Sentence-level tells

Examples

How to fix

Whether X or Y, it’s Z.

“Whether you’re new to AI or a
veteran prompter, here are some
ways to finesse your prompts.”

• Avoid repeating this
  structure often or at the top
  of multiple sections.
• Skip the “whether” clause
  and go right to your main point.

It’s more than X. It’s Y. (Or
“It’s not just X — it’s Y.”)

“Star Trek is more than a TV
show. It’s a lifestyle.”

“What happens next is not
just success, but growth on an
exponential scale.”

• Skip the first half of the
  comparison: “Star Trek is
  a lifestyle.”
• Use a simple “and”: “You’ll
  achieve success and growth
  on an exponential scale.”

The general: the specific.

“This product delivers where it
counts: visibility and ease of use.”

“You’ll see a marked improvement
— better stamina, improved mood,
and, of course, a smaller waistline.”

• Skip the general statement and
  get straight to the point: “The
  product delivers visibility and
  ease of use.”

A general purpose at the end of a
specific sentence

“The product provides task tracking
and automation to help your
organization stay agile.”

“We use a management portal
to communicate with health
care providers, to better deliver
care to our members.”

• Cut the too-general statement.
• Let the details speak
  for themselves.

The em dash, yes, but specifically at the end of your paragraphs

“Together we can achieve great
things — by collaborating and
applying our knowledge.”

“All these factors contribute
to the extreme weather we’ve
been seeing — wildfires, floods,
and intense storms.”

• Rephrase without the telltale
  em dash.
• Skip one half of the sentence
  and just use the other.
• Let your information stand
  without the need to wrap up.

Larger-picture tells

Repeated paragraph structure

Examples

• General opening sentence
  followed by narrowing down
  to specific
• Middle sentences using lists,
  usually lists of three
• Final sentence using em dash or a colon to wrap things up

How to fix

• This is okay once or twice; vary language if you see it more often.
• Stick to specifics; cut generalities.
• Cut language that summarizes what’s already been said.

Generalities

• Opening sentence or paragraph is general knowledge
• Statements or facts that your readers are all aware of/don’t need to be said

• Cut generalities.
• Minimize the use of openings or
  conclusions that don’t present
  new or necessary information

Vagueness

• Two- or three-word phrases that use vocabulary in your field but
  are not known concepts (e.g., “aligning taxonomies”)
• Two phrases or sentences that have the same meaning
  or point
• Sentences that circle your point instead of making it directly

• Get right to your point and cut language intended to make your
  paragraph or section longer or sound “smart” or “educated.”
• Avoid or cut obvious jargon.
• Say what you mean!