clear-writing

Make writing clear, direct, and human. Strip the slop. Add rhythm.

Based on Strunk's Elements of Style, Wikipedia's AI Cleanup patterns, and structural techniques for engagement.

When to Use

• •Technical reports that read like textbooks
• •Documentation that puts readers to sleep
• •Emails that bury the ask in paragraph 4
• •Writing that "sounds like AI"
• •Any prose that feels verbose or lifeless
• •Social media posts that drone
• •Commit messages, error messages, UI text

Content Type Detection

Adapt technique to content:

Part I: Strunk's 18 Rules

Elementary Rules of Usage (1-7)

Rule 1: Form possessive singular with 's

Add 's regardless of final consonant: "Charles's friend," "Burns's poems."

Exceptions: ancient names ending in -es/-is (Achilles' heel), Jesus', conscience' sake.

Rule 2: Use serial comma

"Red, white, and blue" - comma after each term except the last.

Rule 3: Enclose parenthetic expressions in commas

Never insert only one comma when two are required.

Parenthetic: dates, abbreviations (etc., jr.), non-restrictive clauses. Not parenthetic: restrictive clauses that identify the antecedent.

Rule 4: Comma before conjunction in coordinate clauses

"The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape."

Rule 5: Don't join independent clauses with comma alone

Use semicolon: "Stevenson's romances are entertaining; they are full of exciting adventures."

Or use a conjunction with comma. Or make two sentences.

Rule 6: Don't break sentences in two

Fragments like "Coming home from Liverpool" should attach to the preceding sentence.

Exception: emphatic single words or phrases may stand alone if emphasis is clear.

Rule 7: Participial phrases must refer to grammatical subject

"Walking slowly down the road, he saw a woman" - walking refers to he.

Dangling modifiers produce absurd results.

Elementary Principles of Composition (8-18)

Rule 8: One topic per paragraph

Each new paragraph signals a new step in development.

Rule 9: Open with topic sentence, end in alignment

Let readers grasp each paragraph's purpose immediately.

Rule 10: Use active voice

Passive hides the actor. Active shows who does what.

Exception: when the actor is unknown, irrelevant, or when a particular word must become the subject.

Rule 11: Put statements in positive form

Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, hesitating language.

Rule 12: Use definite, specific, concrete language

Abstract numbs. Concrete sticks.

Rule 13: Omit needless words

A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences.

Cut these:

• •"the fact that" → delete
• •"who is", "which was" → delete
• •"the question as to whether" → "whether"
• •"there is no doubt but that" → "no doubt"
• •"in a hasty manner" → "hastily"
• •"this is a subject that" → "this subject"
• •"the reason why is that" → "because"

Word math:

• •"owing to the fact that" → "since"
• •"in spite of the fact that" → "though"
• •"call your attention to the fact that" → "remind you"
• •"I was unaware of the fact that" → "I was unaware"

Rule 14: Avoid succession of loose sentences

Vary sentence structure. Don't string everything together with and, but, so.

Rule 15: Express coordinate ideas in parallel form

Similar thoughts need similar grammatical forms.

Rule 16: Keep related words together

Don't split subjects from verbs with lengthy modifiers.

Rule 17: Use consistent tense in summaries

Present tense for dramatic summaries. Avoid repetitive "he said" attributions.

Rule 18: Place emphatic words at sentence end

Sentences build to their close. Save the punch for last.

Part II: AI Pattern Elimination

LLMs use statistical algorithms to predict likely next words. This creates patterns that appear across AI-generated text. These patterns aren't inherently wrong - they're just predictable. Detection is about removing undisclosed AI artifacts, not all AI assistance.

Regression to the Mean

AI tends toward generic, statistically common outputs rather than specific facts:

• •Vague claims about importance and legacy
• •Generic positive language replacing specific details
• •Superficial connections to broader topics

Fix: Be specific rather than grandiose. Describe what something actually does.

Puffery Words (Delete or Replace)

These words inflate without adding meaning:

pivotal, crucial, vital, essential, groundbreaking, seamless, robust,
revolutionary, cutting-edge, state-of-the-art, innovative, dynamic,
comprehensive, holistic, synergistic, leveraged, optimized, streamlined,
game-changing, paradigm-shifting, world-class, best-in-class, premium,
transformative, unprecedented, remarkable, stunning, breathtaking

Replace with specifics or delete entirely.

Overused AI Vocabulary

High-frequency slop:

delve, leverage, multifaceted, foster, tapestry, testament,
landscape, paradigm, ecosystem, framework, nuanced, robust,
dynamic, synergy, utilize, facilitate, enhance, optimize,
seamlessly, holistically, strategically, align with, crucial,
emphasize, underscore, vibrant

Plain alternatives:

Empty -ing Constructions

Pattern: "verb-ing" + abstract noun. Almost always delete.

ensuring reliability → (just describe what happens)
showcasing features → (just list them)
highlighting significance → (just state it)
demonstrating capability → (just show it)
fostering collaboration → (just describe the process)
enabling transformation → (just say what changes)
facilitating communication → (people talk)
enhancing performance → (say how much faster)
reflecting broader trends → (say what trend)

This is "superficial analysis" - inanimate facts described as "highlighting" or "reflecting" significance. A narrator's claim, not actual developments.

Promotional Travel-Brochure Language

nestled, breathtaking, stunning, remarkable, boasts, continues to captivate,
stands as a testament, beacon of, rich tapestry of, harmonious blend,
embodies the essence of, sheer beauty, truly unique, hidden gem,
continues to attract, steeped in history

If it sounds like a hotel website, cut it.

Didactic Disclaimers (Delete)

These add nothing:

"It's important to note that..."
"It's worth mentioning that..."
"In today's world..."
"In the context of..."
"As we all know..."
"It goes without saying..."
"Needless to say..."
"For all intents and purposes..."
"At the end of the day..."
"When all is said and done..."
"It is crucial to understand..."

Just say the thing.

Rule of Three Abuse

AI loves tripling adjectives. Cut to one (the best one):

Zombie Nouns (Nominalizations)

Nouns made from verbs. They deaden prose.

Hunt endings: -ion, -ment, -ance, -ence, -ity

Example:

• •"The implementation of the optimization required consideration"
• •→ "We considered how to implement the optimization"
• •→ Better: "We optimized it"

Negative Parallelisms

"Not only...but also" appears excessively in AI text. Often inappropriate for neutral tone. Use sparingly.

Elegant Variation (False Synonyms)

Changing terms for variety creates confusion:

• •"The system" → "the platform" → "the solution" → "the tool"
• •Pick one term and stick with it

False Ranges

AI creates fake spectrums:

• •"from the mundane to the profound"
• •"whether simple or complex"

Often meaningless. Cut.

Hedging Language (Cut or Commit)

somewhat, arguably, relatively, generally, typically, essentially,
virtually, basically, fundamentally, sort of, kind of, in a sense,
to some extent, for the most part, more or less, it could be argued

Either commit to the claim or cut it.

Copula Avoidance

AI sometimes avoids simple "is/are" statements, adding unnecessary complexity. "The building is tall" beats "The building stands as a towering presence."

Chatbot Correspondence Artifacts

Remove when present:

• •"I hope this helps!"
• •"Let me know if you have questions"
• •"Here's what I found"
• •Collaborative phrases written for the user rather than as content

Formatting Artifacts

Part III: Words and Expressions Commonly Misused

Quick reference for common errors. See elements-of-style/05-words-commonly-misused.md for full list.

Part IV: Engagement Techniques

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

For technical reports and emails. Lead with the conclusion.

Structure:

1. •Main conclusion/recommendation (first sentence)
2. •Key supporting points (2-3 bullets)
3. •Details and evidence (rest of document)

Example:

BAD:  "After analyzing Q3 metrics across all regions and considering
       various factors including market conditions..."

GOOD: "We should expand to APAC in Q1. Revenue opportunity is $2M with
       6-month payback."

SCR Pattern (Situation-Complication-Resolution)

For narrative flow when BLUF isn't appropriate.

1. •Situation: Establish context (1-2 sentences)
2. •Complication: The problem or tension
3. •Resolution: The answer/recommendation

SCQA Variant

1. •Situation: Context
2. •Complication: What changed
3. •Question: What we need to decide
4. •Answer: The recommendation

Five Hook Types

For openings that grab attention:

1. •Surprising metric: "73% of users abandon before checkout"
2. •Micro-story: "Last Tuesday, our deploy broke production for 4 hours"
3. •Question: "What if your tests could run in 10 seconds?"
4. •Contrast: "We expected 20% growth. We got 180%."
5. •Time pressure: "The API deprecates in 30 days"

1-3-1 Rhythm

Structure paragraphs:

• •1 strong opening sentence
• •3 explanatory/supporting sentences
• •1 punchy closing sentence

Sentence Length Audit

Mix short and medium. Avoid long runs.

• •Short (≤8 words): For emphasis, transitions, conclusions
• •Medium (~15 words): For explanation
• •Long (25+ words): Use sparingly, never consecutive

Good rhythm:

Short. Then explain in a medium sentence that provides context.
This builds understanding. Medium again for detail. Land it.

Scanner's Contract

Headers must be informative, not generic.

Readers skim headers. Each header should tell them something.

Quick Reference: Transformation Checklist

Before publishing, verify:

1. • Lead with conclusion (BLUF)
2. • Active voice throughout
3. • Positive statements (say what is, not what isn't)
4. • No puffery words (pivotal, crucial, seamless, robust)
5. • No empty -ing phrases
6. • No zombie nouns (-ion, -ment, -ance)
7. • No hedging without purpose
8. • No rule-of-three adjective stacking
9. • Specific numbers instead of "many" or "significant"
10. • Scannable headers that inform
11. • Varied sentence length
12. • Related words kept together
13. • Emphatic words at sentence end
14. • Every word earns its place
15. • Consistent terminology (no elegant variation)

Anti-Patterns

Never write prose that:

• •Buries the lead in paragraph 3
• •Uses passive voice to hide responsibility
• •Stacks adjectives in threes
• •Opens with "In today's rapidly evolving landscape..."
• •Ends with "...and so much more!"
• •Uses "leverage" when "use" works
• •Hedges every claim with "somewhat" or "relatively"
• •Abstracts concrete things into nominalizations
• •Reads like a press release
• •Sounds like every other AI-generated doc
• •Claims things are "highlighting significance" or "reflecting importance"
• •Uses "not only...but also" for neutral statements
• •Switches terms for variety (system → platform → solution)

Voice

• •Write for a smart reader who's busy
• •One idea per sentence
• •Short paragraphs (3-5 sentences max)
• •Use "you" and "we" — write to someone
• •Have opinions — wishy-washy writing wastes time
• •If a 7th grader couldn't understand it, simplify
• •Specific beats grandiose every time

Reference Files

For detailed coverage, see:

• •elements-of-style/02-rules-of-usage.md - Grammar and punctuation rules
• •elements-of-style/03-principles-of-composition.md - Structure and voice
• •elements-of-style/04-matters-of-form.md - Formatting conventions
• •elements-of-style/05-words-commonly-misused.md - Word choice guide