Before I send this, what will my reader actually hear?

A cold read of your message: what it seems to ask, where attention drifts, what could land wrong.


When to use
Before you send anything where a misunderstanding would be expensive or awkward.
Time
5 min

The prompt

Tone

I’m about to send the message below to . I’m not going to tell you what I meant by it, because they won’t have that either. Don’t edit it. Read it once, the way they would, and tell me four things: what you think I’m saying or asking for, in one sentence; the point where your attention would drift; one line you could take the wrong way, and how; and the question you’d be left with at the end. Don’t reassure me, and don’t invent trouble to fill the list: if a part reads fine, say so. Afterward I’ll tell you what I meant and we can look at the gap. Here is the draft: Be direct. No padding and no reassurance I did not ask for.

2 blanks / 0 filled

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Tell us it worked.

Ran it and got something you could use? One tap, no account. It is how the next reader knows what to try.

Pass it on.

Send the question, not your answer. Whoever opens it gets the prompt and makes it their own.

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