An editing checklist for your next article.

Make the promise specific

A useful headline tells the reader what they will find. It does not need to hide the idea behind a mystery or promise a dramatic outcome the article cannot support.

Write a one-sentence summary before the article. If you cannot explain the point simply, the idea may need another pass before it needs more words.

Add something the reader can use

A concrete example, a clear distinction or a short checklist can turn an opinion into something useful. Explain why your example matters and what it does not prove.

Use headings that carry meaning on their own. Someone scanning the page should be able to understand the path of the argument without reading every sentence.

Edit for trust

Check names, dates, links and claims. Label fictional examples. Link to original sources when you rely on them, and remove a claim if you cannot support it.

Read the article once for structure and once for unnecessary words. Then ask whether the ending gives the reader a practical next step rather than repeating the opening.

Before you publish

• Does the headline match the article?
• Is the main point clear near the start?
• Are examples, assumptions and uncertainty labeled?
• Can a reader do something useful with it?