diff --git a/templates/blog_research.yml b/templates/blog_research.yml
index 76b88d0..f7b4f37 100644
--- a/templates/blog_research.yml
+++ b/templates/blog_research.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name: blog_research
-description: "Research a blog topic — live web search + synthesis + spawn a blog_write task."
+description: "Research a blog topic -- live web search + synthesis + spawn a blog_write task."
 debug: true
 rag_exclude: [business_plan, charter]
 system: agent_prompt
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ steps:
       State your reasoning, then on the last line write:
       SEARCH QUERY: [your query here]
 
-      Query rules: 3–8 words. Specific. Current year preferred.
+      Query rules: 3-8 words. Specific. Current year preferred.
 
   - type: tool
     capability: Tool_WebSearcher
@@ -49,12 +49,12 @@ steps:
 
       Structure the brief as:
         TOPIC: [clear one-line topic statement]
-        TARGET READER: [who is this for — one sentence]
+        TARGET READER: [who is this for -- one sentence]
         THE HOOK: [the real problem or curiosity that opens the article]
         THE PROMISE: [the one thing the reader walks away knowing or able to do]
-        KEY POINTS: [3–5 specific, concrete points to cover]
-        TONE: [voice and register — e.g. "conversational, peer-to-peer", "authoritative and warm"]
-        WORD COUNT TARGET: [800–2000 words depending on depth]
+        KEY POINTS: [3-5 specific, concrete points to cover]
+        TONE: [voice and register -- e.g. "conversational, peer-to-peer", "authoritative and warm"]
+        WORD COUNT TARGET: [800-2000 words depending on depth]
         CALL TO ACTION: [one concrete thing the reader can do this week]
         SOURCES: [any key URLs or references from the search results]