Lock facts first
Names, numbers, quotes, and citations were fixed before any wording changed.
Examples
Before-and-after examples make rewriting easier.
Use these patterns to diagnose what is wrong with a draft, then ask for the specific edit instead of a vague rewrite.
Independent guide. Not affiliated with OpenAI. ChatGPT is referenced descriptively.
Patterns
Common before-and-after moves
You can apply these to almost any AI-generated draft.
| Before problem | After move | Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| Too generic | Add audience-specific detail | Make this specific to [reader/context]. |
| Too long | Cut repeated setup | Reduce by 35% while preserving the core point. |
| Too stiff | Warm up the phrasing | Make this conversational but still professional. |
| Too vague | Name the actual outcome | Replace vague benefits with concrete outcomes. |
| Too salesy | Lower the hype | Make this credible and evidence-led. |
Marketing
Landing-page copy that says something
Marketing drafts drift toward hype because hype is easy to generate. The fix is to replace adjectives with evidence the reader can picture.
Before
Our revolutionary platform empowers teams to unlock unprecedented productivity and drive transformative results at scale, all in one seamless, cutting-edge solution.
After
Your team plans the week in one board instead of four tabs. Most teams cut their status meetings in half within a month. No new tools to learn: it imports from the spreadsheet you already use.
Why it is better
It trades six vague superlatives for three concrete, checkable claims a reader can actually evaluate.
An email with a clear ask
The most common email problem is burying the request under apology and setup. Lead with what you need.
Before
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to reach out because I was thinking it might potentially be beneficial for us to perhaps consider touching base at some point regarding the project timeline, if that works for you.
After
Could we meet for 20 minutes this week to lock the project timeline? Tuesday or Thursday afternoon both work for me. If neither fits, send a time and I will make it work.
Why it is better
The ask, the length, and two concrete options are all in the first two sentences, so the reader can answer in one reply.
Essay
An essay paragraph that argues instead of hedges
Academic drafts often stack qualifiers until the point disappears. Keep the caution, but commit to a claim. Note that a real rewrite would preserve the citation exactly.
Before
It could be argued that, in some respects, social media may have certain effects on aspects of civic participation, although this is a complex topic with many possible interpretations and factors to consider.
After
Social media widens civic participation and narrows it at once: it lowers the cost of speaking out while rewarding outrage over follow-through (Smith, 2021). The question is not whether it matters, but which effect wins in a given campaign.
Why it is better
It states a real, arguable thesis and keeps the citation intact, while dropping the hedges that said nothing.
Support
A support reply that solves and reassures
Support writing fails when it sounds like a policy quote. Name the fix, then the reason.
Before
Thank you for contacting us. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please be advised that your issue has been received and will be handled in accordance with our standard procedures in due course.
After
You are right, that charge was a mistake, and I have refunded it. You should see it back in three to five business days. I also turned off the setting that caused it, so it will not happen again on this account.
Why it is better
It admits the problem, states the concrete action, gives a real timeline, and prevents a repeat, instead of quoting procedure.
A LinkedIn post that reads like a person
Social posts die on buzzwords and false humility. Open with a specific moment, not a thesis statement.
Before
I am thrilled and humbled to share that I have been on an incredible journey of growth and learning. Excited about the future and grateful for all the amazing opportunities ahead. The best is yet to come.
After
Two years ago I shipped a feature nobody used. I finally understand why: I never watched a single customer try it. This year I sat in on twelve support calls before writing a line of code. Same team, very different results.
Why it is better
It replaces four generic feelings with one concrete story that has a before, an insight, and a changed outcome.
Method
How we rewrote these
Each example follows the same discipline described on our methodology page. We locked the facts first, so names, numbers, and the one citation could not drift. Then we cut filler, led with the point, and added a single concrete detail the reader could picture. We did not invent facts to make a draft sound better, and we did not claim any of this will beat an AI detector. For the exact wording that produces edits like these, use the prompts, and for voice work see rewrite tone and style. If you want to sanity-check your own edits, the FAQ covers what should never change.
Cut, then add
We removed filler before adding a concrete detail, so the draft got sharper, not just longer.
Check the meaning
Every after version was compared to its before to confirm the point survived the edit.