[Document Title]
One sentence that states what this document is about. No filler. No build-up.
Overview
Opening paragraph. States the core claim directly. One to three sentences. After reading this paragraph, the reader should understand the document's purpose. No academic framing, no filler openers.
Second paragraph if needed. Use bold for key terms on first mention — the concepts the reader must retain. Keep sentences under ~25 words. Remove anything that could be cut without changing meaning.
A key axiom, principle, or tension that frames the document. Short, precise, and self-contained. Source or attribution if applicable
Brief follow-up. One paragraph. Connects the idea above to the next section.
Context
Contextual paragraph. Why this matters now. What prompted this document. Sets up the content pages without repeating the overview.
Second paragraph if needed. Ends with a forward-looking sentence that transitions naturally to the first content page.
[Section title, 3–6 words]
One sentence describing what this page covers and why it matters to the document's argument.
Core concepts
Lead sentence. States the core idea of this section directly. No build-up.
Body paragraph. Develops the idea. Key term bolded on first use. Technical vocabulary intact — never simplify at the cost of precision.
- First item — short, parallel, and self-contained
- Second item — each line carries its own weight
- Third item — avoid noun-phrase-only bullets with no meaningful content
- Fourth item — if prose flows naturally, use prose instead
Follow-up paragraph if needed. Context the list can't carry. One paragraph maximum after a list.
Comparison
Lead sentence for the comparison. What is being compared and why the distinction matters.
| Concept | What it means | When to apply |
|---|---|---|
| [Concept A] | Concise definition or implication | Specific context or condition |
| [Concept B] | Concise definition or implication | Specific context or condition |
| [Concept C] | Concise definition or implication | Specific context or condition |
| [Concept D] | Concise definition or implication | Specific context or condition |
Closing paragraph. What the table means in practice. The non-obvious implication.
[Section title, 3–6 words]
One sentence describing what this page covers.
Main topic
Lead sentence. Key concept introduced and bolded on first use.
[Sub-topic A]
Body for sub-topic A. Precise and compressed. Each paragraph makes exactly one claim.
- First step or ranked item — order conveys meaning here
- Second step — use ol for sequences, ul for non-sequential sets
- Third step — stop at the point where the pattern is clear
[Sub-topic B]
Body for sub-topic B. Same compression standard. One idea per paragraph.
Example — Concrete example referencing a real product, tool, or measurable outcome. One to three sentences. "Gmail's Compose button occupies the bottom-left" is the right level of specificity — not "a button that is large enough".
Code and syntax
Use inline code for technical terms, commands, config keys, or values that must be reproduced exactly. Not for emphasis — that's what bold is for.
[command or code snippet]
# Comment explaining what this does
output: expected resultFollow-up paragraph explaining the code block above. What to look for, what to change, what to avoid.
[Section title, 3–6 words]
One sentence describing what this page covers.
Rules and principles
Lead sentence. What this section establishes and why it matters.
A principle or rule that anchors this section. Short, precise, and self-contained. No explanation needed.
Follow-up paragraph. Connects the principle to the concrete content below. One paragraph. No filler transitions.
- Rule name — Short description. One or two sentences. Directly actionable.
- Rule name — Second rule. Use bold for the rule name, prose for the description.
- Rule name — Third rule. Each item is self-contained — no cross-references needed.
- Rule name — Fourth rule. Stop when the list is complete, not when it feels long enough.
Quick reference
A two-column table works well for term/definition or name/description pairs.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| [Item A] | Two-column tables suit term/definition or name/description pairs |
| [Item B] | First column: noun — what, who, or which. Second column: the explanation |
| [Item C] | If more than 5–6 rows, consider whether a prose list is actually clearer |
Synthesis
What it all adds up to — the one thing to carry forward.
Key takeaways
Synthesis paragraph. Draws the thread across the whole document. What does it all add up to? What should the reader think or do differently? Not a list of what was covered — the single most important takeaway, stated with precision.
- Takeaway one — the most important finding, stated as a complete claim
- Takeaway two — the actionable implication, what to do differently
- Takeaway three — the counterintuitive or non-obvious finding
- Takeaway four — the condition under which the main advice does not apply
Final closing sentence. Strong, precise, not generic. The document ends here.