Say an email from your child’s school lands on a busy Tuesday night. It runs 400 words, with phrases like “formative assessment benchmarks” and “social-emotional learning competencies.” You can tell it says something important. You can’t tell what it wants you to do.
Ask for plain words
On Day 8 we used AI to put a lease into plain words. A school email works the same way. You might paste the email and type:
Rewrite this email in plain language. A busy parent should be able to read it in 30 seconds and know what action to take.
The 400 words become about 80: the school is changing report cards, teachers will use skill ratings in place of letter grades, and you need to sign a consent form by Friday.
Check it against the original
Put the short version next to the long one. Make sure the date and any forms or meetings made it across. If something still looks unclear, call or email the school office. AI can shorten the words, and you still confirm the facts. Leave your child’s full name and student number out of anything you paste.
For a medical report or a legal letter, a plain version helps you understand it. Check anything important with your doctor or a lawyer before you act on it.
Turn the tone up or down
Tone works in both directions. You can turn a quick text into a polite email for a teacher, or make a stiff note sound warmer. Try:
Rewrite this so it sounds [warmer, firmer, calmer or more casual]. Keep the same message.
Read the new version out loud before you send it. If it doesn’t sound like you, ask for another try.
What is the last thing you read that needed plain words?
Yesterday was knowing your rights before a hard conversation (opens in a new tab). Day 20: your personal instruction set for AI.
The school email example is a constructed scenario. How this was made: AI helped in formatting. See the AI use and editorial policy (opens in a new tab).