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WRITING GUIDES

Make your next draft easier to read.

Choose a guide for the passage you are editing. Each includes examples and checks for the details that should survive a rewrite.

Dumb Down Text

Browse all guides

How to Dumb Down Text

An editing process for difficult sentences, with a checklist for meaning.

Dumb Down a Paragraph

Keep the main point, supporting details and the connection between sentences.

Dumb Down an Essay

Make an argument easier to follow while keeping evidence and citations attached.

Simplifying vs. Summarizing

Choose between easier wording and a shorter account of the main ideas.

Start with the task

Start with the general editing guide for a full process. Use the paragraph guide for sentence connections, the essay guide for arguments and sources, or the comparison guide when deciding whether you need a rewrite or an overview.