> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getsmelt.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quality Flags

> Understanding the 11 quality flags and auto-fix feature

Quality flags are automated warnings about potential issues in generated output. Smelt checks every output and flags problems for your review.

## The 11 Quality Flags

### Length Flags

| Flag              | Description                        | Severity   |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------- | ---------- |
| `too_short`       | Output below 15 characters         | ⚠️ Warning |
| `over_char_limit` | Exceeds template's character limit | ⚠️ Warning |
| `over_word_limit` | Exceeds template's word limit      | ⚠️ Warning |

### Content Flags

| Flag              | Description                                        | Severity   |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | ---------- |
| `forbidden_word`  | Contains a word from template's forbidden list     | 🚫 Error   |
| `has_preamble`    | Starts with "Here's a hook:", "Sure!", etc.        | ℹ️ Info    |
| `has_postamble`   | Ends with "Let me know!", "Hope this helps!"       | ℹ️ Info    |
| `has_quotes`      | Output wrapped in quotation marks                  | ℹ️ Info    |
| `has_placeholder` | Contains \[Name], {Company}, or {{variable}}       | 🚫 Error   |
| `has_ai_speak`    | Contains "As an AI...", "I cannot..."              | 🚫 Error   |
| `has_cliche`      | Contains "hope this finds you well", "circle back" | ⚠️ Warning |
| `generic`         | Not personalized enough based on input             | ⚠️ Warning |

***

## Auto-Fix Feature

<Info>
  Smelt automatically fixes certain issues **before** you see them!
</Info>

These are stripped automatically from every AI output:

| Issue              | Auto-Fix                                          |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------- |
| **Preambles**      | "Here's a hook:", "Sure!", "Certainly!" → Removed |
| **Postambles**     | "Let me know!", "Hope this helps!" → Removed      |
| **Quote wrappers** | Surrounding quotation marks → Removed             |

<Note>
  Flags shown in results are issues that **couldn't** be auto-fixed.
</Note>

***

## Flag Details

### too\_short

**What it means:** Output is under 15 characters.

**Common causes:**

* AI misunderstood the prompt
* Input data was insufficient
* Template constraints too restrictive

**How to fix:**

* Edit inline to expand
* Re-run with revised prompt
* Check input data quality

***

### over\_char\_limit / over\_word\_limit

**What it means:** Output exceeded your template's length constraints.

**Common causes:**

* AI didn't fully respect limits
* Limits set too low for the task

**How to fix:**

* Edit to shorten
* Adjust template limits
* Make limit clearer in prompt ("MUST be under 100 characters")

***

### forbidden\_word

**What it means:** Output contains a word you banned in the template.

**Common causes:**

* AI used the word despite instructions
* Word appears in a different form

**How to fix:**

* Edit to remove the word
* Make prohibition clearer in prompt
* Consider if the word is truly necessary to ban

<Tip>
  Forbidden word detection uses word boundaries—"loan" won't flag "loans" or "alone".
</Tip>

***

### has\_preamble

**What it means:** Output starts with AI-style introductions.

**Examples:**

* "Here's a hook for you:"
* "Sure, here's what I came up with:"
* "Certainly!"

**Why it's flagged:** These should have been auto-fixed. If you see this flag, the preamble pattern wasn't recognized.

**How to fix:** Edit to remove the preamble manually.

***

### has\_postamble

**What it means:** Output ends with AI-style sign-offs.

**Examples:**

* "Let me know if you need changes!"
* "Hope this helps!"
* "Feel free to ask for more!"

**Why it's flagged:** These should have been auto-fixed. If you see this flag, the postamble pattern wasn't recognized.

**How to fix:** Edit to remove the postamble manually.

***

### has\_quotes

**What it means:** Output is wrapped in quotation marks.

**Example:**

```
"Scaling your SaaS team in Austin is no small feat—"
```

**Why it's flagged:** Should have been auto-fixed. Quotes suggest the AI is "presenting" rather than "being" the copy.

**How to fix:** Edit to remove surrounding quotes.

***

### has\_placeholder

**What it means:** Output contains unfilled placeholders.

**Examples:**

* `[Name]`
* `{Company}`
* `{{variable}}`
* `[INSERT CITY HERE]`

**Common causes:**

* AI left placeholders instead of using data
* Variable wasn't found in CSV
* AI misunderstood the task

**How to fix:**

* Check that CSV has the expected columns
* Edit to fill in the placeholder
* Re-run after fixing the prompt

<Warning>
  This is a serious flag—placeholders will look terrible if sent to prospects!
</Warning>

***

### has\_ai\_speak

**What it means:** Output contains language revealing it's AI-generated.

**Examples:**

* "As an AI language model..."
* "I cannot provide..."
* "I don't have access to..."

**Common causes:**

* AI broke character
* Prompt triggered safety responses
* Unusual input data

**How to fix:**

* Edit to remove AI language
* Revise prompt to prevent this
* Check input data for issues

***

### has\_cliche

**What it means:** Output contains overused phrases.

**Examples:**

* "I hope this email finds you well"
* "Circle back"
* "Touch base"
* "Low-hanging fruit"
* "Synergy"

**Why it matters:** These phrases are so common they reduce impact and feel generic.

**How to fix:**

* Edit to replace with more original phrasing
* Add clichés to forbidden words list

***

### generic

**What it means:** Output doesn't seem personalized to the specific lead.

**Detection:** Checks if the output could apply to almost any lead rather than being tailored.

**Common causes:**

* Not enough data in the CSV
* Prompt doesn't reference enough variables
* Template is too general

**How to fix:**

* Use more variables in your prompt
* Add more specific instructions
* Ensure CSV has relevant data

***

## Filtering by Quality

In the Results view, filter to show:

| Filter          | Shows                            |
| --------------- | -------------------------------- |
| **All results** | Everything                       |
| **Has flags**   | Only outputs with quality issues |
| **No flags**    | Only clean outputs               |

<Tip>
  Review flagged outputs first, then bulk-approve clean ones.
</Tip>

***

## Quality Flag Strategy

<Steps>
  <Step title="Filter to flagged only">
    Focus on outputs that need attention
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and edit">
    Fix issues inline or decide to re-run
  </Step>

  <Step title="Bulk approve clean outputs">
    Select all clean outputs and approve
  </Step>

  <Step title="Re-run problematic rows">
    If many rows have issues, revise template and re-run
  </Step>
</Steps>