DeskPlainCreate a useful summary while keeping conditions, exceptions and missing evidence visible. Start with the source facts, copy a ready-to-use prompt and check the result before using it.
A short summary can hide the sentence that changes what a document means. Define who will use the summary and what decision it supports. Ask for traceable source references and explicit uncertainty, then check the passages that matter before sharing the result.
Prepare the information that matters
Label the sections of the text you provide. If you paste only an excerpt, say that the source is incomplete. Remove information your chosen AI service is not approved to receive. The assistant cannot summarize missing attachments simply because the document mentions them.
Use a service your organization permits for this material. A pasted excerpt is the assistant's source for this workflow; the prompt does not give it access to files, mail or meetings you have not supplied.
Copy the ready-to-use prompt
The main prompt
Copy this into your AI assistant. Add your notes where marked.
Summarize the document below for a busy reader. State its main purpose, important facts, decisions, conditions and exceptions. Distinguish a proposal from an approved action. Use only the supplied text. Give a supporting section label or short source excerpt for each important claim. Do not invent page numbers or summarize attachments that were not supplied. If the source is an excerpt, make that limitation explicit. Return a short summary, a key-point evidence table and unanswered questions. Keep any recommendations separate from source facts. DOCUMENT [Paste the document or a clearly labeled excerpt here]
Work through a concrete example
Input to work from
[1] November form proposed. [2] Accessibility review required; launch not approved. [3] Existing bookings valid; current process continues.
A useful output to compare against
A new booking form is proposed for November, but launch approval depends on accessibility review. Existing bookings remain valid and the current process continues until a date is confirmed. Proposed timing | [1] | Not a confirmed launch date Approval condition | [2] | Accessibility review outstanding Current process | [3] | Continues until confirmation Unanswered: who approves launch, and when?
This is an editorial worked example, not a captured response from a particular model. Your assistant may return different wording or make mistakes.
Why these choices matter
The summary retains the approval condition and the current procedure. Removing either would create a misleading announcement. Source labels make review faster, but you still need to open the labeled text and verify the claim; a model can provide a mistaken citation.
Review and improve the first answer
Use this after the first answer, in the same conversation. Keep the original source available.
Audit the summary against the source. For each sentence, name the supporting section and identify any lost qualification. Correct unsupported claims. Keep any recommendation explicitly labeled as a recommendation.
Ask for a specific correction when the response misses the goal. Changing the requested format can improve readability; it cannot make an unsupported fact true. Return to your source when the answer changes a number, date, responsibility or condition.
Check the result before using it
- Inspect each cited section yourself.
- Look specifically for omitted exceptions, negative statements and conditions.
- Confirm the summary covers the supplied scope rather than claiming the whole document.
- Check numbers, dates and obligations against the original before sharing.
Fix the common failure patterns
| What goes wrong | What to change |
|---|---|
| The assistant summarizes an attachment it never received | Provide an approved excerpt or label that content unavailable. |
| A proposal becomes a policy | Require the exact approval status from the source. |
| Citations look convincing | Open the source; a reference label alone does not validate a claim. |
Keep the source with the summary so readers can check its important claims. When the document changes, review the summary again rather than carrying forward an outdated condition or date.
Find another task in the AI at Work prompt library, or continue with the related DeskPlain guides below.
Keep these in mind
- Inspect each cited section yourself.
- Look specifically for omitted exceptions, negative statements and conditions.
- Confirm the summary covers the supplied scope rather than claiming the whole document.
Common questions
Does the prompt run an AI assistant on DeskPlain?
No. This is a library of ready-to-copy prompts. Copy the text, add your source material in your chosen AI assistant and review the answer.
Are the examples real user data or model test results?
No. They are original fictional worked examples showing the intended reasoning and checks. They are not a benchmark or captured model output.
Will the prompt always return a correct result?
No. Review the result against the source and the task-specific checks. Ask about missing information instead of accepting an invented answer.
Sources & further help
Original DeskPlain prompts and fictional worked examples, prepared with AI assistance. Examples illustrate the intended reasoning; they are not captured model responses or a claim of testing across AI products. Read the editorial policy.