Adjust tone without changing meaning

Scenario

You have copy that’s correct, but it feels “off”: too casual, too harsh, too salesy, or not aligned with your brand.

Goal

Change tone while keeping the underlying meaning and key claims unchanged.

Inputs

  • Original text
  • Target tone (choose 1–2 adjectives, not 10)
  • Must-keep statements (pricing, guarantees, technical constraints)

Steps

  1. Describe the target tone with examples
    • “Friendly but professional” is better than “make it better.”
  2. Pin non-negotiables
    • List sentences that must not change meaning.
  3. Rewrite in one pass
    • Ask for 2–3 variants (e.g., direct / friendly / premium).
  4. Compare meaning
    • Check that promises and constraints stayed the same.
  5. Finalize
    • Combine the best parts and standardize terminology.

Output expectations

  • Same message, different feel
  • More consistent voice across pages and campaigns

Common pitfalls

  • Tone vs meaning: “more confident” can accidentally add stronger claims—review carefully.
  • Too many style constraints creates unnatural copy.
  • Inconsistent terms: keep a glossary for product names and features.

When not to use

  • You’re writing regulated content (finance/medical/legal) without review.
  • You don’t know what tone you want—start with 2–3 reference examples.

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