Dictionary Polishing Session

This skill guides systematic review and improvement of dictionary entries. Use it to start a polishing session.

Starting a Session

1. Load Current State

Read these files to understand current progress:

# Required reading at session start
cat polishing/progress.json      # See review status
cat polishing/queue.json         # Check prioritized entries
cat polishing/issues.json        # Review known patterns/issues

Also read the most recent session log in polishing/sessions/ to get context from the previous session.

2. Select Task Type

Available review tasks (in polishing/tasks/):

Read the appropriate task file for detailed instructions.

3. Select Entries

Choose entries based on priority:

1. High priority: Entries in queue.json high_priority
2. Medium priority: Entries never reviewed
3. Low priority: Entries with stale reviews (>90 days)
4. Random sampling: 5% of reviewed entries for spot-checks

Default batch size: 20 entries per session.

Session Workflow

Phase 1: Review Entries

For each entry in the batch:

1. Read the entry file
2. Apply the task-specific checklist
3. Verify metadata tags are accurate:
   • semantic tags must match the word's actual meaning (not template defaults like "building"/"transportation" on unrelated words)
   • formality and politeness reflect the word's inherent register
4. Check example sentences against the example-sentences skill requirements:
   • Verify minimum count for the entry's tier (5 for basic/core, 3 for general)
   • Verify vocabulary restrictions for basic/core tier examples
   • Verify progressive length (shorter to longer)
   • Add, revise, or reorder examples as needed
5. Make other improvements directly to the entry
6. CRITICAL: Update modified timestamp for EACH entry individually:
   bashCopy

   python3 build/get_timestamp.py  # Run IMMEDIATELY BEFORE saving each entry
   

   Every modified entry must have its own unique timestamp. Do NOT cache or reuse timestamps across entries.
7. Record the review in your session notes

Phase 2: Record Changes

Track all changes made:

{
  "entry_id": "00100_example",
  "reviewed_at": "2026-01-20T10:00:00Z",
  "status": "current",
  "changes": [
    "Added missing furigana to headword",
    "Reformatted notes with section headers"
  ],
  "issues": [],
  "notes": "Good entry, minor formatting fixes"
}

Phase 3: Update Tracking Files

At session end, update:

1. progress.json: Add/update entry records, update statistics
2. issues.json: Add new issues, patterns, improvement ideas
3. queue.json: Remove reviewed entries, add flagged entries
4. sessions/: Create session log file

Phase 4: Validate, Build, and Summarize

# Run validation
python3 build/validate.py
python3 build/validate_tags.py

# Update indexes if entries changed
python3 build/update_indexes.py

# Build static website so user can review changes
python3 build/build_flat.py

Provide summary to user including:

• Number of entries reviewed
• Number of entries modified
• Types of changes made
• Issues requiring attention
• Patterns observed
• Recommendations for next session

Session Log Format

Create a session log file: polishing/sessions/session_YYYYMMDD_NNN.json

Include:

• Session metadata (started, ended, task type)
• List of entries reviewed with status
• Changes made with descriptions
• Issues found
• Patterns observed
• Continuation notes for next session

See polishing/session_template.json for the complete format.

Quality Standards

Apply these standards during review:

Required for All Entries

• Valid ID format matching filename
• Headword with furigana on all kanji
• Reading in hiragana only (long vowel marker ー is also allowed)
• Appropriate part_of_speech
• Clear, accurate gloss
• Complete metadata with required tags

Content Quality

• Definitions distinguish senses clearly
• Examples illustrate actual usage
• Notes provide genuinely helpful information
• Cross-references point to valid entries (or targets added to candidates)
• No redundant or contradictory information

Example Requirements (IMPORTANT)

See example-sentences skill for complete guidelines. During polishing, verify:

Minimum Example Counts

Progressive Length

Examples should progress from shorter to longer within each sense.

Vocabulary Restrictions

When Examples Don't Meet Guidelines

1. Insufficient count: Add new examples to meet minimum
2. Wrong vocabulary tier: Revise examples to use appropriate vocabulary
3. No length progression: Reorder or revise examples
4. Missing sense coverage: Add examples for uncovered senses

Note: Existing examples should be preserved if they are high quality. Add to them rather than replacing unless there are quality issues.

Cross-Reference Target Handling

When a cross-reference points to an entry that does not exist yet, add the target to candidate_words.json:

python3 build/manage_candidates.py add "headword" "reading" "brief note"

The script automatically checks for duplicates and will refuse to add if the word already exists.

Consistency

• Formatting matches project conventions
• Tag usage aligns with taxonomy
• Similar entries structured similarly
• Terminology consistent across entries

Issue Tracking

When you find issues:

Minor Issues (fix immediately)

• Missing furigana
• Formatting inconsistencies
• Minor typos
• Example sentence deficiencies (insufficient count, vocabulary tier violations, length progression issues)

Medium Issues (flag for review)

• Questionable accuracy
• Missing content
• Broken references

Major Issues (add to issues.json)

• Systematic patterns across entries
• Schema or validation problems
• Architectural concerns

Continuation Notes

At session end, write clear continuation notes:

{
  "next_entry": "00120_next",
  "pending_tasks": [
    "Complete cross-reference validation for particle entries"
  ],
  "context_for_next_session": "Focused on verb entries. Many early entries lack TRANSITIVITY section. Consider batch update."
}

Commands Reference

# Validation
python3 build/validate.py
python3 build/validate_tags.py
python3 build/verify_furigana.py <entry_id>

# Indexes
python3 build/update_indexes.py

# Build (if needed for preview)
python3 build/build_flat.py

# Timestamp for modified field
python3 build/get_timestamp.py

Important Reminders

1. TIMESTAMPS ARE PER-ENTRY: Run get_timestamp.py immediately before saving EACH modified entry. Never use the same timestamp for multiple entries—each needs a unique timestamp reflecting when it was actually modified.
2. Verify ALL fields, not just examples: Check semantic tags match word meaning, formality/politeness are accurate
3. One entry at a time: Review and edit each entry individually
4. Track everything: All changes go in the session log
5. Validate frequently: Run validation after each batch
6. Summarize for user: Provide clear summary before any commits
7. Ask if unsure: If accuracy is uncertain, flag for human review