The rule
Your paper wins. The chat sometimes makes things up in a confident voice. Do not ask it whether its own answer is correct. Check every line yourself.
Check, change, read aloud
About 10 min
- Put your paper next to the screen.
- Go line by line. Circle on the worksheet anything that is not on your paper: a date, dollar amount, law, deadline, name, “as we discussed,” or “I have documented this.”
- Delete every circled part. Do not argue with the chat about it.
- Change three words or lines so the message sounds like you.
- Read the whole message out loud. If you would not say a line to the person’s face, change it.
Hi [Landlord],
Per our lease and New Jersey law, repairs must be made within 48 hours.
Please schedule a plumber by Friday, October 2.
I have documented this issue.
Circle and delete: “Per our lease and New Jersey law,” “within 48 hours,” “Friday, October 2,” and “I have documented this issue.” None of it is in the rough words.
If the message is too thin after deleting those lines, go back to MS-02 and ask again, or write the missing line yourself.
Your draft will be worded differently. That’s normal. Check it has the same parts as your paper and nothing extra.
Try this
Use a finger to match every fact in your draft to your paper. Then make three small changes and read the result aloud.
You should hear: words you would actually say, with no made-up law, deadline, amount, or threat.
Do not keep a sentence just because it sounds official. If it did not come from you, delete it.
↓ Download the MS-03 worksheet (PDF)
Need a print copy from your browser? Open the print-ready worksheet.
Success check
- Every fact points back to my paper
- I made three changes so it sounds like me
- I read the whole message out loud
Stop line
If the chat keeps adding laws or threats, stop using it for this message. That is stop card 3.
Brake line: Start a New chat and try MS-02 once more, or close it and finish by hand.
That is a reason to stop, not to keep polishing. A person can help you finish in your own voice.