Give AI specific instructions for clearer writing

A practical adaptation of OpenAI’s Astra writing guidance, with a copyable editing request and original before-and-after examples.

OpenAI’s Astra documentation gives specific instructions for reducing stock language and making explanations clear.

A request you can reuse

Power of AI adaptation. The wording below is ours.

Edit this text for a reader who needs to understand the point and act on it.

Put the useful information first. Use everyday words; retain specialist terms when they make the explanation more accurate for this reader.

Remove stock openings such as “it’s worth noting” and sign-offs such as “in short” when they add no information. Cut a final recap if it only repeats what you just said.

Replace unnecessary “not X, but Y” contrasts with the actual finding or action. Keep a contrast when it resolves a real misunderstanding.

Explain who does what, what changes, and why. Replace invented labels with that explanation. Keep the facts, uncertainty, and distinctive voice. Add useful detail only from the supplied material.

Return the edited text without a preface.

Text to edit:
[Paste your text here]

See what changes

These examples were written for this site and are not model test results.

Name the cause

Before: This isn’t a performance issue, but a configuration issue.

After: The problem is in the configuration.

The reader can see where to look next.

Stop after the instruction

Before: Save your changes, then restart the app. In short, save and restart to apply your changes.

After: Save your changes, then restart the app.

The second sentence repeated the first.

Explain the relationship

Before: Keep the project notes up to date to establish a shared-context continuity layer.

After: Keep the project notes up to date so everyone can follow the work.

An ordinary sentence explains why the notes matter.

Keep the edit honest

Check the revision against the original meaning and necessary qualifications. Retain technical terms or contrasts when they help your reader.

Official source

OpenAI: Personality and writing style. Source checked September 5, 2026; the model guide can change.

Try the Direct language option in the writing workshop.

Related Power of AI pages

Keep reading with Start here, everyday uses, the tool guide, the writing workshop, and sources and standards.