Write a correction or clarification for a published story
A clear, proportionate correction notice, the fixed copy, and an internal note on how the error happened.
The prompt
Help me correct an error in a story we already published.
Original published text: [PASTE THE WRONG PASSAGE, headline, or caption]
What is actually correct, and how we know: [THE CORRECT FACT and its source]
Where it appeared: [web, print, newsletter, social posts, syndication partners]
Who raised it: [reader, subject, internal - and any complaint wording]
Our corrections policy: [PASTE OR SUMMARIZE, e.g. "note at the foot of the article, dated"]
First decide: is this a correction (a factual error), a clarification (accurate but misleading or unclear), or an editor's note (a larger problem with sourcing or fairness)? Explain your choice.
Then write:
1. The corrected passage for the article.
2. The correction notice: state what was wrong and what is right, briefly and plainly. Do not repeat a damaging false claim in detail, do not bury the fix, and do not over-apologize or blame the reader.
3. Versions for each place it ran (print corrections column, a reply or update for social posts, a note to syndication partners).
4. A short reply to the person who raised it.
5. An internal note: how the error got through, and one change to the editing process that would catch it next time.
If the error involves an allegation about a person or a legal risk, flag it for our lawyer before publishing the correction. Use only the facts I give you; mark gaps [CONFIRM].
Highlighted [brackets] are blanks to replace with your own details.
Fill in the blanks and use this promptMore Writing & Editing prompts
What to fill in
- PASTE THE WRONG PASSAGE, headline, or caption
- THE CORRECT FACT and its source
- web, print, newsletter, social posts, syndication partners
- reader, subject, internal - and any complaint wording
- CONFIRM
How this prompt is built
This prompt follows the RTF structure (Role, Task, Format). RTF tells the model who to be, what to do and what shape the answer should take. It is the quickest structure that still gives noticeably better results than a bare request.
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