# MinAlertLevel

Learn about how to set the minimum alert level for Vale.

```ini
StylesPath = styles
MinAlertLevel = suggestion

[*.md]
BasedOnStyles = Vale
```

The `MinAlertLevel` key allows you to set the minimum alert level that Vale will report. The supported levels are `suggestion` (default), `warning`, and `error`.

`error`-level alerts will result in a [non-zero exit code](/topics/cli.md#return-codes), while `warning`- and `suggestion`-level alerts will not. This is useful for controlling which rules will fail CI builds.

## [Overriding](#overriding)

The `MinAlertLevel` key can be overridden from the command line using the `--minAlertLevel` flag:

```bash
$ vale --minAlertLevel=warning README.md
```

This allows you to, for example, show all alerts in your editor while only running `error`-level alerts in CI.

## [Editing](#editing)

You can edit the severity of a rule by modifying its `level` in your local `.vale.ini` file:

```ini
[*.md]
BasedOnStyles = Vale

Vale.Spelling = warning
```

Related: [Vocab](/keys/vocabularies.md) [IgnoredScopes](/keys/ignoredscopes.md)


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.vale.sh/keys/minalertlevel.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

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