---
url: /rules/skills/skill-body-missing-usage-section.md
description: SKILL.md body lacks a usage/instructions section
---

# skill-body-missing-usage-section

## Rule Details

A dedicated usage/instructions section helps users and AI models understand how to invoke and interact with the skill. This rule checks the body content of SKILL.md files for a level-2 heading matching common conventions: "Usage", "Instructions", "Quick Start", "Quick Workflow", "Getting Started", "How to Use", or "Examples". Without such a section, users must read through the entire file to figure out how to use the skill.

### Incorrect

SKILL.md body without a Usage section

```markdown
---
name: deploy
description: Deploys the application
---

# Deploy

This skill deploys the app.

## Configuration

Set environment variables.
```

### Correct

SKILL.md body with a Usage section

```markdown
---
name: deploy
description: Deploys the application
---

# Deploy

## Usage

Run `/deploy staging` to deploy to the staging environment.

## Configuration

Set environment variables.
```

SKILL.md body with an Instructions section

```markdown
---
name: deploy
description: Deploys the application
---

# Deploy

## Instructions

### Step 1: Configure environment
Set the target environment variable.

### Step 2: Run deployment
Execute the deploy command.
```

## How To Fix

Add a section like `## Usage`, `## Instructions`, `## Quick Start`, `## Getting Started`, `## How to Use`, or `## Examples` to the body of your SKILL.md file. Include invocation examples, expected arguments, and any flags or options the skill supports.

## Options

This rule does not have any configuration options.

## Related Rules

* [`skill-body-too-long`](/rules/skills/skill-body-too-long)
* [`skill-body-word-count`](/rules/skills/skill-body-word-count)

## Resources

* [Rule Implementation](https://github.com/pdugan20/claudelint/blob/main/src/rules/skills/skill-body-missing-usage-section.ts)
* [Rule Tests](https://github.com/pdugan20/claudelint/blob/main/tests/rules/skills/skill-body-missing-usage-section.test.ts)

## Version

Available since: v0.2.0