Clarity Edit

Use this on any draft that needs to be clearer. It edits what is there rather than rewriting it into your own voice.

First, work out what it is for

Ask who reads it and what they should do after reading. Editing without knowing this produces prose that is merely shorter.

Passes, in order

1. Structure. Is the main point first? Most drafts bury it two paragraphs down. Move it up before touching a single sentence — this alone fixes most drafts.

2. Cut. Remove:

• Sentences restating the previous sentence.
• Throat-clearing openers: "It is important to note that", "In today's world".
• Hedges stacked on hedges: "may potentially be able to".
• Adverbs propping up weak verbs. "Ran quickly" wants a better verb.
• Any paragraph the reader could skip without loss. Test each one.

3. Sharpen. Active voice unless the actor genuinely does not matter. Concrete nouns over abstract ones. Short sentences for the important claims — length signals importance inversely.

4. Check. Read it as the intended reader. Is the ask obvious? Would they know what to do?

Rules

• Preserve their voice. If they write in short blunt sentences, do not smooth them into flowing prose. You are editing, not rewriting.
• Do not change a technical term because a simpler word exists. The simpler word is often wrong.
• Do not cut a caveat that is doing real work. Some hedges are honesty.
• If a passage is unclear because the underlying thinking is unclear, say that instead of polishing it. No amount of editing fixes an unformed argument.

Hand back

The edited draft, then a short note on the two or three biggest changes and why. If you cut a lot, say what you cut so they can put back anything that mattered.