Language models are strong editors when told what kind of editing you want.
Specify the Level of Editing
- Proofreading: spelling, grammar and punctuation only.
- Copy-editing: clarity, consistency and flow, keeping structure.
- Line editing: sentence-level style and tone.
- Structural editing: organisation and argument.
Asking for the wrong level produces unwanted changes.
Protect What Matters
"Don't change technical terms, product names, figures or quotes." "Keep my voice; don't make it more formal."
Ask for Tracked Changes
Request a list of changes with reasons, or the original and revised sentences side by side, so you can accept or reject each.
Style Guides
Provide your spelling conventions (Australian or US English), formatting rules and preferred terminology.
Check the Edits
Models occasionally change meaning, drop qualifiers or introduce errors while "improving" text. Compare versions, especially in legal, technical and financial writing.
Clarity Feedback
Ask: "Which sentences would a non-expert find confusing, and why?" This often helps more than a rewrite.
Keep Ownership
Accept edits that make the writing clearer, and reject those that make it generic.