General Document Review Prompts

Get a plain-English summary

Summarise this document in plain English. What is its purpose, who is it addressed to, and what are the main points I need to understand? Keep it to a short paragraph.

List the most important points

Based only on what this document actually states, what are the most important points? List them in order of importance, not the order they appear. For each one, identify where in the document it appears, tell me why it matters, and what I might need to do about it.

Find all action items and next steps

What does this document require me to do? List every action item, task, or next step it mentions. Include who is responsible for each one, and any deadline or condition attached to it.

Extract all dates and deadlines

List every date, deadline, and time-sensitive requirement mentioned in this document. For each one, tell me what happens on that date and whether any action is required from me before it arrives.

Find all commitments and obligations

What commitments or obligations does this document explicitly state or create? Include anything I am expected to do, provide, agree to, or be bound by. For each one, quote or identify the part of the document that establishes it. List them one per line.

Find what is unclear or unanswered

Based on what this document actually states, what important questions does it raise but leave unanswered? What information appears to be missing, ambiguous, or left to my judgment? For each gap, identify which part of the document creates the uncertainty. Only include gaps that arise from the document itself, not general background questions.

Explain key terms and definitions

Does this document explicitly define any terms, assign specific meanings to phrases, or use language in a way that differs from everyday usage? List each term that is formally defined or given a specific meaning, explain what the document says it means, and identify where that definition appears.

Identify who is responsible for what

Who are the key people, teams, or organisations mentioned in this document? For each one, summarise what they are responsible for and what role they play.

Flag risks and potential concerns

Based on what this document actually states, what are the main risks, concerns, or things I should be cautious about? For each one, identify which part of the document creates the concern and explain specifically what could go wrong if it is ignored, misunderstood, or not acted on in time. Do not include risks that are not grounded in the document.

Write a one-paragraph briefing note

Write a one-paragraph briefing note about this document that I could share with someone who has not read it. Include the purpose, the key points, and any action required. Aim for four to six sentences.