Review a shared draft in five steps

A one-page checklist for anyone asked to review a document before it goes out.

A hand points a pencil at one line of a document, with two empty speech bubbles beside it.

The five steps

  1. Read the whole draft once before writing any comment, so you judge the parts in context.
  2. Point to one line per comment, so the author knows exactly what to change.
  3. Say what should happen: keep, cut, move or rewrite, and why.
  4. Separate must-fix items from suggestions the author may decline.
  5. End with the next action and a date for the revised draft.

One comment, four parts

Where
Page 2, the second line of the budget table.
What
Change "Q3" to "Q4".
Why
The approved budget sheet lists the spend in Q4.
Type
Must fix: the number is wrong as written.

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