Knowing what not to say

Knowing what not to say is an important writing skill. It’s something we can learn whether we write traditionally or use generative AI.

This skill matters at all stages of writing, from the blank page to the final draft. It’s about making cuts that improve the text.

There isn’t a universal rule about what to delete and what to save. In each case, we think about what we want to communicate to our readers. Then, we take away anything that might bury the message. 

It’s like removing piles of junk from a handcrafted table so that everyone can see the woodwork. Too many words or digressions in a piece of writing can really obscure its main point.

Cutting questions

Useful content questions to ask are:

• Why would readers want to know this?
• What do readers need to know?
• Would this try a reader’s patience?

Useful language questions to ask are:

• Can this sentence say the same thing with fewer words?
• Is this the most efficient way to deliver this point to a reader who is short on time?
• Is the reader likely to forget the beginning of the sentence before they get to the end?

Is AI any good at cuts?

In the early years of AI-generated output, one sign of AI use was that its language was too much. It tended to turn plain English into overblown phrases that needed cutting. A person didn’t dig holes, they optimised vertical openings in the terrain.

Thankfully, AI’s language is improving. But, no matter how good the technology becomes, people will always need to make decisions about deleting or keeping sections of content.

Only the human writer knows why they’re writing and how they want readers to experience the text. They can try using AI to advise them on cuts, but it’s like asking Google to tell you what to eat for dinner. It’s advice – from a machine.

Working with human editors

Many types of editing are becoming more content oriented these days. So, if you work with an editor and want advice on making cuts, it’s worth talking to them. A human editor can help when you’re not sure what to keep and what to lose.

You’ll need to be clear in how you ask for this because not all editors advise on content cutting. In many editing jobs, suggesting the deletion of content is a serious overstep. That’s why many professionals will be reluctant to do it without explicit permission. 

I can give advice, but only for shorter texts and on the understanding that my knowledge of the subject does not equal that of the client. As an editor, I look at documents in terms of the reader’s experience of the text. This isn’t the same as advising on messaging or strategy.