Give a working draft one clear purpose
Before editing individual sentences, describe what the reader should be able to do after reading.
The complete index
Notes
Seven readings about the purpose, structure and revision of a useful short text.
Drafts and labels introduce the work and its context. Paragraphs, examples and revision develop the text; titles and handoffs keep it usable for the next reader.
Use file names as small pieces of context
A helpful name makes a document distinguishable from its neighbours.
Give each paragraph one useful job
Paragraphs help a reader follow the order of an explanation. Each should add a distinct piece of reasoning or evidence to the point already in view.
Choose an example that answers a real question
An example makes an idea easier to examine. It works best when its details reveal the distinction the reader is trying to understand.
Revise from the largest decision to the smallest
Editing is easier when each pass has a clear purpose. Check whether the document does the right work before polishing how individual sentences sound.
Write a title that helps someone find the page again
A title serves readers before they open a document and after they leave it. It should distinguish this text from its neighbours without promising more than it contains.
Leave the next reader a clear starting point
A handoff preserves enough context for another person to continue a specific task. It should make the current result, remaining question and relevant source easy to find.