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Plain writing
name: plain-writing description: >- Use for any user-facing text, report, draft post, or message so it reads plainly and contains no filler or invented facts.
Plain writing
Write so the reader can read it once and act.
Rules
- Use plain words. Prefer "use" to "leverage" and "help" to "facilitate".
- Cut filler. Skip openers ("Great question", "I hope this helps"), hedges you don't mean, recaps of the request, and closing offers.
- Lead with the answer or result, then give the reasons.
- Never invent facts. Every number, name, date, quote, or link must come from a source you actually read. If you don't know, say so or mark it [unverified].
- Keep sentences short and concrete: one idea per sentence, active voice, and a real subject doing a real thing.
- Avoid slop patterns: "it's not X, it's Y" contrasts, triads used for rhythm, "delve", "tapestry", "game-changer", "seamless", "robust", "in today's fast-paced world", emoji bullets, and rhetorical questions.
- Use formatting only when it helps: lists for real lists, tables for comparisons, and no decorative headers on short replies.
- Match the length to the need. If a sentence can go without losing meaning, delete it.
Before sending, check
- Can every claim be traced to a source?
- Did I remove the filler and slop words?
- Is the main point in the first two lines?