General · Review prompts
General Document Review Prompts
Ready-to-use general document review prompts for AI. Covers summaries, action items, dates, commitments, defined terms, responsibilities, and risk flags.
10 prompts · Last reviewed
Most documents are not difficult to understand. The challenge is knowing which questions to ask so you get a focused answer rather than a long summary that restates what you can already see.
These prompts work on any document type, from internal reports and meeting notes to proposals, policy documents, and correspondence. Each one targets a specific piece of information and is written to produce a direct, usable answer.
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.
What these prompts cover
Ten prompts covering a complete general document review in four stages:
Stage 1: Understand the document Plain-English summary, the most important points, and all action items and next steps.
Stage 2: Extract time-sensitive information All dates and deadlines, and all commitments and obligations.
Stage 3: Identify gaps and responsibilities Questions raised but not answered, key defined terms, and who is responsible for what.
Stage 4: Assess and communicate Risks and concerns, and a one-paragraph briefing note ready to share.
Work through one prompt at a time. Each answer gives you the context to make the next question more precise.
How to use these prompts
Upload your document to LearnByAi, then use these prompts one at a time.
If this is your first pass through a document, work through the prompts in order. Starting with a plain-English summary gives you the overall shape before you dig into specifics. Later prompts make more sense once you have that foundation.
Start with the summary, then move to action items and dates. These two often contain the most time-sensitive information and are worth confirming early.
Use one focused prompt at a time where you can. A single, specific question tends to produce a more detailed answer that is easier to review and follow up on than a broad multi-part query.
Use the risk and briefing prompts last. These ask about the document as a whole and work best after you have already reviewed the specifics.
Tips for better results
Add context about your role. The AI does not know whether you are the author, the recipient, a reviewer, or a third party. Adding a short note such as "I received this document and need to respond" or "I am reviewing this on behalf of my team" helps focus the answers on what matters to you specifically.
Follow up on anything vague. If a response mentions a responsibility, term, or commitment you do not fully understand, ask: "Can you give me a practical example of what that would look like?" Concrete examples are almost always clearer than definitions.
Check where the information comes from. A good AI response identifies the section or paragraph it is drawing from. If it does not, ask: "Which part of the document does this come from?" Then read that section yourself before acting on the answer.
Use the questions prompt before you close the document. It often surfaces things the other prompts did not flag, and is most useful as a final check before you file or respond.
Check the quality of scanned documents. LearnByAi runs OCR automatically on scanned and image-based files, so most documents work without any extra steps. Poor-quality scans or low-resolution images can occasionally produce recognition errors, so verify important figures, names, and dates against the original document when accuracy matters.
When prompts are not enough
If the document references attachments, exhibits, or other files you have not uploaded, the AI will not have access to that content. Ask: "Does this document reference any attachments, appendices, or other documents?" Upload those separately if they are relevant.
For documents that require a formal response or create legal or financial obligations, use these prompts to build your understanding and then take specific questions to the relevant professional. For a complete walkthrough of reviewing a document with AI, see the How to Use Document Chat tutorial.
Related tutorials and pages
Try these prompts on your own document
Pick a prompt, upload your document, and send it. No account is needed to start. You can also browse all prompts.
Try these prompts free