoid

Avoid	Use Instead	Reason
adventure	(omit or use specific activity: "hike," "backpacking trip," "weekend on the trail")	Lifestyle language. Great Outdoors Co. describes what people do, not a feeling.
athleisure	performance wear, or describe the specific use case	Industry term that doesn't match the brand's positioning.
best-in-class	(describe the specific advantage)	Superlative. The brand never makes comparative claims.
budget-friendly	(state the price and the per-outing value)	The brand doesn't lead with price or position itself as affordable. It positions on value over time.
cheap	(do not reference low-cost alternatives directly)	Negative framing of competitors.
conquer	(omit)	Aspirational language. The brand doesn't frame the outdoors as something to overcome.
eco-friendly	(name the specific practice: "recycled nylon," "PFAS-free DWR," "RDS-certified down")	Too vague. The brand mentions specific sustainability practices without making them the headline.
explore	(use "hike," "camp," or the specific activity)	Lifestyle language.
green	(name the specific practice)	Vague sustainability term.
moisture-wicking	quick-drying	Brand preference. Consistently avoided across all product copy.
premium	(describe the specific quality or construction)	Positioning language. The brand sits between budget and premium and avoids both labels.
push your limits	(omit)	Aspirational language. The brand doesn't frame hiking as a personal challenge.
revolutionary	(describe what's different specifically)	Hyperbole.
rugged	durable	Brand preference. "Rugged" implies extreme use. "Durable" implies lasting through regular use.
summit	(use "trail," "hike," or the specific destination)	The brand explicitly positions as "built for Saturdays, not summits."
sustainable	(name the specific practice)	Too broad. Always replace with the specific claim.
technical gear	outdoor gear	"Technical" is used internally and in specs, but customer-facing copy says "outdoor gear" to avoid sounding exclusionary.
the great outdoors	(do not use as a phrase; it overlaps with the brand name)	Causes confusion with the brand name.
waterproof (for non-waterproof products)	water-resistant	Accuracy. Only products with laminated membranes and fully taped seams are "waterproof." Softshells and DWR-treated fabrics are "water-resistant."

Internal-to-Customer Mapping

Internal Term	Customer-Facing Term	Context
2.5L	2.5-layer waterproof/breathable fabric	Product descriptions. Expand for the customer.
colorway	color, color option	Product listings. Customers don't use "colorway."
DWR	PFAS-free DWR finish (first mention), DWR (subsequent)	Always qualify with "PFAS-free" and explain on first use.
FOB	(omit)	Shipping/logistics term. Never customer-facing.
HDPE framesheet	internal frame	Pack descriptions. Customers care about the function, not the material of the frame.
MAP	(omit)	Pricing policy term. Never customer-facing.
MOQ	(omit)	Manufacturing term. Never customer-facing.
PDP	product page	Internal reference to product detail pages.
shell	rain shell, rain jacket	"Shell" alone is jargon. Always qualify.
SKU	(omit or use "item" / "product")	Inventory term. Never customer-facing.
UPF-rated	sun-protective	Apparel sun protection. Simplify for the customer unless the rating is a selling point.

Industry and Category Terms

Industry Term	Brand's Approach	Notes
base layer	Used directly.	Standard term the customer understands.
down jacket	Used, but always qualified with fill power and RDS certification.	Never just "down jacket" without context.
fleece	Used directly. Always "recycled polyester fleece" in materials sections.	Standard term.
Gore-Tex	Never mentioned.	Competitor material. Great Outdoors Co. uses its own waterproof/breathable laminate and describes performance directly.
hardshell / softshell	"Rain shell" for hardshells. "Softshell" used directly for softshell products.	The brand avoids "hardshell" because it sounds intimidating. "Rain shell" is more descriptive.
midlayer	Used directly.	Standard term. Often used in fit guidance ("room for a light midlayer").
three-season	Used directly when describing tent or sleeping bag seasonality.	Standard industry term the customer understands.
ultralight	Avoided as a product descriptor. Used only in contrast ("not ultralight, but light enough").	The brand optimizes for durability over weight savings. "Ultralight" signals the wrong priority.