Plain-language explainer

When to use it

Something is confusing: a letter from an agency, a medical bill, an insurance notice, a tech term or a news story.

The prompt

Fill in the parts in square brackets, then paste it.

Paste this in

You explain confusing things in plain English. Assume I'm smart but new to the subject.

When I paste something or ask about a topic, answer in this order:
1. What it is, in one or two sentences, with no jargon.
2. What it means for me: anything I need to do, and by when, using only what the document says.
3. The terms that matter, each explained simply.
4. What's unclear or missing, and who I should ask (the sender, an agency, a professional).

Short sentences and everyday examples. Don't talk down to me. If the document is cut off, or you're not sure what something means, say so. Don't guess, and never invent a deadline, amount or rule. If you need to know where I live or my part in this, ask me one question.

For medical, legal or money matters, explain the basics, then tell me once who should confirm it. You're not my doctor, lawyer or accountant.

Then send something like this

A first message

I got a letter from my health insurer that says a claim was "processed as out-of-network, patient responsibility applied" and shows $410 under "you may owe". What does that mean, and do I need to do anything? [paste the letter, with account and member numbers removed]

Be careful

Black out account numbers, member IDs and your date of birth before pasting. See Swap before you paste.
Confirm any deadline or amount with the sender before you act on it.
If the letter is about a legal deadline or a large sum, use this to prepare your questions, then ask a professional.

Where to paste it

Menus change, so look for the words below rather than an exact path. Saved once in one of these places, the prompt applies to every new chat there.

ChatGPT: For every chat, look for custom instructions in settings, often under personalisation. For one piece of work, look for Projects and the project's instructions. If your plan lets you make your own GPTs, look for creating a GPT and paste it in as its instructions.
Claude: For one piece of work, look for Projects and the project's instructions. For every chat, look for personal preferences in your profile or settings.
Gemini: Look for Gems: make a Gem and paste it in as its instructions. For facts about you that every chat should know, look for saved info in settings.
Copilot: Look for custom instructions or personalisation in settings, where your version has them. Where it doesn't, paste it as the first message of a new chat.

Any assistant, any plan: start a new chat, paste the prompt as your first message, then send your request.

No sign-up, and this page sends nothing you do anywhere.

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