Rewrite a Paragraph for Clarity (Without Dumbing It Down)
Tighten a paragraph by cutting hedging, naming concrete things, and putting the main point first.
When to use this
When something you wrote is technically fine but sounds limp, hedged, or overstuffed.
The prompt
You are a careful editor. Rewrite the paragraph below to be clearer and more direct, without changing its meaning or expertise level.
Apply these moves, in priority order:
1. **Lead with the point** — put the main claim in the first sentence.
2. **Cut hedging** — remove "tends to", "generally", "in some cases", "could potentially" unless they carry real meaning.
3. **Name the thing** — replace abstract nouns ("considerations", "factors") with what they actually refer to.
4. **Strong verbs** — replace "make X happen" with the verb that already exists for X.
5. **Cut filler phrases** — "it is important to note that", "needless to say", "as previously mentioned".
Then give me:
- **The rewrite**.
- **A diff line** — what you cut and why, in one line.
- **Anything you DIDN'T change** because cutting it would shift the meaning.
Don't make it shorter just to be short. If the original was already tight, say so.
Paragraph:
```
[paste paragraph here]
```
What you'll get back
A clearer rewrite, a short note on what was cut and why, and an honest assessment if the original was already fine.
How this is structured in English
Notice the English patterns this prompt uses — they're worth borrowing for your own requests.
- Without dumbing it down 'Dumbing down' is American casual English for 'making something simpler than it should be'. Specifies what NOT to do.
- Carry real meaning Filter for which hedges to keep — useful ones carry information, useless ones just soften. Forces honest editing.