// ANTI-SLOP
FILE 07.02
// GLOSSARY / POST-HOC

POST-HOC

> The reasoning that arrived late, in evening dress, after the decision was made.

POST-HOC

adj. / latin. lit. 'after this.'

> A rationalization constructed to justify a sentence that was generated first. Diagnostic for slop: when the writer (or model) can produce a coherent reason for any phrase asked about, but the reason did not produce the phrase. The reasoning is correct in form and irrelevant in fact.

USE: That paragraph is post-hoc. The justification arrived after the words.
RELATED > /slop/anchor
// HOW TO SPOT
  1. 01 > Ask: what was the goal of this paragraph?
  2. 02 > If the answer is fluent and the goal could have been any other goal — post-hoc.
  3. 03 > Ask: who is this paragraph for?
  4. 04 > If the answer is a persona described in adjectives — post-hoc.
  5. 05 > Ask: what would change if the audience were inverted?
  6. 06 > If the paragraph still works — post-hoc.

> Cure: throw the paragraph away. Write the person, the action, and the bridge — first. Then the paragraph.

< PREVIOUS
/glossary/slop
NEXT >
/glossary/anchor