Make module-stage LLM handling resilient and report warnings

README.md

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ Pipeline behavior includes:
 - conservative spoken-word dysfluency cleanup with semantic guardrails
 - grammar/punctuation/capitalization/formatting cleanup
 - validator-chain enforcement before application
+- malformed module-stage LLM payloads degrade to warnings/rejections instead of failing the run
 - run reports and diagnostics artifacts with secret redaction
 
 ## Build and Install
@@ -130,6 +131,7 @@ audita process transcript.json \
 - Without `--output`, stdout contains transcript JSON only on success.
 - `--report-json` writes a file and is never printed to stdout.
 - stderr is human-readable diagnostics/errors.
+- successful runs remain quiet on stderr even when module warnings are recorded in report/diagnostics artifacts.
 
 For subprocess orchestration guidance, see [`docs/subprocess-operations.md`](docs/subprocess-operations.md).
 
@@ -149,10 +151,10 @@ audita config print-effective --config audita.yml
 ```
 
 For full config-file schema and examples, see [`docs/configuration.md`](docs/configuration.md).
-For output-schema details, see [`docs/output-schemas.md`](docs/output-schemas.md).
-For built-in validator keys and chain definitions, see [`docs/validators.md`](docs/validators.md).
-For embedded prompt assets and prompt metadata behavior, see [`docs/prompts.md`](docs/prompts.md).
-For CLI/process compatibility guarantees, see [`docs/public-contract.md`](docs/public-contract.md).
+For output-schema details, see [`docs/architecture/output-schemas.md`](docs/architecture/output-schemas.md).
+For built-in validator keys and chain definitions, see [`docs/architecture/validators.md`](docs/architecture/validators.md).
+For embedded prompt assets and prompt metadata behavior, see [`docs/architecture/prompts.md`](docs/architecture/prompts.md).
+For CLI/process compatibility guarantees, see [`docs/architecture/public-contract.md`](docs/architecture/public-contract.md).
 
 ### Modules
 

cmd/audita/main_integration_test.go

@@ -382,25 +382,22 @@ func TestProcessFailureMalformedStructuredLLMResponseViaSubprocessHook(t *testin
 		"--work-dir-retention",
 		"always",
 	)
-	if result.exitCode == 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected nonzero exit code")
+	if result.exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected zero exit code, got %d stderr=%q", result.exitCode, result.stderr)
 	}
-	if result.stdout != "" {
-		t.Fatalf("expected empty stdout on failure, got %q", result.stdout)
+	if !json.Valid([]byte(result.stdout)) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected transcript JSON on stdout, got %q", result.stdout)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(result.stderr, "runner_execution") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected runner_execution failure, got %q", result.stderr)
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(result.stderr, "diagnostics:") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected diagnostics path in stderr, got %q", result.stderr)
+	if result.stderr != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty stderr on success, got %q", result.stderr)
 	}
 	report := readFile(t, reportPath)
 	if !json.Valid(report) {
-		t.Fatalf("expected valid failure report JSON")
+		t.Fatalf("expected valid success report JSON")
 	}
 	runDir := onlyRunDir(t, workDir)
-	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(runDir, "error.log")); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("expected error.log, got: %v", err)
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(runDir, "error.log")); err == nil || !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("did not expect error.log, got: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 

docs/architecture/architecture.md

@@ -133,11 +133,16 @@ internal/framework/validators/
   llm_batching.go
   llm_validators.go
 
+internal/framework/warnings/
+  warnings.go
+
 internal/validators/
   metadata/
     metadata.go
   registry.go
   chains.go
+  proposal_shape/
+    validator.go
   confidence_threshold/
     validator.go
   original_text_presence/
@@ -242,6 +247,7 @@ Important behavior details:
 - Explicit `--modules grammar`, `--modules glossary`, `--modules homophones`, and `--modules spoken_word` continue to run production module paths with LLM-backed proposal generation and validator-chain execution.
 - Default runs (without explicit module selection) perform LLM calls through production module and validator paths.
 - Success path is generally quiet on stderr.
+- Malformed module-stage LLM payloads degrade to validator rejections and module warnings instead of aborting the run.
 - Source IDs are preserved into a canonical transcript before normalization; normalization then reassigns output IDs sequentially from `1`.
 
 ## Implemented data contracts
@@ -539,20 +545,20 @@ Validator execution classification metadata:
 
 Stable built-in validator keys:
 - deterministic:
+  - `proposal_shape`
   - `confidence_threshold`
   - `original_text_presence`
-  - `non_empty_corrected_text`
+  - `non_empty_corrected_text` (historical key name; current semantics reject empty resulting segment text)
   - `no_effect`
   - `protected_terms`
 - LLM-backed:
   - `spoken_form_plausibility`
   - `meaning_reversal_review`
   - `editorial_review`
-  - `grammar_review`
-  - `spoken_word_review`
 
 Built-in module chains:
 - `glossary`:
+  - `proposal_shape`
   - `no_effect`
   - `original_text_presence`
   - `confidence_threshold`
@@ -561,6 +567,7 @@ Built-in module chains:
   - `spoken_form_plausibility`
   - `meaning_reversal_review`
 - `homophones`:
+  - `proposal_shape`
   - `no_effect`
   - `original_text_presence`
   - `confidence_threshold`
@@ -569,20 +576,22 @@ Built-in module chains:
   - `spoken_form_plausibility`
   - `meaning_reversal_review`
 - `spoken_word`:
+  - `proposal_shape`
   - `no_effect`
   - `original_text_presence`
   - `confidence_threshold`
   - `protected_terms`
   - `non_empty_corrected_text`
-  - `spoken_word_review`
+  - `editorial_review`
   - `meaning_reversal_review`
 - `grammar`:
+  - `proposal_shape`
   - `no_effect`
   - `original_text_presence`
   - `confidence_threshold`
   - `protected_terms`
   - `non_empty_corrected_text`
-  - `grammar_review`
+  - `editorial_review`
   - `meaning_reversal_review`
 
 1.0 boundary:
@@ -595,12 +604,14 @@ Built-in module chains:
 - prompt builders for:
   - spoken-form plausibility
   - meaning reversal detection
-  - editorial review
-  - grammar review
-  - spoken-word review
+- editorial review
+- grammar review
+- spoken-word review
 - deterministic batching by `validation_max_prompt_tokens`;
-- strict cardinality validation of structured LLM decisions (missing/duplicate/unknown indexes fail);
-- safe failure behavior for malformed/invalid structured responses.
+- strict cardinality validation of synthesized validator decision sets;
+- malformed validator payloads reject only the affected batch with warnings;
+- oversized single-proposal validator inputs reject only the affected proposal;
+- transport/provider/runtime LLM call failures remain fatal.
 
 `internal/framework/runner` wires LLM validators into existing validator chains using:
 - the internal structured LLM client abstraction (`contracts.StructuredLLMClient`);
@@ -726,6 +737,7 @@ Current process reports include diagnostics metadata references for:
 Current process reports also include:
 - module-level results (when runner modules execute), including applied/skipped proposal changes;
 - run-level module summary totals and failed module instance metadata.
+- module-level warning records for malformed proposal-generation payloads and malformed validator batches.
 - module-level validator decisions and validator rejections.
 - optional decision-level diagnostic artifact paths for validator LLM interactions when available.
 - stable validator keys in `validator_name` fields for validator decisions/rejections.

docs/architecture/diagnostics.md

@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ Ledger records are flattened review entries derived from module results and incl
 - deterministic and LLM validator decision snapshots using stable validator keys.
 
 Validator rejection and proposal-application skip are distinct dispositions.
+Module warnings are reported in module results and diagnostics metadata, but do not create standalone correction-ledger rows.
 
 ## Report references
 
@@ -71,6 +72,8 @@ Validator rejection and proposal-application skip are distinct dispositions.
 - correction ledger artifact;
 - existing transcript/normalization/chunking/invocation/effective-config artifacts.
 
+Module report entries also include warning records for malformed proposal-generation payloads and malformed validator batches.
+
 ## Retention behavior
 
 Run-directory retention follows configured policy:
@@ -93,6 +96,9 @@ When debugging:
 - validator rejections:
   - inspect `correction-ledger.json` rejected entries and matching validator decisions;
   - inspect validator response diagnostics payloads.
+- module warnings:
+  - inspect module `warnings` entries in `report.json` or `--report-json`;
+  - follow any diagnostic artifact path on the warning to the recorded error/response payload.
 - application skips:
   - inspect `correction-ledger.json` skipped entries and skip reason codes;
   - compare with validator decisions to distinguish validation rejection vs apply-time skip.

docs/architecture/public-contract.md

@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ Current values:
 `--report-json` output and diagnostics run-dir `report.json` use the same report schema metadata.
 
 Validator decision/rejection records in reports use stable validator keys in `validator_name`.
+Module results may also include warning records for malformed module-stage LLM payloads.
 Report diagnostics metadata includes artifact-path fields for utilization diagnostics and correction ledger when diagnostics initialization succeeds.
 
 ## Diagnostics directory behavior
@@ -123,6 +124,7 @@ Success behavior:
 - with `--output`, stdout is empty
 - without `--output`, stdout contains only transcript JSON in selected output schema
 - report JSON is not written to stdout
+- success stderr remains empty even when reports/diagnostics contain module warnings
 
 Failure behavior:
 - stderr contains human-readable error summary
@@ -149,6 +151,7 @@ Config files should reference secrets via environment variable names (`api_key_e
 ## Compatibility and deprecation policy
 
 - Existing stable schema names, report metadata keys, and top-level command behavior are treated as public contract.
+- Existing stable validator keys remain public contract values even when validator semantics are refined.
 - Compatibility inputs (legacy flags/env aliases) may remain during transition windows.
 - Any planned removal or behavior change should include clear compatibility notes and migration guidance.
 

docs/architecture/validators.md

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ For LLM-backed validator prompt asset details, see [`docs/prompts.md`](prompts.m
 
 Built-in validator construction is package-owned under `internal/validators/<validator_key>`:
 - `internal/validators/confidence_threshold`
+- `internal/validators/proposal_shape`
 - `internal/validators/original_text_presence`
 - `internal/validators/non_empty_corrected_text`
 - `internal/validators/no_effect`
@@ -45,12 +46,14 @@ Current 1.0 boundary:
 
 ### Deterministic validators
 
+- `proposal_shape`
+  - rejects malformed proposal fields before other validators run.
 - `confidence_threshold`
   - checks proposal confidence against module-specific configured threshold.
 - `original_text_presence`
   - ensures target segment exists and `original_text` exists in current working segment text.
 - `non_empty_corrected_text`
-  - rejects blank/whitespace-only `corrected_text`.
+  - rejects proposals whose previewed resulting segment text would be empty or whitespace-only.
 - `no_effect`
   - rejects proposals where `original_text == corrected_text`.
 - `protected_terms`
@@ -71,6 +74,7 @@ Current 1.0 boundary:
 Current built-in chains resolved from `internal/validators/chains.go`:
 
 - `glossary`
+  - `proposal_shape`
   - `no_effect`
   - `original_text_presence`
   - `confidence_threshold`
@@ -80,6 +84,7 @@ Current built-in chains resolved from `internal/validators/chains.go`:
   - `meaning_reversal_review`
 
 - `homophones`
+  - `proposal_shape`
   - `no_effect`
   - `original_text_presence`
   - `confidence_threshold`
@@ -89,6 +94,7 @@ Current built-in chains resolved from `internal/validators/chains.go`:
   - `meaning_reversal_review`
 
 - `spoken_word`
+  - `proposal_shape`
   - `no_effect`
   - `original_text_presence`
   - `confidence_threshold`
@@ -98,6 +104,7 @@ Current built-in chains resolved from `internal/validators/chains.go`:
   - `meaning_reversal_review`
 
 - `grammar`
+  - `proposal_shape`
   - `no_effect`
   - `original_text_presence`
   - `confidence_threshold`
@@ -119,7 +126,9 @@ Both variants preserve existing behavior and report the stable key `protected_te
 - modules execute serially;
 - section proposal work can run concurrently within a module;
 - deterministic validators run before LLM-backed validators;
-- malformed/missing/duplicate/unknown LLM validator decisions fail safely;
+- malformed module proposal payloads are downgraded to section-scoped module warnings with zero proposals for the affected section rather than module failure;
+- malformed/missing/duplicate/unknown LLM validator decisions reject the affected validator batch with warnings instead of failing the module;
+- oversized single-proposal validator inputs reject only the affected proposal under that validator;
 - approved proposals are applied once per module after section work settles.
 
 ## Validator rejections vs proposal-application skips
@@ -128,12 +137,15 @@ Both variants preserve existing behavior and report the stable key `protected_te
   - proposal is denied by validator-chain review and appears in validator rejection reporting with validator key and reason code.
 - proposal-application skip:
   - proposal passed validators but could not be applied under replacement-policy semantics (for example no matching span at apply time).
+- module warning:
+  - malformed proposal-generation payloads and malformed validator batches are recorded in module warning records and diagnostics without writing success stderr.
 
 These are separate outcomes and are reported separately.
 
 ## Reporting and diagnostics identity
 
 - report validator decision/rejection entries use stable validator keys in `validator_name`.
+- report module results include warning records for malformed module-stage LLM payloads.
 - validator LLM diagnostics include validator identity in interaction metadata and structured response schema metadata.
 - correction ledger entries include deterministic and LLM validator decision snapshots keyed by the same stable validator keys, and keep validator rejection distinct from application-level skip.
 

docs/release-checklist.md

@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ Use this checklist before cutting a pre-1.0 or 1.0 release candidate.
 - Verify structured response schemas are attached via `response_format.type=json_schema`.
 - Verify diagnostics metadata includes structured schema `id/version/name/sha256`.
 - Verify provider output is still locally decoded/validated before use.
+- Verify malformed module-stage structured payloads degrade to warnings/rejections instead of failing the run.
 
 ## Report and diagnostics schema checks
 
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ Use this checklist before cutting a pre-1.0 or 1.0 release candidate.
 - Verify prompt metadata appears in LLM request metadata diagnostics:
   - `prompt_id`, `prompt_version`, `prompt_source`, `embedded_path`, `sha256`.
 - Verify stable validator keys appear in report decisions/rejections.
+- Verify module warning records appear in reports for malformed proposal-generation payloads and malformed validator batches.
 - Verify built-in validator chains resolve and execute for default and explicit module runs.
 
 ## Utilization diagnostics checks
@@ -96,6 +98,8 @@ Use this checklist before cutting a pre-1.0 or 1.0 release candidate.
 ## Failure and cancellation checks
 
 - Verify controlled failure paths retain diagnostics and produce best-effort failure reports.
+- Verify malformed proposal-generation payloads keep exit code `0`, keep stderr empty on success, and record warnings in reports/diagnostics.
+- Verify malformed validator payloads reject only the affected batch and do not fail the module.
 - Verify timeout/cancellation paths exit nonzero, do not hang, and retain failure diagnostics when initialized.
 
 ## Release fixture/idempotence checks

docs/roadmap/publish.md

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+# Hard-Cutover Roadmap for Module-Stage LLM Resilience
+
+## Summary
+
+This roadmap captures the module-stage resilience work for Audita:
+
+- fail fast on initialization, configuration, schema, and other pre-module setup errors;
+- remain resilient during module execution when LLM payloads are malformed or individual proposed corrections are invalid;
+- reject bad corrections through validator/reporting paths instead of aborting the module or process;
+- keep success stderr quiet; surface warnings only through report and diagnostics artifacts;
+- use a hard cutover only, with no compatibility aliases or transitional code.
+
+Locked decisions:
+
+- keep the stable public validator key `non_empty_corrected_text`;
+- change that validator’s behavior to mean “the resulting segment text must not be empty/whitespace-only after applying the proposal preview”;
+- malformed LLM-validator batch payloads reject the entire affected batch under that validator and continue;
+- proposal/validator transport failures, timeouts, and provider/runtime call failures remain fatal;
+- malformed structured payloads are downgraded; non-malformed runtime call failures are not.
+
+## Stage 1: Proposal Intake Hardening
+
+- Stop treating invalid individual structured corrections as fatal during proposal generation.
+- Preserve returned correction ordering and proposal-index assignment even when individual corrections are malformed.
+- Allow `corrected_text == ""` when the resulting segment remains non-empty after previewed application.
+- Downgrade malformed proposal-generation structured payloads into section-scoped warnings with zero proposals for that section.
+- Keep proposal-generation transport/provider/runtime call failures fatal.
+
+Deterministic validation changes:
+
+- Add `proposal_shape` as a built-in deterministic validator and run it first in every built-in module chain.
+- Reject malformed proposal fields with stable reason codes:
+  - `invalid_target_segment_id`
+  - `empty_original_text`
+  - `invalid_confidence`
+- Keep `non_empty_corrected_text` as the stable validator key, but change its semantics to reject only `empty_resulting_segment`.
+- Keep validator rejection and apply-time skip as distinct outcomes.
+
+## Stage 2: LLM Validator Resilience
+
+- Keep validator transport/provider/runtime call failures fatal.
+- Downgrade malformed validator structured payloads into batch-scoped validator rejections plus module warnings.
+- Downgrade oversized single-proposal validator inputs into per-proposal validator rejections plus module warnings.
+- Preserve decision-cardinality enforcement as an internal invariant after malformed-payload degradation has synthesized complete decision sets.
+
+Stable reason codes introduced or relied upon by this cutover:
+
+- `empty_resulting_segment`
+- `invalid_target_segment_id`
+- `empty_original_text`
+- `invalid_confidence`
+- `validator_response_malformed`
+- `validator_input_too_large`
+- `proposal_response_malformed`
+
+## Stage 3: Reporting, Diagnostics, and Docs
+
+- Add module warning records to runner results and process reports.
+- Keep correction-ledger entries per-correction only; do not add standalone warning rows.
+- Record malformed proposal-generation and validator-batch warnings through report and diagnostics artifacts only.
+- Keep successful runs quiet on stderr even when warnings are present.
+- Update README and architecture/public-contract/diagnostics/validators/release-checklist docs to reflect the new behavior.
+
+## Acceptance Criteria
+
+- Empty `corrected_text` may delete words, but proposals that would blank the whole segment are rejected or skipped safely.
+- Invalid proposal shape is rejected by validators, not by proposal generation.
+- Malformed proposal-generation payloads succeed with warnings and zero proposals for the affected section.
+- Malformed validator payloads reject only the affected validator batch and do not fail the module.
+- Oversized single validator inputs reject only the affected proposal.
+- Transport/provider/runtime LLM failures still fail the module and process.
+- Successful runs with warnings still exit `0`, emit transcript output normally, keep stderr empty, and expose warnings in report/diagnostics artifacts.

internal/cli/run.go

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/proposal_generation"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/runner"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/validators"
+	stagewarnings "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/warnings"
 )
 
 type noOpStructuredLLMClient struct{}
@@ -803,6 +804,7 @@ func buildModuleReporting(runOutput *runner.RunOutput) (*reporting.ModulesSummar
 			ReplacementPolicy:  string(r.ReplacementPolicy),
 			Status:             r.Status,
 			ProposalCount:      r.ProposalCount,
+			Warnings:           append([]stagewarnings.StageWarning(nil), r.Warnings...),
 			ValidatorDecisions: mapValidatorDecisions(r.ValidatorDecisions),
 			ValidatorRejected:  mapValidatorRejected(r.ValidatorRejected),
 			AppliedChanges:     r.AppliedChanges,

internal/cli/run_test.go

@@ -1793,11 +1793,12 @@ type fakeModule struct {
 func (m fakeModule) Key() string                                    { return m.key }
 func (m fakeModule) ReplacementPolicy() proposals.ReplacementPolicy { return m.policy }
 func (m fakeModule) Validators() []contracts.Validator              { return m.validators }
-func (m fakeModule) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, error) {
+func (m fakeModule) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) (contracts.ProposalResult, error) {
 	if m.proposeF == nil {
-		return nil, nil
+		return contracts.ProposalResult{}, nil
 	}
-	return m.proposeF(req)
+	proposalsOut, err := m.proposeF(req)
+	return contracts.ProposalResult{Proposals: proposalsOut}, err
 }
 
 type fakeValidator struct {
@@ -2384,7 +2385,7 @@ func TestRunProcessExplicitGrammarRejectedAndApplicationSkipAreDistinct(t *testi
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRunProcessExplicitGrammarMalformedLLMOutputFailsWithErrorLog(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRunProcessExplicitGrammarMalformedLLMOutputSucceedsWithWarning(t *testing.T) {
 	processProposalLLMClient = &fakeStructuredLLMClient{err: errors.New("malformed structured output")}
 	t.Cleanup(func() { processProposalLLMClient = nil })
 
@@ -2403,22 +2404,32 @@ func TestRunProcessExplicitGrammarMalformedLLMOutputFailsWithErrorLog(t *testing
 		"--work-dir-retention", "always",
 		"--report-json", reportPath,
 	}, &stdout, &stderr)
-	if exitCode == 0 {
-		t.Fatal("expected failure")
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected success, got %d stderr=%q", exitCode, stderr.String())
 	}
-	if stdout.Len() != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected empty stdout on failure, got %q", stdout.String())
+	if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty stderr on success, got %q", stderr.String())
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "runner_execution") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected runner_execution error, got %q", stderr.String())
+	parsed, err := schema.ParseTranscriptJSON(stdout.Bytes())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected transcript stdout on success: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(parsed.Segments) != 1 || parsed.Segments[0].Text != "hello" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected unchanged transcript, got %+v", parsed.Segments)
 	}
 	runDir := onlyRunDir(t, workDir)
-	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(runDir, "error.log")); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("expected error.log on failed grammar run: %v", err)
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(runDir, "error.log")); err == nil || !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("did not expect error.log on successful grammar run: %v", err)
 	}
 	report := readProcessReport(t, reportPath)
-	if report.Status != "failed" || report.ErrorPhase != "runner_execution" {
-		t.Fatalf("expected failed runner_execution report, got %+v", report)
+	if report.Status != "success" || report.ErrorPhase != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected successful report, got %+v", report)
+	}
+	if len(report.ModuleResults) != 1 || len(report.ModuleResults[0].Warnings) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected one module warning, got %+v", report.ModuleResults)
+	}
+	if report.ModuleResults[0].Warnings[0].ReasonCode != "proposal_response_malformed" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected warning: %+v", report.ModuleResults[0].Warnings[0])
 	}
 }
 
@@ -3041,7 +3052,7 @@ func TestRunProcessExplicitGlossaryRepeatedStagesUseDeterministicInstanceNamesAn
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRunProcessExplicitGlossaryMalformedLLMOutputFailsWithErrorLog(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRunProcessExplicitGlossaryMalformedLLMOutputSucceedsWithWarning(t *testing.T) {
 	processProposalLLMClient = &fakeStructuredLLMClient{err: errors.New("malformed structured output")}
 	t.Cleanup(func() { processProposalLLMClient = nil })
 
@@ -3060,22 +3071,29 @@ func TestRunProcessExplicitGlossaryMalformedLLMOutputFailsWithErrorLog(t *testin
 		"--work-dir-retention", "always",
 		"--report-json", reportPath,
 	}, &stdout, &stderr)
-	if exitCode == 0 {
-		t.Fatal("expected failure")
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected success, got %d stderr=%q", exitCode, stderr.String())
 	}
-	if stdout.Len() != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected empty stdout on failure, got %q", stdout.String())
+	if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty stderr on success, got %q", stderr.String())
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "runner_execution") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected runner_execution error, got %q", stderr.String())
+	parsed, err := schema.ParseTranscriptJSON(stdout.Bytes())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected transcript stdout on success: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(parsed.Segments) != 1 || parsed.Segments[0].Text != "hello" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected unchanged transcript, got %+v", parsed.Segments)
 	}
 	runDir := onlyRunDir(t, workDir)
-	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(runDir, "error.log")); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("expected error.log on failed glossary run: %v", err)
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(runDir, "error.log")); err == nil || !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("did not expect error.log on successful glossary run: %v", err)
 	}
 	report := readProcessReport(t, reportPath)
-	if report.Status != "failed" || report.ErrorPhase != "runner_execution" {
-		t.Fatalf("expected failed runner_execution report, got %+v", report)
+	if report.Status != "success" || report.ErrorPhase != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected successful report, got %+v", report)
+	}
+	if len(report.ModuleResults) != 1 || len(report.ModuleResults[0].Warnings) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected one module warning, got %+v", report.ModuleResults)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -3295,7 +3313,7 @@ func TestRunProcessExplicitHomophonesProtectedGlossaryTermRejected(t *testing.T)
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRunProcessExplicitHomophonesMalformedLLMOutputFailsWithErrorLog(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRunProcessExplicitHomophonesMalformedLLMOutputSucceedsWithWarning(t *testing.T) {
 	processProposalLLMClient = &fakeStructuredLLMClient{err: errors.New("malformed structured output")}
 	t.Cleanup(func() { processProposalLLMClient = nil })
 
@@ -3314,22 +3332,29 @@ func TestRunProcessExplicitHomophonesMalformedLLMOutputFailsWithErrorLog(t *test
 		"--work-dir-retention", "always",
 		"--report-json", reportPath,
 	}, &stdout, &stderr)
-	if exitCode == 0 {
-		t.Fatal("expected failure")
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected success, got %d stderr=%q", exitCode, stderr.String())
 	}
-	if stdout.Len() != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected empty stdout on failure, got %q", stdout.String())
+	if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty stderr on success, got %q", stderr.String())
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "runner_execution") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected runner_execution error, got %q", stderr.String())
+	parsed, err := schema.ParseTranscriptJSON(stdout.Bytes())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected transcript stdout on success: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(parsed.Segments) != 1 || parsed.Segments[0].Text != "hello" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected unchanged transcript, got %+v", parsed.Segments)
 	}
 	runDir := onlyRunDir(t, workDir)
-	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(runDir, "error.log")); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("expected error.log on failed homophones run: %v", err)
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(runDir, "error.log")); err == nil || !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("did not expect error.log on successful homophones run: %v", err)
 	}
 	report := readProcessReport(t, reportPath)
-	if report.Status != "failed" || report.ErrorPhase != "runner_execution" {
-		t.Fatalf("expected failed runner_execution report, got %+v", report)
+	if report.Status != "success" || report.ErrorPhase != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected successful report, got %+v", report)
+	}
+	if len(report.ModuleResults) != 1 || len(report.ModuleResults[0].Warnings) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected one module warning, got %+v", report.ModuleResults)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -3674,7 +3699,7 @@ func TestRunProcessExplicitSpokenWordProtectedGlossaryTermRejected(t *testing.T)
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRunProcessExplicitSpokenWordMalformedLLMOutputFailsWithErrorLog(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRunProcessExplicitSpokenWordMalformedLLMOutputSucceedsWithWarning(t *testing.T) {
 	processProposalLLMClient = &fakeStructuredLLMClient{err: errors.New("malformed structured output")}
 	t.Cleanup(func() { processProposalLLMClient = nil })
 
@@ -3693,22 +3718,29 @@ func TestRunProcessExplicitSpokenWordMalformedLLMOutputFailsWithErrorLog(t *test
 		"--work-dir-retention", "always",
 		"--report-json", reportPath,
 	}, &stdout, &stderr)
-	if exitCode == 0 {
-		t.Fatal("expected failure")
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected success, got %d stderr=%q", exitCode, stderr.String())
 	}
-	if stdout.Len() != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected empty stdout on failure, got %q", stdout.String())
+	if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty stderr on success, got %q", stderr.String())
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "runner_execution") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected runner_execution error, got %q", stderr.String())
+	parsed, err := schema.ParseTranscriptJSON(stdout.Bytes())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected transcript stdout on success: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(parsed.Segments) != 1 || parsed.Segments[0].Text != "hello" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected unchanged transcript, got %+v", parsed.Segments)
 	}
 	runDir := onlyRunDir(t, workDir)
-	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(runDir, "error.log")); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("expected error.log on failed spoken_word run: %v", err)
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(runDir, "error.log")); err == nil || !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("did not expect error.log on successful spoken_word run: %v", err)
 	}
 	report := readProcessReport(t, reportPath)
-	if report.Status != "failed" || report.ErrorPhase != "runner_execution" {
-		t.Fatalf("expected failed runner_execution report, got %+v", report)
+	if report.Status != "success" || report.ErrorPhase != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected successful report, got %+v", report)
+	}
+	if len(report.ModuleResults) != 1 || len(report.ModuleResults[0].Warnings) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected one module warning, got %+v", report.ModuleResults)
 	}
 }
 

internal/cli/subprocess_test_hooks.go

@@ -78,25 +78,22 @@ func (c *subprocessTestLLMClient) CompleteStructured(ctx context.Context, req co
 			}
 		}
 	case "mid_pipeline_fail":
-		switch target := out.(type) {
-		case *proposal_generation.StructuredCorrectionSet:
+		if _, ok := out.(*proposal_generation.StructuredCorrectionSet); ok {
 			c.mu.Lock()
 			c.proposals++
 			proposalCall := c.proposals
 			c.mu.Unlock()
 
 			if proposalCall >= 3 {
-				*target = proposal_generation.StructuredCorrectionSet{
-					Corrections: []proposal_generation.StructuredCorrectionProposal{
-						{TargetSegmentID: 0, OriginalText: "x", CorrectedText: "y", Confidence: 0.99},
-					},
-				}
-			} else {
-				*target = proposal_generation.StructuredCorrectionSet{
-					Corrections: []proposal_generation.StructuredCorrectionProposal{
-						{TargetSegmentID: 1, OriginalText: "Segment", CorrectedText: "Segment", Confidence: 0.99},
-					},
-				}
+				return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{}, errors.New("synthetic mid-pipeline failure")
+			}
+		}
+		switch target := out.(type) {
+		case *proposal_generation.StructuredCorrectionSet:
+			*target = proposal_generation.StructuredCorrectionSet{
+				Corrections: []proposal_generation.StructuredCorrectionProposal{
+					{TargetSegmentID: 1, OriginalText: "Segment", CorrectedText: "Segment", Confidence: 0.99},
+				},
 			}
 		case *validators.LLMValidationResponse:
 			*target = validators.LLMValidationResponse{Validations: nil}

internal/core/reporting/report.go

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/proposals"
+	stagewarnings "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/warnings"
 )
 
 type ProcessReport struct {
@@ -46,18 +47,19 @@ type ReportMetadata struct {
 }
 
 type ModuleReport struct {
-	ModuleKey          string                    `json:"module_key"`
-	ModuleInstance     string                    `json:"module_instance"`
-	ReplacementPolicy  string                    `json:"replacement_policy,omitempty"`
-	Status             string                    `json:"status"`
-	ProposalCount      int                       `json:"proposal_count"`
-	ValidatorDecisions []ValidatorDecisionReport `json:"validator_decisions,omitempty"`
-	ValidatorRejected  []ValidatorRejectedReport `json:"validator_rejected,omitempty"`
-	AppliedChanges     []proposals.AppliedChange `json:"applied_changes,omitempty"`
-	SkippedChanges     []proposals.SkippedChange `json:"skipped_changes,omitempty"`
-	ErrorMessage       string                    `json:"error_message,omitempty"`
-	StartedAt          *time.Time                `json:"started_at,omitempty"`
-	CompletedAt        *time.Time                `json:"completed_at,omitempty"`
+	ModuleKey          string                       `json:"module_key"`
+	ModuleInstance     string                       `json:"module_instance"`
+	ReplacementPolicy  string                       `json:"replacement_policy,omitempty"`
+	Status             string                       `json:"status"`
+	ProposalCount      int                          `json:"proposal_count"`
+	Warnings           []stagewarnings.StageWarning `json:"warnings,omitempty"`
+	ValidatorDecisions []ValidatorDecisionReport    `json:"validator_decisions,omitempty"`
+	ValidatorRejected  []ValidatorRejectedReport    `json:"validator_rejected,omitempty"`
+	AppliedChanges     []proposals.AppliedChange    `json:"applied_changes,omitempty"`
+	SkippedChanges     []proposals.SkippedChange    `json:"skipped_changes,omitempty"`
+	ErrorMessage       string                       `json:"error_message,omitempty"`
+	StartedAt          *time.Time                   `json:"started_at,omitempty"`
+	CompletedAt        *time.Time                   `json:"completed_at,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type ValidatorDecisionReport struct {

internal/framework/contracts/chunk_proposal_composition_test.go

@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func (h testChunkProposalHarness) collectEnrichedProposals(
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		for _, proposal := range base {
+		for _, proposal := range base.Proposals {
 			sectionIndex := section.Index
 			out = append(out, proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal{
 				CorrectionProposal: proposal,
@@ -85,11 +85,11 @@ func (m deterministicFakeModule) ReplacementPolicy() proposals.ReplacementPolicy
 
 func (m deterministicFakeModule) Validators() []Validator { return nil }
 
-func (m deterministicFakeModule) Propose(ctx context.Context, req ProposalRequest) ([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, error) {
+func (m deterministicFakeModule) Propose(ctx context.Context, req ProposalRequest) (ProposalResult, error) {
 	_ = ctx
 
 	if req.WorkingTranscript == nil || req.Section == nil {
-		return []proposals.CorrectionProposal{}, nil
+		return ProposalResult{}, nil
 	}
 
 	out := make([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, 0)
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func (m deterministicFakeModule) Propose(ctx context.Context, req ProposalReques
 		}
 	}
 
-	return out, nil
+	return ProposalResult{Proposals: out}, nil
 }
 
 func TestChunkProposalMetadataAssociation(t *testing.T) {

internal/framework/contracts/contracts.go

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/proposals"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/responseschema"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/validators"
+	stagewarnings "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/warnings"
 )
 
 // StructuredLLMClient provides provider-agnostic structured completion.
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ type TranscriptModule interface {
 	Key() string
 	ReplacementPolicy() proposals.ReplacementPolicy
 	Validators() []Validator
-	Propose(ctx context.Context, req ProposalRequest) ([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, error)
+	Propose(ctx context.Context, req ProposalRequest) (ProposalResult, error)
 }
 
 // Validator evaluates candidate proposals and returns one decision per proposal index.
@@ -103,6 +104,11 @@ type ProposalRequest struct {
 	LLMScheduler LLMScheduler        `json:"-"`
 }
 
+type ProposalResult struct {
+	Proposals []proposals.CorrectionProposal `json:"proposals,omitempty"`
+	Warnings  []stagewarnings.StageWarning   `json:"warnings,omitempty"`
+}
+
 // ValidationRequest is the input to validator execution.
 type ValidationRequest = validators.Request
 

internal/framework/contracts/contracts_test.go

@@ -50,11 +50,13 @@ func (f *fakeModule) Validators() []Validator {
 	return []Validator{&fakeValidator{}}
 }
 
-func (f *fakeModule) Propose(ctx context.Context, req ProposalRequest) ([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, error) {
+func (f *fakeModule) Propose(ctx context.Context, req ProposalRequest) (ProposalResult, error) {
 	_ = ctx
 	_ = req
-	return []proposals.CorrectionProposal{
-		{TargetSegmentID: 1, OriginalText: "a", CorrectedText: "b", Confidence: 0.9},
+	return ProposalResult{
+		Proposals: []proposals.CorrectionProposal{
+			{TargetSegmentID: 1, OriginalText: "a", CorrectedText: "b", Confidence: 0.9},
+		},
 	}, nil
 }
 
@@ -68,12 +70,12 @@ func TestInterfaceContractsCompileWithFakes(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected module key: %q", got)
 	}
 
-	proposalsOut, err := module.Propose(context.Background(), ProposalRequest{})
+	proposalResult, err := module.Propose(context.Background(), ProposalRequest{})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected propose error: %v", err)
 	}
-	if len(proposalsOut) != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected one proposal, got %d", len(proposalsOut))
+	if len(proposalResult.Proposals) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected one proposal, got %d", len(proposalResult.Proposals))
 	}
 }
 

internal/framework/modules/registry_test.go

@@ -19,10 +19,10 @@ func (m noopModule) ReplacementPolicy() proposals.ReplacementPolicy {
 	return proposals.ReplacementPolicyRequireUnique
 }
 func (m noopModule) Validators() []contracts.Validator { return nil }
-func (m noopModule) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, error) {
+func (m noopModule) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) (contracts.ProposalResult, error) {
 	_ = ctx
 	_ = req
-	return nil, nil
+	return contracts.ProposalResult{}, nil
 }
 
 func TestKnownModuleKeyRecognition(t *testing.T) {

internal/framework/proposal_generation/generate.go

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/llm"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/proposals"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/responseschema"
+	stagewarnings "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/warnings"
 )
 
 // InteractionDiagnosticsWriter writes machine-readable prompt/response artifacts.
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@ type Request struct {
 type Result struct {
 	Corrections []proposals.CorrectionProposal         `json:"corrections"`
 	Enriched    []proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal `json:"enriched"`
+	Warnings    []stagewarnings.StageWarning           `json:"warnings,omitempty"`
 	Artifacts   InteractionArtifacts                   `json:"artifacts,omitempty"`
 }
 
@@ -156,6 +158,12 @@ func GenerateCandidates(ctx context.Context, req Request) (Result, error) {
 	}
 
 	if callErr != nil {
+		if isMalformedStructuredOutputError(callErr) {
+			return Result{
+				Warnings:  []stagewarnings.StageWarning{newMalformedProposalWarning(req.Section, artifacts, callErr)},
+				Artifacts: artifacts,
+			}, nil
+		}
 		return Result{}, fmt.Errorf("proposal generation completion failed: %w", callErr)
 	}
 
@@ -168,9 +176,6 @@ func GenerateCandidates(ctx context.Context, req Request) (Result, error) {
 			CorrectedText:   raw.CorrectedText,
 			Confidence:      raw.Confidence,
 		}
-		if err := candidate.Validate(); err != nil {
-			return Result{}, fmt.Errorf("invalid structured correction at index %d: %w", i, err)
-		}
 
 		corrections = append(corrections, candidate)
 		enrichedCandidate := proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal{
@@ -191,6 +196,7 @@ func GenerateCandidates(ctx context.Context, req Request) (Result, error) {
 	return Result{
 		Corrections: corrections,
 		Enriched:    enriched,
+		Warnings:    nil,
 		Artifacts:   artifacts,
 	}, nil
 }
@@ -240,6 +246,48 @@ func errPayload(err error) any {
 	return map[string]any{"error": err.Error()}
 }
 
+func isMalformedStructuredOutputError(err error) bool {
+	if err == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	msg := err.Error()
+	for _, marker := range []string{
+		"malformed structured output",
+		"decode structured output:",
+		"decode provider response envelope:",
+		"provider response missing choices",
+		"provider response missing assistant message content",
+		"provider response assistant message content is empty",
+		"provider response assistant message content is not valid JSON",
+	} {
+		if strings.Contains(msg, marker) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func newMalformedProposalWarning(section *contracts.SectionMetadata, artifacts InteractionArtifacts, err error) stagewarnings.StageWarning {
+	warning := stagewarnings.StageWarning{
+		Scope:                  stagewarnings.ScopeProposalGeneration,
+		ReasonCode:             "proposal_response_malformed",
+		Message:                strings.TrimSpace(err.Error()),
+		DiagnosticArtifactPath: diagnosticArtifactPath(artifacts),
+	}
+	if section != nil {
+		sectionIndex := section.Index
+		warning.SectionIndex = &sectionIndex
+	}
+	return warning
+}
+
+func diagnosticArtifactPath(artifacts InteractionArtifacts) string {
+	if artifacts.ErrorPayloadPath != "" {
+		return artifacts.ErrorPayloadPath
+	}
+	return artifacts.ResponsePayloadPath
+}
+
 type diagnosticsWriterAdapter struct {
 	writer *llm.DiagnosticsWriter
 }

internal/framework/proposal_generation/generate_test.go

@@ -224,12 +224,12 @@ func TestGenerateCandidatesDiagnosticsIncludeSchemaMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestGenerateCandidatesMalformedStructuredResponse(t *testing.T) {
+func TestGenerateCandidatesInvalidCorrectionIsPreservedForLaterValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	client := &fakeStructuredClient{
 		responses: []StructuredCorrectionSet{
 			{
 				Corrections: []StructuredCorrectionProposal{
-					{TargetSegmentID: 1, OriginalText: "x", CorrectedText: "", Confidence: 0.9},
+					{TargetSegmentID: 0, OriginalText: "x", CorrectedText: "", Confidence: 1.2},
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -237,9 +237,38 @@ func TestGenerateCandidatesMalformedStructuredResponse(t *testing.T) {
 	req := defaultRequest(t)
 	req.LLMClient = client
 
-	_, err := GenerateCandidates(context.Background(), req)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "invalid structured correction") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected structured response validation failure, got %v", err)
+	result, err := GenerateCandidates(context.Background(), req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected invalid correction to survive generation, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(result.Corrections) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected one correction, got %+v", result)
+	}
+	if result.Corrections[0].TargetSegmentID != 0 || result.Corrections[0].Confidence != 1.2 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected preserved correction: %+v", result.Corrections[0])
+	}
+	if len(result.Warnings) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("did not expect warnings for individually invalid corrections, got %+v", result.Warnings)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGenerateCandidatesMalformedStructuredOutputReturnsWarning(t *testing.T) {
+	client := &fakeStructuredClient{err: errors.New("malformed structured output")}
+	req := defaultRequest(t)
+	req.LLMClient = client
+
+	result, err := GenerateCandidates(context.Background(), req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected malformed structured output to downgrade to warning, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(result.Corrections) != 0 || len(result.Enriched) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected no proposals on malformed response, got %+v", result)
+	}
+	if len(result.Warnings) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected one warning, got %+v", result.Warnings)
+	}
+	if result.Warnings[0].ReasonCode != "proposal_response_malformed" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected warning: %+v", result.Warnings[0])
 	}
 }
 

internal/framework/proposals/apply.go

@@ -147,6 +147,8 @@ func skipReasonMessage(reason ProposalSkipReason) string {
 		return "original_text matched multiple spans under require_unique policy"
 	case SkipReasonNoEffect:
 		return "original_text and corrected_text are identical"
+	case SkipReasonEmptyResultingText:
+		return "proposal would leave the segment empty"
 	case SkipReasonInvalidProposal:
 		return "proposal failed structural or policy validation"
 	default:

internal/framework/proposals/preview.go

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ const (
 	SkipReasonMissingOriginalText ProposalSkipReason = "missing_original_text"
 	SkipReasonAmbiguousOriginal   ProposalSkipReason = "ambiguous_original_text"
 	SkipReasonNoEffect            ProposalSkipReason = "no_effect"
+	SkipReasonEmptyResultingText  ProposalSkipReason = "empty_resulting_segment"
 	SkipReasonInvalidProposal     ProposalSkipReason = "invalid_proposal"
 )
 
@@ -62,6 +63,9 @@ func PreviewProposalForSegment(segment *schema.Segment, proposal CorrectionPropo
 		}
 
 		corrected := strings.Replace(segment.Text, proposal.OriginalText, proposal.CorrectedText, 1)
+		if strings.TrimSpace(corrected) == "" {
+			return SegmentPreviewResult{SkipReason: SkipReasonEmptyResultingText}
+		}
 		return SegmentPreviewResult{
 			Applicable:           true,
 			CorrectedSegmentText: corrected,
@@ -70,6 +74,9 @@ func PreviewProposalForSegment(segment *schema.Segment, proposal CorrectionPropo
 
 	case ReplacementPolicyReplaceAll:
 		corrected := strings.ReplaceAll(segment.Text, proposal.OriginalText, proposal.CorrectedText)
+		if strings.TrimSpace(corrected) == "" {
+			return SegmentPreviewResult{SkipReason: SkipReasonEmptyResultingText}
+		}
 		return SegmentPreviewResult{
 			Applicable:           true,
 			CorrectedSegmentText: corrected,

internal/framework/proposals/preview_test.go

@@ -121,6 +121,42 @@ func TestPreviewProposalForSegmentNoEffectReplacement(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestPreviewProposalForSegmentAllowsEmptyCorrectedTextWhenSegmentRemainsNonEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	segment := &schema.Segment{ID: 8, Text: "uh hello"}
+	proposal := CorrectionProposal{
+		TargetSegmentID: 8,
+		OriginalText:    "uh ",
+		CorrectedText:   "",
+		Confidence:      0.9,
+	}
+
+	result := PreviewProposalForSegment(segment, proposal, ReplacementPolicyRequireUnique)
+	if !result.Applicable {
+		t.Fatalf("expected applicable preview, got skip reason %q", result.SkipReason)
+	}
+	if result.CorrectedSegmentText != "hello" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected corrected text: %q", result.CorrectedSegmentText)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreviewProposalForSegmentRejectsEmptyResultingSegment(t *testing.T) {
+	segment := &schema.Segment{ID: 8, Text: "uh"}
+	proposal := CorrectionProposal{
+		TargetSegmentID: 8,
+		OriginalText:    "uh",
+		CorrectedText:   "",
+		Confidence:      0.9,
+	}
+
+	result := PreviewProposalForSegment(segment, proposal, ReplacementPolicyRequireUnique)
+	if result.Applicable {
+		t.Fatal("expected non-applicable preview")
+	}
+	if result.SkipReason != SkipReasonEmptyResultingText {
+		t.Fatalf("expected skip reason %q, got %q", SkipReasonEmptyResultingText, result.SkipReason)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestPreviewProposalForSegmentPreservesInputSegment(t *testing.T) {
 	segment := &schema.Segment{ID: 9, Speaker: "A", Start: 1.0, End: 2.0, Text: "rank rank"}
 	original := *segment

internal/framework/proposals/proposal.go

@@ -38,9 +38,6 @@ func (p CorrectionProposal) Validate() error {
 	if strings.TrimSpace(p.OriginalText) == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("proposal original_text must not be empty")
 	}
-	if strings.TrimSpace(p.CorrectedText) == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("proposal corrected_text must not be empty")
-	}
 	if p.Confidence < 0.0 || p.Confidence > 1.0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("proposal confidence must be between 0.0 and 1.0")
 	}

internal/framework/proposals/proposal_test.go

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func TestCorrectionProposalValidate_InvalidEmptyOriginalText(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestCorrectionProposalValidate_InvalidEmptyCorrectedText(t *testing.T) {
+func TestCorrectionProposalValidate_AllowsEmptyCorrectedText(t *testing.T) {
 	proposal := CorrectionProposal{
 		TargetSegmentID: 42,
 		OriginalText:    "gestures",
@@ -43,12 +43,8 @@ func TestCorrectionProposalValidate_InvalidEmptyCorrectedText(t *testing.T) {
 		Confidence:      0.95,
 	}
 
-	err := proposal.Validate()
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Fatal("expected validation error, got nil")
-	}
-	if err.Error() != "proposal corrected_text must not be empty" {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	if err := proposal.Validate(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty corrected_text to be allowed, got %v", err)
 	}
 }
 

internal/framework/runner/runner.go

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/llm"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/proposals"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/validators"
+	stagewarnings "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/warnings"
 	validatormetadata "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/validators/metadata"
 )
 
@@ -37,18 +38,19 @@ type ValidationScheduler = contracts.LLMScheduler
 
 // ModuleResult captures deterministic per-module execution output.
 type ModuleResult struct {
-	ModuleKey          string                      `json:"module_key"`
-	ModuleInstance     string                      `json:"module_instance"`
-	ReplacementPolicy  proposals.ReplacementPolicy `json:"replacement_policy"`
-	Status             string                      `json:"status"`
-	ProposalCount      int                         `json:"proposal_count"`
-	ValidatorDecisions []ValidatorDecisionRecord   `json:"validator_decisions,omitempty"`
-	ValidatorRejected  []ValidatorRejectedChange   `json:"validator_rejected,omitempty"`
-	AppliedChanges     []proposals.AppliedChange   `json:"applied_changes,omitempty"`
-	SkippedChanges     []proposals.SkippedChange   `json:"skipped_changes,omitempty"`
-	ErrorMessage       string                      `json:"error_message,omitempty"`
-	StartedAt          time.Time                   `json:"started_at"`
-	CompletedAt        time.Time                   `json:"completed_at"`
+	ModuleKey          string                       `json:"module_key"`
+	ModuleInstance     string                       `json:"module_instance"`
+	ReplacementPolicy  proposals.ReplacementPolicy  `json:"replacement_policy"`
+	Status             string                       `json:"status"`
+	ProposalCount      int                          `json:"proposal_count"`
+	Warnings           []stagewarnings.StageWarning `json:"warnings,omitempty"`
+	ValidatorDecisions []ValidatorDecisionRecord    `json:"validator_decisions,omitempty"`
+	ValidatorRejected  []ValidatorRejectedChange    `json:"validator_rejected,omitempty"`
+	AppliedChanges     []proposals.AppliedChange    `json:"applied_changes,omitempty"`
+	SkippedChanges     []proposals.SkippedChange    `json:"skipped_changes,omitempty"`
+	ErrorMessage       string                       `json:"error_message,omitempty"`
+	StartedAt          time.Time                    `json:"started_at"`
+	CompletedAt        time.Time                    `json:"completed_at"`
 }
 
 type ValidatorDecisionRecord struct {
@@ -176,6 +178,7 @@ func (r *Runner) Run(ctx context.Context, input RunInput) (RunOutput, error) {
 				ReplacementPolicy:  policy,
 				Status:             ModuleStatusFailed,
 				ProposalCount:      pipelineResult.ProposalCount,
+				Warnings:           pipelineResult.Warnings,
 				ValidatorDecisions: pipelineResult.ValidatorDecisions,
 				ValidatorRejected:  pipelineResult.ValidatorRejected,
 				ErrorMessage:       pipelineErr.Error(),
@@ -199,6 +202,7 @@ func (r *Runner) Run(ctx context.Context, input RunInput) (RunOutput, error) {
 			ReplacementPolicy:  policy,
 			Status:             ModuleStatusSuccess,
 			ProposalCount:      pipelineResult.ProposalCount,
+			Warnings:           pipelineResult.Warnings,
 			ValidatorDecisions: pipelineResult.ValidatorDecisions,
 			ValidatorRejected:  pipelineResult.ValidatorRejected,
 			AppliedChanges:     applyResult.Applied,
@@ -232,12 +236,14 @@ type collectSectionProposalsInput struct {
 type sectionProposals struct {
 	meta      contracts.SectionMetadata
 	corrected []proposals.CorrectionProposal
+	warnings  []stagewarnings.StageWarning
 }
 
 type sectionProposalResult struct {
 	sectionPos int
 	section    chunking.Section
 	corrected  []proposals.CorrectionProposal
+	warnings   []stagewarnings.StageWarning
 	err        error
 }
 
@@ -247,12 +253,14 @@ type sectionValidationResult struct {
 	approved   []proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal
 	decisions  []ValidatorDecisionRecord
 	rejected   []ValidatorRejectedChange
+	warnings   []stagewarnings.StageWarning
 	err        error
 }
 
 type modulePipelineResult struct {
 	ProposalCount      int
 	Approved           []proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal
+	Warnings           []stagewarnings.StageWarning
 	ValidatorDecisions []ValidatorDecisionRecord
 	ValidatorRejected  []ValidatorRejectedChange
 }
@@ -271,7 +279,7 @@ func collectSectionProposals(ctx context.Context, input collectSectionProposalsI
 			go func() {
 				defer wg.Done()
 				meta := contracts.SectionMetadataFromSection(section)
-				corrected, err := input.Module.Propose(withModuleInstanceContext(runCtx, input.Spec.InstanceName), contracts.ProposalRequest{
+				proposalResult, err := input.Module.Propose(withModuleInstanceContext(runCtx, input.Spec.InstanceName), contracts.ProposalRequest{
 					ExecutionContext: contracts.ExecutionContext{
 						Config:            input.Config,
 						WorkingTranscript: transcriptFromSection(section),
@@ -291,7 +299,8 @@ func collectSectionProposals(ctx context.Context, input collectSectionProposalsI
 				case results <- sectionProposalResult{
 					sectionPos: sectionPos,
 					section:    section,
-					corrected:  corrected,
+					corrected:  proposalResult.Proposals,
+					warnings:   proposalResult.Warnings,
 					err:        err,
 				}:
 				case <-runCtx.Done():
@@ -308,6 +317,7 @@ func collectSectionProposals(ctx context.Context, input collectSectionProposalsI
 func runModulePipeline(ctx context.Context, input collectSectionProposalsInput) (modulePipelineResult, error) {
 	out := modulePipelineResult{
 		Approved:           make([]proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal, 0),
+		Warnings:           make([]stagewarnings.StageWarning, 0),
 		ValidatorDecisions: make([]ValidatorDecisionRecord, 0),
 		ValidatorRejected:  make([]ValidatorRejectedChange, 0),
 	}
@@ -352,6 +362,7 @@ func runModulePipeline(ctx context.Context, input collectSectionProposalsInput)
 		if firstErr != nil {
 			continue
 		}
+		out.Warnings = append(out.Warnings, result.warnings...)
 		pending[result.sectionPos] = result
 
 		for {
@@ -401,6 +412,7 @@ func runModulePipeline(ctx context.Context, input collectSectionProposalsInput)
 					approved:   validated.approved,
 					decisions:  validated.decisions,
 					rejected:   validated.rejected,
+					warnings:   validated.warnings,
 					err:        err,
 				}
 			}(nextSectionToProcess, sectionEnriched, sectionMeta)
@@ -424,6 +436,7 @@ func runModulePipeline(ctx context.Context, input collectSectionProposalsInput)
 			break
 		}
 		out.Approved = append(out.Approved, res.approved...)
+		out.Warnings = append(out.Warnings, res.warnings...)
 		out.ValidatorDecisions = append(out.ValidatorDecisions, res.decisions...)
 		out.ValidatorRejected = append(out.ValidatorRejected, res.rejected...)
 	}
@@ -440,6 +453,38 @@ func runModulePipeline(ctx context.Context, input collectSectionProposalsInput)
 		}
 		return validatorOrder[out.ValidatorRejected[i].ValidatorName] < validatorOrder[out.ValidatorRejected[j].ValidatorName]
 	})
+	sort.SliceStable(out.Warnings, func(i, j int) bool {
+		leftSection, rightSection := -1, -1
+		if out.Warnings[i].SectionIndex != nil {
+			leftSection = *out.Warnings[i].SectionIndex
+		}
+		if out.Warnings[j].SectionIndex != nil {
+			rightSection = *out.Warnings[j].SectionIndex
+		}
+		if leftSection != rightSection {
+			return leftSection < rightSection
+		}
+		leftBatch, rightBatch := -1, -1
+		if out.Warnings[i].BatchIndex != nil {
+			leftBatch = *out.Warnings[i].BatchIndex
+		}
+		if out.Warnings[j].BatchIndex != nil {
+			rightBatch = *out.Warnings[j].BatchIndex
+		}
+		if leftBatch != rightBatch {
+			return leftBatch < rightBatch
+		}
+		if out.Warnings[i].ValidatorName != out.Warnings[j].ValidatorName {
+			return validatorOrder[out.Warnings[i].ValidatorName] < validatorOrder[out.Warnings[j].ValidatorName]
+		}
+		if out.Warnings[i].Scope != out.Warnings[j].Scope {
+			return out.Warnings[i].Scope < out.Warnings[j].Scope
+		}
+		if out.Warnings[i].ReasonCode != out.Warnings[j].ReasonCode {
+			return out.Warnings[i].ReasonCode < out.Warnings[j].ReasonCode
+		}
+		return out.Warnings[i].Message < out.Warnings[j].Message
+	})
 
 	if firstErr != nil {
 		return out, firstErr
@@ -467,11 +512,13 @@ type validateSectionCandidatesResult struct {
 	approved  []proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal
 	decisions []ValidatorDecisionRecord
 	rejected  []ValidatorRejectedChange
+	warnings  []stagewarnings.StageWarning
 }
 
 func validateSectionCandidates(ctx context.Context, input validateSectionCandidatesInput) (validateSectionCandidatesResult, error) {
 	decisions := make([]ValidatorDecisionRecord, 0)
 	rejected := make([]ValidatorRejectedChange, 0)
+	warnings := make([]stagewarnings.StageWarning, 0)
 	eligible := append([]proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal(nil), input.SectionEnriched...)
 
 	for _, validator := range input.Validators {
@@ -512,6 +559,7 @@ func validateSectionCandidates(ctx context.Context, input validateSectionCandida
 				approved:  eligible,
 				decisions: decisions,
 				rejected:  rejected,
+				warnings:  warnings,
 			}, fmt.Errorf("validator %q failed: %w", validator.Name(), err)
 		}
 		if err := validators.EnforceDecisionCardinality(eligible, vResult.Decisions); err != nil {
@@ -519,8 +567,10 @@ func validateSectionCandidates(ctx context.Context, input validateSectionCandida
 				approved:  eligible,
 				decisions: decisions,
 				rejected:  rejected,
+				warnings:  warnings,
 			}, fmt.Errorf("validator %q cardinality failed: %w", validator.Name(), err)
 		}
+		warnings = append(warnings, vResult.Warnings...)
 
 		nextEligible := make([]proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal, 0, len(eligible))
 		byIndex := make(map[int]proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal, len(eligible))
@@ -562,6 +612,7 @@ func validateSectionCandidates(ctx context.Context, input validateSectionCandida
 		approved:  eligible,
 		decisions: decisions,
 		rejected:  rejected,
+		warnings:  warnings,
 	}, nil
 }
 

internal/framework/runner/runner_test.go

@@ -47,11 +47,12 @@ type fakeModule struct {
 func (m fakeModule) Key() string                                    { return m.key }
 func (m fakeModule) ReplacementPolicy() proposals.ReplacementPolicy { return m.policy }
 func (m fakeModule) Validators() []contracts.Validator              { return m.validators }
-func (m fakeModule) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, error) {
+func (m fakeModule) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) (contracts.ProposalResult, error) {
 	if m.proposeF == nil {
-		return nil, nil
+		return contracts.ProposalResult{}, nil
 	}
-	return m.proposeF(req)
+	proposalsOut, err := m.proposeF(req)
+	return contracts.ProposalResult{Proposals: proposalsOut}, err
 }
 
 type fakeValidator struct {
@@ -1191,7 +1192,7 @@ func TestRunnerLLMValidatorRejectionPreventsApplication(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRunnerLLMValidatorMalformedResponseFailsWithPartialProgress(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRunnerLLMValidatorMalformedResponseRejectsBatchAndKeepsPartialProgress(t *testing.T) {
 	client := &fakeStructuredClient{responses: []validators.LLMValidationResponse{{Validations: []validators.LLMValidationDecision{{CorrectionIndex: 99, Approved: true, Confidence: 0.9, Reason: "bad index"}}}}}
 	llmValidator, _ := validators.NewLLMBackedValidator("spoken_form_plausibility_review", validators.LLMValidatorTypeSpokenFormPlausibility, "")
 	r := New(fakeFactory{modules: map[string]contracts.TranscriptModule{
@@ -1209,15 +1210,21 @@ func TestRunnerLLMValidatorMalformedResponseFailsWithPartialProgress(t *testing.
 		ModuleSpecs:         []contracts.ModuleRunSpec{{ModuleKey: "m1", InstanceName: "m1"}, {ModuleKey: "m2", InstanceName: "m2"}},
 		ValidationLLMClient: client,
 	})
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Fatal("expected llm validator failure")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected malformed validator response to downgrade, got %v", err)
 	}
 	if out.FinalTranscript.Segments[0].Text != "the cat" {
 		t.Fatalf("expected partial progress retained")
 	}
+	if len(out.ModuleResults) != 2 || len(out.ModuleResults[1].ValidatorRejected) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected second module rejection, got %+v", out.ModuleResults)
+	}
+	if len(out.ModuleResults[1].Warnings) != 1 || out.ModuleResults[1].Warnings[0].ReasonCode != validators.ReasonValidatorMalformed {
+		t.Fatalf("expected malformed warning, got %+v", out.ModuleResults[1].Warnings)
+	}
 }
 
-func TestRunnerLLMValidatorMissingDecisionFails(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRunnerLLMValidatorMissingDecisionRejectsBatch(t *testing.T) {
 	client := &fakeStructuredClient{responses: []validators.LLMValidationResponse{{Validations: []validators.LLMValidationDecision{}}}}
 	llmValidator, _ := validators.NewLLMBackedValidator("spoken_form_plausibility_review", validators.LLMValidatorTypeSpokenFormPlausibility, "")
 	r := New(fakeFactory{modules: map[string]contracts.TranscriptModule{
@@ -1232,12 +1239,12 @@ func TestRunnerLLMValidatorMissingDecisionFails(t *testing.T) {
 		ModuleSpecs:         []contracts.ModuleRunSpec{{ModuleKey: "m", InstanceName: "m"}},
 		ValidationLLMClient: client,
 	})
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Fatal("expected missing decision failure")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected missing decision downgrade, got %v", err)
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRunnerLLMValidatorDuplicateDecisionFails(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRunnerLLMValidatorDuplicateDecisionRejectsBatch(t *testing.T) {
 	client := &fakeStructuredClient{responses: []validators.LLMValidationResponse{{Validations: []validators.LLMValidationDecision{
 		{CorrectionIndex: 0, Approved: true, Confidence: 0.9, Reason: "ok"},
 		{CorrectionIndex: 0, Approved: false, Confidence: 0.9, Reason: "dup"},
@@ -1255,8 +1262,8 @@ func TestRunnerLLMValidatorDuplicateDecisionFails(t *testing.T) {
 		ModuleSpecs:         []contracts.ModuleRunSpec{{ModuleKey: "m", InstanceName: "m"}},
 		ValidationLLMClient: client,
 	})
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Fatal("expected duplicate decision failure")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected duplicate decision downgrade, got %v", err)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1355,7 +1362,7 @@ type proposalGenerationModule struct {
 func (m proposalGenerationModule) Key() string                                    { return m.key }
 func (m proposalGenerationModule) ReplacementPolicy() proposals.ReplacementPolicy { return m.policy }
 func (m proposalGenerationModule) Validators() []contracts.Validator              { return nil }
-func (m proposalGenerationModule) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, error) {
+func (m proposalGenerationModule) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) (contracts.ProposalResult, error) {
 	result, err := proposal_generation.GenerateCandidates(ctx, proposal_generation.Request{
 		ModuleKey:         req.RunSpec.ModuleKey,
 		ModuleInstance:    req.RunSpec.InstanceName,
@@ -1372,9 +1379,9 @@ func (m proposalGenerationModule) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.Pro
 		DiagnosticsDir: req.DiagnosticsDir,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return contracts.ProposalResult{}, err
 	}
-	return result.Corrections, nil
+	return contracts.ProposalResult{Proposals: result.Corrections, Warnings: result.Warnings}, nil
 }
 
 type fakeProposalStructuredClient struct {

internal/framework/validators/deterministic.go

@@ -4,8 +4,35 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/core/schema"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/proposals"
 )
 
+type ProposalShapeValidator struct{}
+
+func (v ProposalShapeValidator) Name() string { return "proposal_shape" }
+
+func (v ProposalShapeValidator) Validate(_ context.Context, req Request) (Result, error) {
+	decisions := make([]Decision, 0, len(req.CandidateProposal))
+	for _, c := range req.CandidateProposal {
+		switch {
+		case c.TargetSegmentID <= 0:
+			decisions = append(decisions, rejection(c.ProposalIndex, ReasonInvalidTargetSegment, "proposal target segment id must be positive"))
+		case strings.TrimSpace(c.OriginalText) == "":
+			decisions = append(decisions, rejection(c.ProposalIndex, ReasonEmptyOriginalText, "proposal original_text must not be empty"))
+		case c.Confidence < 0.0 || c.Confidence > 1.0:
+			decisions = append(decisions, rejection(c.ProposalIndex, ReasonInvalidConfidence, "proposal confidence must be between 0.0 and 1.0"))
+		default:
+			decisions = append(decisions, approval(c.ProposalIndex))
+		}
+	}
+	if err := EnforceDecisionCardinality(req.CandidateProposal, decisions); err != nil {
+		return Result{}, err
+	}
+	return Result{ValidatorName: v.Name(), Decisions: decisions}, nil
+}
+
 type ConfidenceThresholdValidator struct{}
 
 func (v ConfidenceThresholdValidator) Name() string { return "confidence_threshold" }
@@ -62,10 +89,23 @@ type NonEmptyCorrectionValidator struct{}
 func (v NonEmptyCorrectionValidator) Name() string { return "non_empty_corrected_text" }
 
 func (v NonEmptyCorrectionValidator) Validate(_ context.Context, req Request) (Result, error) {
+	segmentsByID := make(map[int]schema.Segment)
+	if req.WorkingTranscript != nil {
+		for _, seg := range req.WorkingTranscript.Segments {
+			segmentsByID[seg.ID] = seg
+		}
+	}
+
 	decisions := make([]Decision, 0, len(req.CandidateProposal))
 	for _, c := range req.CandidateProposal {
-		if strings.TrimSpace(c.CorrectedText) == "" {
-			decisions = append(decisions, rejection(c.ProposalIndex, ReasonEmptyCorrectedText, "corrected_text must not be empty"))
+		segment, ok := segmentsByID[c.TargetSegmentID]
+		if !ok {
+			decisions = append(decisions, approval(c.ProposalIndex))
+			continue
+		}
+		preview := proposals.PreviewProposalForSegment(&segment, c.CorrectionProposal, req.ReplacementPolicy)
+		if preview.SkipReason == proposals.SkipReasonEmptyResultingText {
+			decisions = append(decisions, rejection(c.ProposalIndex, ReasonEmptyResultingText, "proposal would leave the segment empty"))
 			continue
 		}
 		decisions = append(decisions, approval(c.ProposalIndex))

internal/framework/validators/llm_validators.go

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/core/schema"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/proposals"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/responseschema"
+	stagewarnings "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/warnings"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/prompts"
 )
 
@@ -78,7 +79,20 @@ func (v *LLMBackedValidator) Validate(ctx context.Context, req Request) (Result,
 		maxTokens = req.Config.ValidationMaxPromptTokens
 	}
 
-	batches, err := ChunkLLMValidationItems(validationReq.Items, maxTokens, v.estimator)
+	warnings := append([]stagewarnings.StageWarning(nil), oversizedValidationWarnings(v.name, maxTokens, validationReq.Items, v.estimator)...)
+	oversized := oversizedValidationDecisions(validationReq.Items, maxTokens, v.estimator)
+	itemsForBatching := filterItemsByDecision(validationReq.Items, oversized)
+	if len(itemsForBatching) == 0 {
+		all := append([]Decision(nil), immediate...)
+		all = append(all, oversized...)
+		if err := EnforceDecisionCardinality(req.CandidateProposal, all); err != nil {
+			return Result{}, err
+		}
+		sort.SliceStable(all, func(i, j int) bool { return all[i].ProposalIndex < all[j].ProposalIndex })
+		return Result{ValidatorName: v.name, Decisions: all, Warnings: warnings}, nil
+	}
+
+	batches, err := ChunkLLMValidationItems(itemsForBatching, maxTokens, v.estimator)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Result{}, err
 	}
@@ -140,12 +154,19 @@ func (v *LLMBackedValidator) Validate(ctx context.Context, req Request) (Result,
 			)
 		}
 		if err != nil {
+			if isMalformedStructuredOutputError(err) {
+				llmDecisions = append(llmDecisions, rejectBatch(batch.Items, ReasonValidatorMalformed, fmt.Sprintf("validator response malformed: %s", strings.TrimSpace(err.Error())))...)
+				warnings = append(warnings, newValidatorWarning(v.name, batch.BatchIndex, ReasonValidatorMalformed, err.Error(), artifacts))
+				continue
+			}
 			return Result{}, fmt.Errorf("LLM validator %q completion failed: %w", v.name, err)
 		}
 
 		batchDecisions, err := mapLLMResponseToDecisions(batch.Items, response)
 		if err != nil {
-			return Result{}, fmt.Errorf("LLM validator %q response invalid: %w", v.name, err)
+			llmDecisions = append(llmDecisions, rejectBatch(batch.Items, ReasonValidatorMalformed, fmt.Sprintf("validator response malformed: %s", strings.TrimSpace(err.Error())))...)
+			warnings = append(warnings, newValidatorWarning(v.name, batch.BatchIndex, ReasonValidatorMalformed, err.Error(), artifacts))
+			continue
 		}
 		for i := range batchDecisions {
 			batchDecisions[i].DiagnosticArtifactPath = artifacts.ResponsePayloadPath
@@ -154,12 +175,13 @@ func (v *LLMBackedValidator) Validate(ctx context.Context, req Request) (Result,
 	}
 
 	all := append([]Decision(nil), immediate...)
+	all = append(all, oversized...)
 	all = append(all, llmDecisions...)
 	if err := EnforceDecisionCardinality(req.CandidateProposal, all); err != nil {
 		return Result{}, err
 	}
 	sort.SliceStable(all, func(i, j int) bool { return all[i].ProposalIndex < all[j].ProposalIndex })
-	return Result{ValidatorName: v.name, Decisions: all}, nil
+	return Result{ValidatorName: v.name, Decisions: all, Warnings: warnings}, nil
 }
 
 func validatorPromptMetadata(validatorType LLMValidatorType) prompts.Metadata {
@@ -301,3 +323,98 @@ func mapLLMResponseToDecisions(items []LLMValidationItem, response LLMValidation
 	}
 	return decisions, nil
 }
+
+func oversizedValidationDecisions(items []LLMValidationItem, maxPromptTokens int, estimator chunking.TokenEstimator) []Decision {
+	out := make([]Decision, 0)
+	for _, item := range items {
+		singleTokens, err := estimateBatchTokens(estimator, []LLMValidationItem{item})
+		if err != nil || singleTokens <= maxPromptTokens {
+			continue
+		}
+		out = append(out, rejection(item.CorrectionIndex, ReasonValidatorInputTooLarge, "validation input exceeds max prompt tokens"))
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func oversizedValidationWarnings(validatorName string, maxPromptTokens int, items []LLMValidationItem, estimator chunking.TokenEstimator) []stagewarnings.StageWarning {
+	out := make([]stagewarnings.StageWarning, 0)
+	for _, item := range items {
+		singleTokens, err := estimateBatchTokens(estimator, []LLMValidationItem{item})
+		if err != nil || singleTokens <= maxPromptTokens {
+			continue
+		}
+		out = append(out, stagewarnings.StageWarning{
+			Scope:         stagewarnings.ScopeValidator,
+			ValidatorName: validatorName,
+			ReasonCode:    ReasonValidatorInputTooLarge,
+			Message:       fmt.Sprintf("validation input exceeds max prompt tokens for proposal %d", item.CorrectionIndex),
+		})
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func filterItemsByDecision(items []LLMValidationItem, decisions []Decision) []LLMValidationItem {
+	if len(decisions) == 0 {
+		return append([]LLMValidationItem(nil), items...)
+	}
+	rejected := make(map[int]struct{}, len(decisions))
+	for _, decision := range decisions {
+		rejected[decision.ProposalIndex] = struct{}{}
+	}
+	out := make([]LLMValidationItem, 0, len(items))
+	for _, item := range items {
+		if _, ok := rejected[item.CorrectionIndex]; ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		out = append(out, item)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func rejectBatch(items []LLMValidationItem, reasonCode string, message string) []Decision {
+	out := make([]Decision, 0, len(items))
+	for _, item := range items {
+		out = append(out, rejection(item.CorrectionIndex, reasonCode, message))
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func newValidatorWarning(validatorName string, batchIndex int, reasonCode string, message string, artifacts InteractionArtifacts) stagewarnings.StageWarning {
+	idx := batchIndex
+	return stagewarnings.StageWarning{
+		Scope:                  stagewarnings.ScopeValidator,
+		ValidatorName:          validatorName,
+		BatchIndex:             &idx,
+		ReasonCode:             reasonCode,
+		Message:                strings.TrimSpace(message),
+		DiagnosticArtifactPath: diagnosticArtifactPath(artifacts),
+	}
+}
+
+func diagnosticArtifactPath(artifacts InteractionArtifacts) string {
+	if artifacts.ErrorPayloadPath != "" {
+		return artifacts.ErrorPayloadPath
+	}
+	return artifacts.ResponsePayloadPath
+}
+
+func isMalformedStructuredOutputError(err error) bool {
+	if err == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	msg := err.Error()
+	for _, marker := range []string{
+		"malformed structured output",
+		"decode structured output:",
+		"decode provider response envelope:",
+		"provider response missing choices",
+		"provider response missing assistant message content",
+		"provider response assistant message content is empty",
+		"provider response assistant message content is not valid JSON",
+	} {
+		if strings.Contains(msg, marker) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}

internal/framework/validators/llm_validators_test.go

@@ -248,29 +248,38 @@ func TestLLMBackedValidatorApprovalAndRejection(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestLLMBackedValidatorMalformedOutputFails(t *testing.T) {
+func TestLLMBackedValidatorMalformedOutputRejectsBatch(t *testing.T) {
 	client := &fakeStructuredLLMClient{err: errors.New("malformed structured output")}
 	v, _ := NewLLMBackedValidator("spoken_form_plausibility_review", LLMValidatorTypeSpokenFormPlausibility, "test-model")
 	req := makeReq([]proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal{mk(0, "gestures", "Jesters")})
 	req.LLMClient = client
-	_, err := v.Validate(context.Background(), req)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "completion failed") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected malformed output error, got %v", err)
+	res, err := v.Validate(context.Background(), req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected malformed output downgrade, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(res.Decisions) != 1 || res.Decisions[0].Approved || res.Decisions[0].ReasonCode != ReasonValidatorMalformed {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected decisions: %+v", res.Decisions)
+	}
+	if len(res.Warnings) != 1 || res.Warnings[0].ReasonCode != ReasonValidatorMalformed {
+		t.Fatalf("expected malformed warning, got %+v", res.Warnings)
 	}
 }
 
-func TestLLMBackedValidatorMissingDecisionFails(t *testing.T) {
+func TestLLMBackedValidatorMissingDecisionRejectsBatch(t *testing.T) {
 	client := &fakeStructuredLLMClient{responses: []LLMValidationResponse{{Validations: []LLMValidationDecision{}}}}
 	v, _ := NewLLMBackedValidator("spoken_form_plausibility_review", LLMValidatorTypeSpokenFormPlausibility, "test-model")
 	req := makeReq([]proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal{mk(0, "gestures", "Jesters")})
 	req.LLMClient = client
-	_, err := v.Validate(context.Background(), req)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "response invalid") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected missing decision error, got %v", err)
+	res, err := v.Validate(context.Background(), req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected missing decision downgrade, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(res.Decisions) != 1 || res.Decisions[0].ReasonCode != ReasonValidatorMalformed {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected decisions: %+v", res.Decisions)
 	}
 }
 
-func TestLLMBackedValidatorDuplicateDecisionFails(t *testing.T) {
+func TestLLMBackedValidatorDuplicateDecisionRejectsBatch(t *testing.T) {
 	client := &fakeStructuredLLMClient{responses: []LLMValidationResponse{{Validations: []LLMValidationDecision{
 		{CorrectionIndex: 0, Approved: true, Confidence: 0.9, Reason: "ok"},
 		{CorrectionIndex: 0, Approved: false, Confidence: 0.9, Reason: "dup"},
@@ -278,20 +287,74 @@ func TestLLMBackedValidatorDuplicateDecisionFails(t *testing.T) {
 	v, _ := NewLLMBackedValidator("spoken_form_plausibility_review", LLMValidatorTypeSpokenFormPlausibility, "test-model")
 	req := makeReq([]proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal{mk(0, "gestures", "Jesters")})
 	req.LLMClient = client
-	_, err := v.Validate(context.Background(), req)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "duplicate") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected duplicate decision error, got %v", err)
+	res, err := v.Validate(context.Background(), req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected duplicate decision downgrade, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(res.Decisions) != 1 || res.Decisions[0].ReasonCode != ReasonValidatorMalformed {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected decisions: %+v", res.Decisions)
 	}
 }
 
-func TestLLMBackedValidatorUnknownProposalIndexFails(t *testing.T) {
+func TestLLMBackedValidatorUnknownProposalIndexRejectsBatch(t *testing.T) {
 	client := &fakeStructuredLLMClient{responses: []LLMValidationResponse{{Validations: []LLMValidationDecision{{CorrectionIndex: 99, Approved: true, Confidence: 0.9, Reason: "unknown"}}}}}
 	v, _ := NewLLMBackedValidator("spoken_form_plausibility_review", LLMValidatorTypeSpokenFormPlausibility, "test-model")
 	req := makeReq([]proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal{mk(0, "gestures", "Jesters")})
 	req.LLMClient = client
-	_, err := v.Validate(context.Background(), req)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "unknown") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected unknown index error, got %v", err)
+	res, err := v.Validate(context.Background(), req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected unknown index downgrade, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(res.Decisions) != 1 || res.Decisions[0].ReasonCode != ReasonValidatorMalformed {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected decisions: %+v", res.Decisions)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLLMBackedValidatorOversizedSingleProposalRejectsOnlyThatProposal(t *testing.T) {
+	client := &fakeStructuredLLMClient{responses: []LLMValidationResponse{{Validations: []LLMValidationDecision{
+		{CorrectionIndex: 1, Approved: true, Confidence: 0.9, Reason: "ok"},
+	}}}}
+	v, _ := NewLLMBackedValidator("spoken_form_plausibility_review", LLMValidatorTypeSpokenFormPlausibility, "test-model")
+	huge := strings.Repeat("gestures ", 200)
+	req := Request{
+		WorkingTranscript: &schema.Transcript{Segments: []schema.Segment{
+			{ID: 1, Text: huge},
+			{ID: 2, Text: "There were gestures at the temple.", Categories: []string{"narration"}},
+		}},
+		CandidateProposal: []proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal{
+			{
+				CorrectionProposal: proposals.CorrectionProposal{TargetSegmentID: 1, OriginalText: huge, CorrectedText: "Jesters", Confidence: 0.9},
+				ProposalMetadata:   proposals.ProposalMetadata{ProposalIndex: 0, ModuleKey: "homophones", ModuleInstance: "homophones"},
+			},
+			{
+				CorrectionProposal: proposals.CorrectionProposal{TargetSegmentID: 2, OriginalText: "gestures", CorrectedText: "Jesters", Confidence: 0.9},
+				ProposalMetadata:   proposals.ProposalMetadata{ProposalIndex: 1, ModuleKey: "homophones", ModuleInstance: "homophones"},
+			},
+		},
+		ModuleKey:         "homophones",
+		ModuleInstance:    "homophones",
+		ReplacementPolicy: proposals.ReplacementPolicyRequireUnique,
+	}
+	req.LLMClient = client
+	cfg := config.Default()
+	cfg.ValidationMaxPromptTokens = 200
+	req.Config = &cfg
+
+	res, err := v.Validate(context.Background(), req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected oversize downgrade, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(res.Decisions) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected two decisions, got %+v", res.Decisions)
+	}
+	if res.Decisions[0].ReasonCode != ReasonValidatorInputTooLarge || res.Decisions[0].Approved {
+		t.Fatalf("expected first decision oversize rejection, got %+v", res.Decisions[0])
+	}
+	if !res.Decisions[1].Approved {
+		t.Fatalf("expected second decision approved, got %+v", res.Decisions[1])
+	}
+	if len(res.Warnings) != 1 || res.Warnings[0].ReasonCode != ReasonValidatorInputTooLarge {
+		t.Fatalf("expected one oversize warning, got %+v", res.Warnings)
 	}
 }
 

internal/framework/validators/models.go

@@ -8,16 +8,22 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/core/config"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/core/schema"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/proposals"
+	stagewarnings "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/warnings"
 )
 
 const (
-	ReasonApproved              = "approved"
-	ReasonLowConfidence         = "low_confidence"
-	ReasonMissingOriginalText   = "missing_original_text"
-	ReasonMissingTargetSegment  = "missing_target_segment"
-	ReasonEmptyCorrectedText    = "empty_corrected_text"
-	ReasonNoEffect              = "no_effect"
-	ReasonProtectedGlossaryTerm = "protected_glossary_term"
+	ReasonApproved               = "approved"
+	ReasonLowConfidence          = "low_confidence"
+	ReasonMissingOriginalText    = "missing_original_text"
+	ReasonMissingTargetSegment   = "missing_target_segment"
+	ReasonEmptyResultingText     = "empty_resulting_segment"
+	ReasonNoEffect               = "no_effect"
+	ReasonProtectedGlossaryTerm  = "protected_glossary_term"
+	ReasonInvalidTargetSegment   = "invalid_target_segment_id"
+	ReasonEmptyOriginalText      = "empty_original_text"
+	ReasonInvalidConfidence      = "invalid_confidence"
+	ReasonValidatorMalformed     = "validator_response_malformed"
+	ReasonValidatorInputTooLarge = "validator_input_too_large"
 )
 
 // Request is the runtime input shared by deterministic validators.
@@ -45,8 +51,9 @@ type Decision struct {
 
 // Result is one validator output containing exactly one decision per proposal index.
 type Result struct {
-	ValidatorName string     `json:"validator_name"`
-	Decisions     []Decision `json:"decisions"`
+	ValidatorName string                       `json:"validator_name"`
+	Decisions     []Decision                   `json:"decisions"`
+	Warnings      []stagewarnings.StageWarning `json:"warnings,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // ValidationScheduler provides bounded execution for validator LLM calls.

internal/framework/validators/validators_test.go

@@ -68,6 +68,31 @@ func TestConfidenceThresholdValidator(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestProposalShapeValidator(t *testing.T) {
+	req := Request{CandidateProposal: []proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal{
+		mkCandidate(0, 1, "teh", "the", 0.9),
+		mkCandidate(1, 0, "teh", "the", 0.9),
+		mkCandidate(2, 1, "   ", "the", 0.9),
+		mkCandidate(3, 1, "teh", "the", 1.5),
+	}}
+	res, err := (ProposalShapeValidator{}).Validate(context.Background(), req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Validate error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !res.Decisions[0].Approved {
+		t.Fatalf("expected proposal 0 approved")
+	}
+	if res.Decisions[1].ReasonCode != ReasonInvalidTargetSegment {
+		t.Fatalf("expected invalid target segment rejection, got %+v", res.Decisions[1])
+	}
+	if res.Decisions[2].ReasonCode != ReasonEmptyOriginalText {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty original rejection, got %+v", res.Decisions[2])
+	}
+	if res.Decisions[3].ReasonCode != ReasonInvalidConfidence {
+		t.Fatalf("expected invalid confidence rejection, got %+v", res.Decisions[3])
+	}
+}
+
 func TestOriginalTextPresenceValidator(t *testing.T) {
 	req := Request{WorkingTranscript: &schema.Transcript{Segments: []schema.Segment{{ID: 1, Text: "hello world"}}}, CandidateProposal: []proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal{
 		mkCandidate(0, 1, "hello", "hi", 0.9),
@@ -90,10 +115,13 @@ func TestOriginalTextPresenceValidator(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestNonEmptyCorrectionValidator(t *testing.T) {
-	req := Request{CandidateProposal: []proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal{
-		mkCandidate(0, 1, "hello", "hi", 0.9),
-		mkCandidate(1, 1, "hello", "   ", 0.9),
-	}}
+	req := Request{
+		WorkingTranscript: &schema.Transcript{Segments: []schema.Segment{{ID: 1, Text: "hello world"}}},
+		ReplacementPolicy: proposals.ReplacementPolicyRequireUnique,
+		CandidateProposal: []proposals.EnrichedCorrectionProposal{
+			mkCandidate(0, 1, "hello", "hi", 0.9),
+			mkCandidate(1, 1, "hello world", "   ", 0.9),
+		}}
 	res, err := (NonEmptyCorrectionValidator{}).Validate(context.Background(), req)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Validate error: %v", err)
@@ -101,8 +129,8 @@ func TestNonEmptyCorrectionValidator(t *testing.T) {
 	if !res.Decisions[0].Approved {
 		t.Fatalf("expected proposal 0 approved")
 	}
-	if res.Decisions[1].ReasonCode != ReasonEmptyCorrectedText {
-		t.Fatalf("expected empty_corrected_text, got %+v", res.Decisions[1])
+	if res.Decisions[1].ReasonCode != ReasonEmptyResultingText {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty_resulting_segment, got %+v", res.Decisions[1])
 	}
 }
 
@@ -151,9 +179,14 @@ func TestStableReasonCodes(t *testing.T) {
 		ReasonLowConfidence,
 		ReasonMissingOriginalText,
 		ReasonMissingTargetSegment,
-		ReasonEmptyCorrectedText,
+		ReasonEmptyResultingText,
 		ReasonNoEffect,
 		ReasonProtectedGlossaryTerm,
+		ReasonInvalidTargetSegment,
+		ReasonEmptyOriginalText,
+		ReasonInvalidConfidence,
+		ReasonValidatorMalformed,
+		ReasonValidatorInputTooLarge,
 	}
 	for _, code := range codes {
 		if strings.TrimSpace(code) == "" {

internal/framework/warnings/warnings.go

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+package warnings
+
+type Scope string
+
+const (
+	ScopeProposalGeneration Scope = "proposal_generation"
+	ScopeValidator          Scope = "validator"
+)
+
+type StageWarning struct {
+	Scope                  Scope  `json:"scope"`
+	ReasonCode             string `json:"reason_code"`
+	Message                string `json:"message"`
+	SectionIndex           *int   `json:"section_index,omitempty"`
+	ValidatorName          string `json:"validator_name,omitempty"`
+	BatchIndex             *int   `json:"batch_index,omitempty"`
+	DiagnosticArtifactPath string `json:"diagnostic_artifact_path,omitempty"`
+}

internal/modules/glossary/module.go

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func (m *Module) Validators() []contracts.Validator {
 	return append([]contracts.Validator(nil), m.validators...)
 }
 
-func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, error) {
+func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) (contracts.ProposalResult, error) {
 	sectionTranscript := transcriptForSection(req.WorkingTranscript, req.Section)
 	sectionIndex := 0
 	if req.Section != nil {
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]
 	}
 	messages, err := BuildProposalMessages(sectionTranscript, req.Glossary, sectionIndex, transcriptDescription)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return contracts.ProposalResult{}, err
 	}
 
 	generated, err := proposal_generation.GenerateCandidates(ctx, proposal_generation.Request{
@@ -74,9 +74,12 @@ func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]
 		DiagnosticsDir: req.DiagnosticsDir,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return contracts.ProposalResult{}, err
 	}
-	return generated.Corrections, nil
+	return contracts.ProposalResult{
+		Proposals: generated.Corrections,
+		Warnings:  generated.Warnings,
+	}, nil
 }
 
 func transcriptForSection(transcript *schema.Transcript, section *contracts.SectionMetadata) *schema.Transcript {

internal/modules/glossary/module_test.go

@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ func TestGlossaryModuleValidatorChain(t *testing.T) {
 		got = append(got, v.Name())
 	}
 	want := []string{
+		"proposal_shape",
 		"no_effect",
 		"original_text_presence",
 		"confidence_threshold",
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ func TestGlossaryModuleProposeMapsCorrectionsAndWritesDiagnostics(t *testing.T)
 	if len(client.calls) != 1 || client.calls[0].StageName != "glossary:proposal" {
 		t.Fatalf("expected one glossary:proposal call, got %+v", client.calls)
 	}
-	if len(out) != 1 || out[0].CorrectedText != "Jesters" {
+	if len(out.Proposals) != 1 || out.Proposals[0].CorrectedText != "Jesters" {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected proposals: %+v", out)
 	}
 	diagFiles, globErr := filepath.Glob(filepath.Join(diagDir, "glossary", "*proposal*response-payload.json"))

internal/modules/grammar/module.go

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func (m *Module) Validators() []contracts.Validator {
 	return append([]contracts.Validator(nil), m.validators...)
 }
 
-func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, error) {
+func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) (contracts.ProposalResult, error) {
 	sectionTranscript := transcriptForSection(req.WorkingTranscript, req.Section)
 	sectionIndex := 0
 	if req.Section != nil {
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]
 	}
 	messages, err := BuildProposalMessages(sectionTranscript, req.Glossary, sectionIndex, transcriptDescription)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return contracts.ProposalResult{}, err
 	}
 
 	generated, err := proposal_generation.GenerateCandidates(ctx, proposal_generation.Request{
@@ -74,9 +74,12 @@ func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]
 		DiagnosticsDir: req.DiagnosticsDir,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return contracts.ProposalResult{}, err
 	}
-	return generated.Corrections, nil
+	return contracts.ProposalResult{
+		Proposals: generated.Corrections,
+		Warnings:  generated.Warnings,
+	}, nil
 }
 
 func transcriptForSection(transcript *schema.Transcript, section *contracts.SectionMetadata) *schema.Transcript {

internal/modules/grammar/module_test.go

@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ func TestGrammarModuleValidatorChain(t *testing.T) {
 		got = append(got, v.Name())
 	}
 	want := []string{
+		"proposal_shape",
 		"no_effect",
 		"original_text_presence",
 		"confidence_threshold",
@@ -187,7 +188,7 @@ func TestGrammarModuleProposeMapsCorrectionsAndWritesDiagnostics(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(client.calls) != 1 || client.calls[0].StageName != "grammar:proposal" {
 		t.Fatalf("expected one grammar:proposal call, got %+v", client.calls)
 	}
-	if len(out) != 1 || out[0].CorrectedText != "Hello, world" {
+	if len(out.Proposals) != 1 || out.Proposals[0].CorrectedText != "Hello, world" {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected proposals: %+v", out)
 	}
 	diagFiles, globErr := filepath.Glob(filepath.Join(diagDir, "grammar", "*proposal*response-payload.json"))

internal/modules/homophones/module.go

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func (m *Module) Validators() []contracts.Validator {
 	return append([]contracts.Validator(nil), m.validators...)
 }
 
-func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, error) {
+func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) (contracts.ProposalResult, error) {
 	sectionTranscript := transcriptForSection(req.WorkingTranscript, req.Section)
 	sectionIndex := 0
 	if req.Section != nil {
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]
 	}
 	messages, err := BuildProposalMessages(sectionTranscript, req.Glossary, sectionIndex, transcriptDescription)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return contracts.ProposalResult{}, err
 	}
 
 	generated, err := proposal_generation.GenerateCandidates(ctx, proposal_generation.Request{
@@ -74,9 +74,12 @@ func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]
 		DiagnosticsDir: req.DiagnosticsDir,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return contracts.ProposalResult{}, err
 	}
-	return generated.Corrections, nil
+	return contracts.ProposalResult{
+		Proposals: generated.Corrections,
+		Warnings:  generated.Warnings,
+	}, nil
 }
 
 func transcriptForSection(transcript *schema.Transcript, section *contracts.SectionMetadata) *schema.Transcript {

internal/modules/homophones/module_test.go

@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ func TestHomophonesModuleValidatorChain(t *testing.T) {
 		got = append(got, v.Name())
 	}
 	want := []string{
+		"proposal_shape",
 		"no_effect",
 		"original_text_presence",
 		"confidence_threshold",
@@ -201,7 +202,7 @@ func TestHomophonesModuleProposeMapsCorrectionsAndWritesDiagnostics(t *testing.T
 	if len(client.calls) != 1 || client.calls[0].StageName != "homophones:proposal" {
 		t.Fatalf("expected one homophones:proposal call, got %+v", client.calls)
 	}
-	if len(out) != 1 || out[0].CorrectedText != "Jesters" {
+	if len(out.Proposals) != 1 || out.Proposals[0].CorrectedText != "Jesters" {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected proposals: %+v", out)
 	}
 	diagFiles, globErr := filepath.Glob(filepath.Join(diagDir, "homophones", "*proposal*response-payload.json"))

internal/modules/spoken_word/module.go

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func (m *Module) Validators() []contracts.Validator {
 	return append([]contracts.Validator(nil), m.validators...)
 }
 
-func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]proposals.CorrectionProposal, error) {
+func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) (contracts.ProposalResult, error) {
 	sectionTranscript := transcriptForSection(req.WorkingTranscript, req.Section)
 	sectionIndex := 0
 	if req.Section != nil {
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]
 	}
 	messages, err := BuildProposalMessages(sectionTranscript, req.Glossary, sectionIndex, transcriptDescription)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return contracts.ProposalResult{}, err
 	}
 
 	generated, err := proposal_generation.GenerateCandidates(ctx, proposal_generation.Request{
@@ -74,9 +74,12 @@ func (m *Module) Propose(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ProposalRequest) ([]
 		DiagnosticsDir: req.DiagnosticsDir,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return contracts.ProposalResult{}, err
 	}
-	return generated.Corrections, nil
+	return contracts.ProposalResult{
+		Proposals: generated.Corrections,
+		Warnings:  generated.Warnings,
+	}, nil
 }
 
 func transcriptForSection(transcript *schema.Transcript, section *contracts.SectionMetadata) *schema.Transcript {

internal/modules/spoken_word/module_test.go

@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ func TestSpokenWordModuleValidatorChain(t *testing.T) {
 		got = append(got, v.Name())
 	}
 	want := []string{
+		"proposal_shape",
 		"no_effect",
 		"original_text_presence",
 		"confidence_threshold",
@@ -188,7 +189,7 @@ func TestSpokenWordModuleProposeMapsCorrectionsAndWritesDiagnostics(t *testing.T
 	if len(client.calls) != 1 || client.calls[0].StageName != "spoken_word:proposal" {
 		t.Fatalf("expected one spoken_word:proposal call, got %+v", client.calls)
 	}
-	if len(out) != 1 || out[0].CorrectedText != "I think" {
+	if len(out.Proposals) != 1 || out.Proposals[0].CorrectedText != "I think" {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected proposals: %+v", out)
 	}
 	diagFiles, globErr := filepath.Glob(filepath.Join(diagDir, "spoken_word", "*proposal*response-payload.json"))

internal/validators/chains.go

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 
 var builtInChains = map[string][]string{
 	"glossary": {
+		KeyProposalShape,
 		KeyNoEffect,
 		KeyOriginalTextPresence,
 		KeyConfidenceThreshold,
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ var builtInChains = map[string][]string{
 		KeyMeaningReversalReview,
 	},
 	"homophones": {
+		KeyProposalShape,
 		KeyNoEffect,
 		KeyOriginalTextPresence,
 		KeyConfidenceThreshold,
@@ -27,6 +29,7 @@ var builtInChains = map[string][]string{
 		KeyMeaningReversalReview,
 	},
 	"spoken_word": {
+		KeyProposalShape,
 		KeyNoEffect,
 		KeyOriginalTextPresence,
 		KeyConfidenceThreshold,
@@ -36,6 +39,7 @@ var builtInChains = map[string][]string{
 		KeyMeaningReversalReview,
 	},
 	"grammar": {
+		KeyProposalShape,
 		KeyNoEffect,
 		KeyOriginalTextPresence,
 		KeyConfidenceThreshold,

internal/validators/proposal_shape/validator.go

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+package proposal_shape
+
+import (
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/contracts"
+	frameworkvalidators "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/framework/validators"
+	validatormetadata "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/validators/metadata"
+)
+
+const Key = "proposal_shape"
+
+func New() (contracts.Validator, error) {
+	return validatormetadata.Wrap(frameworkvalidators.ProposalShapeValidator{}, validatormetadata.ExecutionClassDeterministic), nil
+}

internal/validators/registry.go

@@ -11,11 +11,13 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/validators/no_effect"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/validators/non_empty_corrected_text"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/validators/original_text_presence"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/validators/proposal_shape"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/validators/protected_terms"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/validators/spoken_form_plausibility"
 )
 
 const (
+	KeyProposalShape         = "proposal_shape"
 	KeyConfidenceThreshold   = "confidence_threshold"
 	KeyOriginalTextPresence  = "original_text_presence"
 	KeyNonEmptyCorrectedText = "non_empty_corrected_text"
@@ -39,6 +41,7 @@ type Registry struct {
 
 func NewBuiltInRegistry() *Registry {
 	defs := []BuiltInValidatorDefinition{
+		{Key: KeyProposalShape, Build: proposal_shape.New},
 		{Key: KeyConfidenceThreshold, Build: confidence_threshold.New},
 		{Key: KeyOriginalTextPresence, Build: original_text_presence.New},
 		{Key: KeyNonEmptyCorrectedText, Build: non_empty_corrected_text.New},

internal/validators/registry_test.go

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/validators/no_effect"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/validators/non_empty_corrected_text"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/validators/original_text_presence"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/validators/proposal_shape"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/validators/protected_terms"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/audita/internal/validators/spoken_form_plausibility"
 )
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 func TestBuiltInRegistryRegistersAllKeys(t *testing.T) {
 	r := NewBuiltInRegistry()
 	for _, key := range []string{
+		KeyProposalShape,
 		KeyConfidenceThreshold,
 		KeyOriginalTextPresence,
 		KeyNonEmptyCorrectedText,
@@ -52,6 +54,7 @@ func TestBuiltInValidatorPackagesConstruct(t *testing.T) {
 		wantClass validatormetadata.ExecutionClass
 	}
 	cases := []validatorCtor{
+		{name: "proposal_shape", key: KeyProposalShape, build: proposal_shape.New, wantClass: validatormetadata.ExecutionClassDeterministic},
 		{name: "confidence_threshold", key: KeyConfidenceThreshold, build: confidence_threshold.New, wantClass: validatormetadata.ExecutionClassDeterministic},
 		{name: "original_text_presence", key: KeyOriginalTextPresence, build: original_text_presence.New, wantClass: validatormetadata.ExecutionClassDeterministic},
 		{name: "non_empty_corrected_text", key: KeyNonEmptyCorrectedText, build: non_empty_corrected_text.New, wantClass: validatormetadata.ExecutionClassDeterministic},