## TL;DR
The agent truncated a quote mid-sentence, dropping the 'except' carve-out, and the summary reversed the clause's meaning. Quote complete clauses, never fragments: check every quote for exception keywords (except, unless, notwithstanding, provided that) and validate each quote against the source text before publishing.

## The symptom
```text
agent truncated a quote mid-sentence and the missing half contained the 'except' carve-out  -  the summary reversed the clause's meaning
```

## Steps
### 1. Re-quote the complete clause
Go back to the source and capture the full sentence or clause, including everything after the truncation point.
Expected: The full clause with the 'except' carve-out intact.

### 2. Check for exception keywords
Scan the full clause for except, unless, notwithstanding, provided that, however, and carve-out. These words flip meaning.
Expected: All exception language identified in the clause.

### 3. Correct the summary
Rewrite the summary to include the carve-out: the restriction applies except where the carve-out says otherwise.
Expected: A summary that preserves the clause's actual meaning.

### 4. Add the no-truncation rule
Quotes must end at sentence or clause boundaries and must include trailing exception language. Validate quote completeness against the source automatically.
Expected: Truncated quotes blocked before they ship.

## When to use
- A quote ends mid-sentence
- The summary contradicts the clause's apparent meaning
- Exception keywords appear right after a quote's cutoff

## When not to use
- The clause was fairly summarized with the carve-out included
- The quote is long but complete (length is fine; truncation is the problem)
- The source itself is ambiguous (escalate, do not guess)

## Why it happens
Exception language lives at the end of clauses: '...shall not disclose, except as required by law.' Truncating before the comma keeps the prohibition and drops the permission, reversing the meaning. Summaries built on fragments inherit the reversal.

## Edge cases
- Multi-sentence carve-outs: quote the whole exception block, not just the trigger word.
- Nested exceptions (except as provided in Section X): follow the reference and note it.
- Defined terms with exceptions: apply the same completeness check.

## Provenance

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_7Iw59e8e8CWIb59pNGCHQA