Clear Explanation

Turn complex ideas into audience-fit explanations. Use CLEAR: Calibrate, Link, Envision, Abstract, Repeat.

Scope

Use for explanations, rewrites, teaching notes, stakeholder summaries, beginner-friendly descriptions, and jargon translation.

Do not use for narrative craft, academic literature synthesis, outreach email, newsletter strategy, AI-pattern cleanup, or visual UI design unless explanation clarity is main job.

Inputs

• Topic or draft.
• Audience and their familiarity.
• Desired channel: spoken, email, doc, slide, comment.
• Length limit, if any.
• Must-keep terms, facts, caveats, or legal/security constraints.

If audience missing, infer only when safe. Otherwise ask one calibration question.

Workflow

Step 1: Calibrate

Set audience level before explaining.

• Beginner: no jargon. Define needed terms.
• General professional: use common business/technical words.
• Specialist: keep field terms, remove needless complexity.
• Mixed audience: explain in layers, simple first, details after.

If interactive, ask: "How familiar are they with this topic?" If not interactive, state assumed level.

Step 2: Link

Connect unknown to known.

Use one analogy, metaphor, or familiar comparison when it reduces effort. Keep link close to audience world. Drop analogy if it hides important differences.

Pattern:

Think of [complex thing] like [known thing]. The important similarity: [shared structure]. The limit: [where analogy stops].

Step 3: Envision

Make shape visible when words alone strain memory.

Use one simple model:

• 3-step flow.
• Before/after.
• Cause/effect chain.
• Small table.
• ASCII sketch.
• Named stages.

Skip visual model for short direct answers.

Step 4: Abstract

Boil idea to simplest useful form.

• Replace jargon with plain words unless audience needs exact term.
• Cut acronyms or define once.
• Prefer concrete nouns and active verbs.
• Keep one idea per sentence.
• Keep caveats that change decisions.
• Remove detail that does not help audience act or understand.

Use this test: if listener could not repeat core idea after one hearing, simplify more.

Step 5: Repeat

Close loop. Restate core idea in one line.

Use:

In short: [one-sentence takeaway].

For longer explanations, end with what user should remember or do next.

Output Shape

Default:

1. Assumption: audience level, if not supplied.
2. Plain explanation: short, direct explanation.
3. Link: analogy or comparison, if useful.
4. Shape: model, steps, table, or diagram, if useful.
5. In short: one-line takeaway.

For rewrite requests, return rewritten version first. Add short notes only when needed.

Quality Checks

• Audience level named or known.
• No needless jargon.
• Jargon kept only when useful and defined once.
• Analogy helps and includes limit if risk of overreach.
• Structure visible for complex ideas.
• Core idea repeatable in one sentence.
• Accuracy preserved over simplicity.

Writing

Use direct simple sentences. Skip rhetorical flourishes. Avoid X-not-Y contrasts, self-answering rhetorical questions, em dashes, alliterative three-part phrases, vague inspirational pivots, unsourced claims, and unverified quotes.