Write One Line Worth Quoting
Added 2026-11-05
A line that travels on its own is usually a judgment, not a slogan.
I am writing this: [topic and core point]. Give me three lines that could be quoted on their own: 1) each must stand alone and read without context; 2) each must carry a clear judgment or trade-off, not a slogan; 3) use concrete nouns and verbs, no stacked adjectives; 4) say whether each belongs at the opening, mid-piece, or the end; 5) for each, write the case in which it would be rebutted, to check it is not filler; 6) flag the one most likely to be misread and how to make it safer. No parallel constructions.
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[topic and core point]
How to use
A line that gets passed on usually makes a decision on the reader's behalf.
Try tweaking it
- Ask for three openings in different tones, then pick one.
- Replace "make it better" with concrete limits: length, reader, facts to keep.
What you should get
- A publishable draft, not an outline
- A short changelog: what changed and why
Common mistakes
- Letting it guess the facts, so plausible-looking sources get invented.
- Dumping the whole text with just "polish it" — the result still has no point.
How to check the output
- The conclusion comes first; deleting the opening paragraph does not break it.
- Every fact, number and quote traces back to the source text.
Where it works
- Good for: turning a rambling draft into a conclusion-first, shorter version.
- Watch out: keep sources and figures verbatim — do not let it invent citations.