citations

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations present; description mentions it's free and includes citation types, but lacks detail on error handling, rate limits, or auth requirements.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Five well-structured sentences, front-loaded with purpose, each sentence adds meaningful information with no redundancy.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given simple tool with 2 params and no output schema, description covers purpose, parameters, and sibling comparison adequately; could mention output format briefly.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema covers 100% of parameters; description adds value by explaining direction options (backward=prior art, forward=downstream impact) and citation types (examiner vs applicant).

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

Clearly states it returns backward/forward citations for a patent, defines terms, and distinguishes from sibling 'dossier' by noting it's lighter.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Provides context by comparing to dossier and noting it's free, but does not give exhaustive when-not-to-use guidance for all siblings.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.