Rewrite stiff text so it sounds human
Your draft rewritten in plain, natural language, with every fact kept and your meaning intact.
Prompt
Rewrite my text so it reads like a thoughtful person wrote it, not a template. Who will read it: [audience, e.g. customers on our pricing page] How it should sound: [tone, e.g. warm, plain and confident] Keep: - Every fact, number, name and promise. Add no new claims. - My meaning and the overall structure (headings, lists), unless the structure is the problem. - About the same length, or shorter. Change: - Use short, concrete words, and swap jargon for what it actually means. - Prefer the active voice and specific verbs. - Vary sentence length, and use contractions where they sound natural. - Cut filler and stock phrases such as "in today's fast-paced world", "it's important to note", "delve", "leverage", "seamless", "unlock" and "not just X, but Y". Reply with the rewritten text first, with nothing before it. Then list the 3 biggest changes you made and why, one line each. My text: """ [paste your text] """ If my text or any other detail in square brackets is still missing, ask me for it before you rewrite anything.
Variation: Cut it in half
Cut my text to about half its length while keeping every point that matters.
Who will read it: [audience, e.g. busy managers skimming email]
How to cut:
- First remove repetition, throat-clearing openings, hedges ("I think", "just", "really") and filler.
- Then merge sentences that say the same thing.
- Keep every fact, number, decision and request. If something important has to go, tell me what.
- Keep my voice. Don't make it formal or robotic.
Reply with the shortened text first. Then give the word count before and after, and list anything you removed that I might want back.
My text:
"""
[paste your text]
"""
If my text or any other detail in square brackets is still missing, ask me for it before you edit anything.Variation: More professional
Rewrite my text for a professional reader. It should be clear and human, not stiff. Who will read it: [audience, e.g. a client's legal team] What it needs to do: [purpose, e.g. confirm the new delivery dates politely] Rules: - Keep every fact and commitment exactly, and add no new promises. - Replace casual phrases and slang with precise, neutral wording. - Keep sentences direct. Avoid stuffy formulas like "please be advised" and "kindly note". - Use the passive voice only where naming who did something would be awkward. - Keep it about the same length. Reply with the rewritten text first. Then add a one-line note on any sentence that could still be misread. My text: """ [paste your text] """ If my text or any other detail in square brackets is still missing, ask me for it before you rewrite anything.
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Open in
- ChatGPT All-rounder(opens with the prompt filled in)
- Claude Long-form writing(opens with the prompt filled in)
- Gemini Google Docs users(copies the prompt, then opens the site)
- Perplexity Answers with sources(opens with the prompt filled in)
- Copilot Free, quick drafts(opens with the prompt filled in)
- Grok Casual tone(opens with the prompt filled in)
- Le Chat Fast replies(opens with the prompt filled in)
- DeepSeek Step-by-step reasoning(copies the prompt, then opens the site)
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Why it works
Naming the reader and the tone gives the rewrite a target, and the "keep" list protects your facts and promises, which is where rewrites quietly go wrong. Listing the stock phrases to cut works better than just asking for "natural" writing. The list of changes at the end lets you check nothing drifted.
#editing #rewriting #tone