Stop Asking For 'Better' Writing. Ask For Cuts.

"Improve this" produces text that is smoother and says less. Every specific becomes general, every number becomes "significant", every hedge disappears.

What works:

"Cut this to 60% of its length.

Rules:

• Do not remove a single number, name, date, or caveat

• Cut adjectives, throat-clearing, and any sentence that restates the previous one

• If two sentences make the same point, keep the more specific one

• Keep my voice; do not make it sound like a press release

• Show the cut version and a list of what you removed"

The "list what you removed" clause is the whole trick. Skim it, and about one time in five you spot something that mattered and put it back. Without the list you never notice it left.

Works on documentation, PR descriptions and release notes. Does not work on anything where the length is the point.