Writing Clearly and Concisely

Use this skill for human-facing prose. The job is to say the right thing to the right reader with no wasted motion.

Workflow

1. Identify the purpose, reader, channel, tone, and length. Infer defaults unless the missing detail would materially change the result.
2. Protect the non-negotiables: facts, names, dates, figures, technical terms, constraints, citations, caveats, and user wording that must stay.
3. Lead with the answer, ask, decision, or recommendation. Add structure only when it improves scanning.
4. Edit in passes:
   • structure: remove throat-clearing, repeated setup, and fake conclusions
   • sentences: prefer active voice, direct subjects, concrete verbs, and parallel structure
   • words: cut hedges, filler, hype, duplicated modifiers, and vague nouns
   • tone: keep it calm, specific, and appropriate for the relationship
5. Do a final check for accuracy, readability, and length.

Defaults

• Drafting from scratch: return the finished prose first. Explain choices only when assumptions or tradeoffs matter.