1 files changed, 14 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/claude-rules/interaction.md b/claude-rules/interaction.md
index 4d9279b..7e42c44 100644
--- a/claude-rules/interaction.md
+++ b/claude-rules/interaction.md
@@ -29,3 +29,17 @@ For multi-select decisions, say so explicitly: "Pick any combination — reply w
 Reserve `AskUserQuestion` only when the user explicitly asks for the popup form ("use the popup for this one") or for genuinely free-form input where numbered options don't fit.
 
 This rule applies to all three approval gates in the `commits.md` publish flow (commit message, PR description, PR review reply): print the draft inline, then offer numbered approve / changes / edit options inline. Do not switch to the popup form for the gate even though the prior protocol referenced it.
+
+## No Reverse-Video Highlighting in Chat Output
+
+In conversational output to the user, do not use Markdown bold (`**...**`) or inline-code spans (backtick `` `...` ``). The user's terminal renders both as reverse video, which is hard to read on the display.
+
+**Why:** The styling that looks like emphasis in most renderers comes through as inverted foreground/background here. Plain prose, plain identifiers, and plain key chords read cleanly; the "highlight" actively hurts legibility.
+
+**How to apply:**
+
+- Write command names, file paths, key chords, and code identifiers as plain text — `pearl-save-issue` becomes pearl-save-issue, `C-; L s s` becomes C-; L s s.
+- Use structure that doesn't invert colors: headers, numbered lists, dashes, parentheses, and double quotes for labels are all fine.
+- Fenced code blocks (triple backtick) are acceptable when the user explicitly wants a block to copy — they don't invert the way inline spans do. Default to plain text otherwise.
+
+This governs **chat output**, not the Markdown source of rule files, specs, or docs the user reads in an editor — those keep normal Markdown formatting. The constraint is the terminal rendering of the live conversation.