Apply these principles to all writing output:
Core Rules
- •Eliminate filler - Remove words that add no meaning: "basically", "essentially", "in order to", "it should be noted that", "as a matter of fact"
- •Active voice - "The function returns X" not "X is returned by the function"
- •One idea per sentence - If a sentence has "and" or "but", consider splitting it
- •Lead with the point - Put conclusions first, supporting details after
- •Concrete over abstract - "Latency dropped from 200ms to 50ms" not "Performance improved significantly"
Structure
- •Short paragraphs - 2-4 sentences max
- •Use lists for 3+ related items
- •Use headers to let readers skip to what they need
- •Front-load the most important information
Cut List
Remove these on sight:
- •"I think" / "I believe" - just state it
- •"Very" / "really" / "quite" - find a stronger word or drop it
- •"In terms of" - rephrase
- •"The fact that" - rephrase
- •"It is important to note that" - just note it
- •Throat-clearing introductions ("Before we begin...", "First, let me say...")
Test
After writing, ask: "Can I remove any sentence without losing meaning?" If yes, remove it.