> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.wproofreader.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.wproofreader.com/api-reference/style-guide-api/actions/delete-rule-s-deleterule-deleterules.md).

# Delete rule(s) (deleterule, deleterules)

Delete one or multiple style guide rules.

### Request

See [HTTP API Overview](/api-reference/overview.md).

#### Parameters

| Parameter    | Type   | Required | Default       | Notes                                                                                             |
| ------------ | ------ | -------- | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `cmd`        | string | Yes      | `style_guide` | Command name.                                                                                     |
| `action`     | string | Yes      |               | `deleterule` or `deleterules`.                                                                    |
| `collection` | string | Yes      |               | A name of the collection in which rules are stored.                                               |
| `lang`       | string | No       | `common`      | Language scope that contains the rule(s) (example: `en_US` or `en`).                              |
| `rule`       | string | Yes      |               | One rule ID, or a comma-separated list of rule IDs. Use `lang` + `rule` to uniquely target rules. |

### Behavior

* Deletes the specified rule(s).
* Returns the deleted rule object(s) in `result`.

### Response

Deleted rules object are returned.

See [Response schema](/api-reference/style-guide-api/response-schema.md).

### Errors

See

* [Errors](/api-reference/style-guide-api/errors.md#deleterule-deleterules-errors).
* [Validation & limits](/api-reference/style-guide-api/validation-and-limits.md)

{% hint style="warning" %}
If a rule is visible in `getrules`, but `deleterules` returns **"Rule(s) not found"**, check `lang`.

`getrules` can return rules from multiple languages when `lang` is omitted, but delete actions use `lang=common` by default.

Pass the rule’s language explicitly (use `lang` + `rule` to uniquely target it).
{% endhint %}

### Examples

#### 1) Delete a single rule:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Example (JSON body)" %}

<details>

<summary>Request URL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
http(s)://server_entry_point/?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&collection=style guide&lang=en_US&action=deleterule&rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request URL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&serviceid=<your-service-id>&collection=style guide&lang=en_US&action=deleterule&rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "http(s)://server_entry_point" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'collection=style guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'lang=en_US' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=deleterule' \
  --data-urlencode 'rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'serviceid=<your-service-id>' \
  --data-urlencode 'collection=style guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'lang=en_US' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=deleterule' \
  --data-urlencode 'rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

***

<details>

<summary>Response</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```json
{
    "message": "Rule(s) deleted.",
    "result": [
        {
            "state": true,
            "language": "",
            "id": {
                "category": "STYLE_GUIDE",
                "collection": "style guide",
                "rule": "STYLE_16591413123912100174"
            },
            "patterns": [
                "testtexttobereplaced"
            ],
            "suggestions": [
                "TestTextToBeReplaced"
            ],
            "description": "example",
            "context_include": [],
            "context_exclude": []
        }
    ]
}
```

{% endcode %}

</details>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Example (XML body)" %}

<details>

<summary>Request URL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
http(s)://server_entry_point/?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&collection=style guide&lang=en_US&action=deleterule&rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174&format=xml
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request URL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&serviceid=<your-service-id>&collection=style guide&lang=en_US&action=deleterule&rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174&format=xml
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "http(s)://server_entry_point" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'collection=style guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'lang=en_US' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=deleterule' \
  --data-urlencode 'rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174' \
  --data-urlencode 'format=xml'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'serviceid=<your-service-id>' \
  --data-urlencode 'collection=style guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'lang=en_US' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=deleterule' \
  --data-urlencode 'rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174' \
  --data-urlencode 'format=xml'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

***

<details>

<summary>Response</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```xml
<message>Rule(s) deleted.</message>

<result>
	<rule>
		<state>true</state>
		<language/>
		<id>
			<category>STYLE_GUIDE</category>
			<collection>style guide</collection>
			<rule>STYLE_16591413123912100174</rule>
		</id>
		<patterns>
			<patterns>testtexttobereplaced</patterns>
		</patterns>
		<suggestions>
			<suggestions>TestTextToBeReplaced</suggestions>
		</suggestions>
		<description>example</description>
		<context_include/>
		<context_exclude/>
	</rule>
</result>
```

{% endcode %}

</details>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

#### 2) Delete multiple rules:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Example (JSON body)" %}

<details>

<summary>Request URL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
http(s)://server_entry_point/?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&collection=style guide&lang=en_US&action=deleterules&rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174,STYLE_9947069052949400407
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request URL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&serviceid=<your-service-id>&collection=style guide&lang=en_US&action=deleterules&rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174,STYLE_9947069052949400407
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "http(s)://server_entry_point" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'collection=style guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'lang=en_US' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=deleterules' \
  --data-urlencode 'rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174,STYLE_9947069052949400407'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'serviceid=<your-service-id>' \
  --data-urlencode 'collection=style guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'lang=en_US' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=deleterules' \
  --data-urlencode 'rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174,STYLE_9947069052949400407'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

***

<details>

<summary>Response</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```json
{
    "message": "Rule(s) deleted.",
    "result": [
        {
            "state": true,
            "language": "",
            "id": {
                "category": "STYLE_GUIDE",
                "collection": "style guide",
                "rule": "STYLE_16591413123912100174"
            },
            "patterns": [
                "testtexttobereplaced"
            ],
            "suggestions": [
                "TestTextToBeReplaced"
            ],
            "description": "example",
            "context_include": [],
            "context_exclude": []
        },
        {
            "state": true,
            "language": "",
            "id": {
                "category": "STYLE_GUIDE",
                "collection": "style guide",
                "rule": "STYLE_9947069052949400407"
            },
            "patterns": [
                "missedspacesexample"
            ],
            "suggestions": [
                "missed spaces example"
            ],
            "description": "example2",
            "context_include": [],
            "context_exclude": []
        }
    ]
}
```

{% endcode %}

</details>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Example (XML body)" %}

<details>

<summary>Request URL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
http(s)://server_entry_point/?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&collection=style guide&lang=en_US&action=deleterules&rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174,STYLE_9947069052949400407&format=xml
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request URL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&serviceid=<your-service-id>&collection=style guide&lang=en_US&action=deleterules&rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174,STYLE_9947069052949400407&format=xml
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "http(s)://server_entry_point" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'collection=style guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'lang=en_US' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=deleterules' \
  --data-urlencode 'rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174,STYLE_9947069052949400407' \
  --data-urlencode 'format=xml'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'serviceid=<your-service-id>' \
  --data-urlencode 'collection=style guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'lang=en_US' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=deleterules' \
  --data-urlencode 'rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174,STYLE_9947069052949400407' \
  --data-urlencode 'format=xml'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

***

<details>

<summary>Response</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```xml
<message>Rule(s) deleted.</message>

<result>
	<rule>
		<state>true</state>
		<language/>
		<id>
			<category>STYLE_GUIDE</category>
			<collection>style guide</collection>
			<rule>STYLE_16591413123912100174</rule>
		</id>
		<patterns>
			<patterns>testtexttobereplaced</patterns>
		</patterns>
		<suggestions>
			<suggestions>TestTextToBeReplaced</suggestions>
		</suggestions>
		<description>example</description>
		<context_include/>
		<context_exclude/>
	</rule>
	<rule>
		<state>true</state>
		<language/>
		<id>
			<category>STYLE_GUIDE</category>
			<collection>style guide</collection>
			<rule>STYLE_9947069052949400407</rule>
		</id>
		<patterns>
			<patterns>missedspacesexample</patterns>
		</patterns>
		<suggestions>
			<suggestions>missed spaces example</suggestions>
		</suggestions>
		<description>example2</description>
		<context_include/>
		<context_exclude/>
	</rule>
</result>
```

{% endcode %}

</details>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}


---

# Agent Instructions
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## Querying This Documentation
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Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.wproofreader.com/api-reference/style-guide-api/actions/delete-rule-s-deleterule-deleterules.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

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Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.