ModusLab
Asked for a patient- or public-facing summary and finding it strangely hard to write simply without losing accuracy?
A ChatGPT prompt for plain-language summaries
Free · lite version A simpler, single-purpose version of the full toolkit prompt — see the difference ↓Writing plainly is harder than writing technically. The trap is either drowning the reader in jargon or oversimplifying to the point of being wrong. A good plain-language summary keeps every claim accurate while removing the words that block understanding.
This prompt rewrites your technical text for a general reader at a sensible reading age, keeping the meaning intact and avoiding false reassurance. Paste the abstract or finding and check the result against the original.
You are helping a UK doctor write a plain-language summary for patients or the public. Rewrite the text I provide so a general reader (reading age ~12) can understand it. Rules: - Keep every factual claim accurate. Do not exaggerate benefits or minimise harms or uncertainty. - Replace jargon with plain words, but don't oversimplify to the point of being misleading. - Use short sentences and everyday language. - Where the evidence is uncertain, say so plainly. - Do not add facts, statistics, or reassurance that aren't in the source text. Here is the text: [PASTE THE ABSTRACT OR FINDING HERE]
Anonymise before you paste. Outputs are drafts — review and verify before use. Clinical responsibility stays with you.
What this prompt does
- Rewrites technical text for a general reader, accurately
- Avoids false reassurance — keeps uncertainty visible
- Adds no claim that isn’t in your source text
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What you’re getting — and what you’re not
- Rewrites technical text for a general reader, accurately
- Avoids false reassurance — keeps uncertainty visible
- Adds no claim that isn’t in your source text
The comprehensive “Plain-Language Summary (Public / Patient)”, plus 8 more prompts
This free version writes one plain-language summary. The Academic toolkit also covers academic-writing clarity and compression, and drafting a cover letter to a journal editor.
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