# Boil a complex explanation down to three simple points

Distills a long or complicated explanation into three plain points anyone can remember and repeat.

- Topic: Writing & Editing
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Communication, Write, Brainstorm, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/boil-a-complex-explanation-down-to-three-simple-points

## Prompt

```text
Turn this complex explanation into three simple points.

**The explanation:** [PASTE TEXT, NOTES, OR TRANSCRIPT]
**Who needs to understand it:** [e.g. "senior leaders", "frontline staff", "a customer"]
**What they need to do with it:** [DECIDE / APPROVE / ACT / JUST UNDERSTAND]

Steps:
1. Identify the single main message the whole explanation supports.
2. Pick the three ideas that matter most for this audience and purpose. Merge overlapping ideas; drop detail that doesn't change what they do.
3. Write each point as one plain sentence (under 20 words), with no jargon or unexplained acronyms.
4. Order them logically: usually what's happening, why it matters, what to do.

Return:
1. **Main message** - one sentence.
2. **The three points**, each with an optional one-line supporting fact from the source.
3. **A one-paragraph version** joining the three points, for an email or talk track.
4. **What I left out** - important nuances, caveats, or risks the simplification hides, so I can decide whether to mention them.

Use only facts in the source. If the explanation contradicts itself or the main message is unclear, tell me instead of smoothing it over.
```

## What to fill in

- PASTE TEXT, NOTES, OR TRANSCRIPT
- e.g. "senior leaders", "frontline staff", "a customer"
- DECIDE / APPROVE / ACT / JUST UNDERSTAND

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.