Improving Readability and Flow
Quick start
Collect or infer:
- •Current draft content
- •Target audience reading level
- •Channel constraints (web, mobile, print)
- •Specific readability goals (if any, e.g., reading grade level)
- •Content purpose (quick scan, deep read, reference)
Then produce output using TEMPLATES.md. Validate with RUBRIC.md.
Workflow
- •Assess current state: sentence length distribution, paragraph density, structure.
- •Identify the intended reading pattern (scan, linear, reference).
- •Apply sentence-level improvements: length variation, active voice, front-loaded meaning.
- •Apply paragraph-level improvements: one idea per paragraph, transition quality, logical flow.
- •Apply structural improvements: subheadings, lists, visual breaks.
- •Check reading rhythm: vary sentence lengths, ensure natural pacing.
- •Remove friction: jargon, unnecessary complexity, passive constructions.
- •Run the rubric check. Revise until it passes.
Degrees of freedom
- •Low freedom: Factual accuracy, meaning preservation, terminology requirements
- •Medium freedom: Sentence restructuring, paragraph breaks, transition wording
- •High freedom: Structural reorganization, example selection, reading path design
Default: Improve readability without changing meaning. Flag any edits that alter substance.
References
- •Templates: TEMPLATES.md
- •Rubric: RUBRIC.md
- •Examples: EXAMPLES.md
- •Readability techniques: reference/readability-techniques.md