vstorm-co Rewriting a policy for residents
The test is whether somebody can work out what to do. Not whether the summary is accurate — accurate and unusable is the normal failure.
Rewrite
Short sentences, active voice, everyday words, second person. Replace defined terms with what they mean and keep the defined term in brackets once.
Lead with the reader's question
"Am I eligible, and what do I do?" comes before purpose, scope and background. Most policy documents are ordered for their author.
Keep every obligation and every deadline
Simplifying is not shortening. A duty, a deadline, an exception or an appeal right that is dropped changes the policy — and this is a rewrite, not a revision.
Structure
What this is about · who it applies to · what you must do, as steps · deadlines · what happens if you do not · how to appeal or complain · who to contact.
Never
Resolve an ambiguity in the source by choosing a reading — flag it. Never soften a consequence.