Everyday writing
Shorten an email without dropping the request
Long emails often bury the request under background the reader doesn't need. Shortening one means deciding what the recipient has to know, what they have to do, and by when, then cutting the rest.
A text to start with
Here's an email I need to shorten. Paste the full text. Keep the main request, the deadline, and any specific numbers or details the reader needs to respond. Cut the background that only I need. The reader is [describe their relationship to the topic, e.g. my manager, the vendor, a new contact]. Target around [word count or 'half the length'].
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.What to check in the draft
Ask whether someone who never saw the original could tell what is being requested and by when. A draft that drops the deadline to save words has cut the wrong thing. Compressed sentences can introduce ambiguity the original didn't have. If the original had a particular tone, check that it survived, since shortening can make an email sound curt.
After you review the draft
Compare the short version with the original and confirm that every number, name, and date carried over. If the reader needs background you cut, put it in an attachment and mention it in one line of the email.