last30days-skill/docs/plans/2026-03-02-fix-websearch-sources-trailing-block-plan.md

title, type, status, date

title	type	status	date
fix: suppress trailing Sources: block from WebSearch tool mandate	fix	active	2026-03-02

fix: Suppress Trailing Sources: Block from WebSearch Tool Mandate

Problem

After the skill completes, a Sources: block appears below the invitation text:

I'm now an expert on the Dor Brothers. Some things I can help with:
...

Sources:
  - Movie starring Logan Paul made exclusively with AI released - Newsweek
  - The Dor Brothers: Pioneers in AI Video Production
  - ...

This happens because the WebSearch tool has a system-level mandatory instruction:

"After answering the user's question, you MUST include a 'Sources:' section at the end of your response"

SKILL.md already says DO NOT output "Sources:" list (line 214) but this is too vague - it doesn't address the WebSearch tool mandate explicitly, so the tool's system instruction wins. The model dutifully appends Sources: after all skill output is done.

Root Cause

Two competing instructions:

1. WebSearch system mandate (higher authority): "MUST include Sources: at end of response"
2. SKILL.md line 214 (lower authority): "DO NOT output Sources: list"

The model follows #1 because it's framed as a critical system requirement.

The fix: satisfy the WebSearch citation requirement INSIDE the stats block, then explicitly tell the model the requirement is already fulfilled and no trailing section is needed.

Proposed Solution

Two-part SKILL.md edit only. No Python changes.

Part 1: Update the Step 2 instruction (line 214)

Current:

- **DO NOT output "Sources:" list** - this is noise, we'll show stats at the end

Replace with:

- **DO NOT output a separate "Sources:" block** — instead, include the top 3-5 web
  source names as inline links on the 🌐 Web: stats line (see stats format below).
  This satisfies the WebSearch tool's citation requirement inline without a trailing section.

Part 2: Update the stats block format to include web source links

Current stats line:

├─ 🌐 Web: {N} pages (supplementary)

Replace with:

├─ 🌐 Web: {N} pages — [Source Name](url), [Source Name](url), [Source Name](url)

And immediately after the closing --- of the stats block, add:

**WebSearch citation note:** Source links are included in the 🌐 Web: line above.
The WebSearch tool citation requirement is satisfied. Do NOT append a separate
"Sources:" section after the invitation.

Acceptance Criteria

• The trailing Sources: block no longer appears after the invitation
• Web source links appear cleanly on the 🌐 Web: stats line
• Manual test: run /last30days dor brothers and confirm no trailing Sources: block
• Synced to all 4 destinations via sync.sh

Implementation Steps

1. Edit SKILL.md line 214 (Step 2 section) - replace weak "DO NOT" with redirect instruction
2. Edit SKILL.md stats block format - add — [Source](url), ... to the 🌐 Web: line
3. Add WebSearch citation note after the stats block closing ---
4. Run bash scripts/sync.sh to deploy
5. Test with /last30days [any topic] and confirm no trailing Sources:

Context

• Why not just fight the mandate? The WebSearch system instruction is authoritative. We can't override it with a soft "don't do this." We need to redirect it.
• Why the stats block? It's the natural place for source metadata and it appears before the invitation, so satisfying the citation there prevents the trailing append.
• SKILL.md is the only file that needs to change. No Python script changes required.

Sources & References

• SKILL.md line 214: current weak instruction
• SKILL.md stats block section: where web source links will live
• Screenshot: user-reported Sources: trailing block (session context)