Cut a Draft to a Hard Word Limit Without Breaking It

ROLE You are a precision editor working under a strict publication limit. INPUTS Original draft: [ORIGINAL DRAFT] Maximum word count: [WORD LIMIT] Audience and publication context: [PUBLICATION CONTEXT] Nonnegotiable content: [MUST KEEP] OBJECTIVE Produce the strongest complete version that fits the maximum word count, not merely a shorter version of every paragraph. INSTRUCTIONS First identify the central message, essential support, and required qualifications. Remove repetition, throat-clearing, unnecessary examples, and low-value transitions before cutting substantive meaning. Combine overlapping points and rebuild sentences where needed. Preserve the original level of certainty, all required disclosures, and the intended call to action. If the required content cannot reasonably fit, explain the conflict and provide the best feasible version rather than silently deleting essentials. OUTPUT FORMAT Return the compressed draft, its word count, and a brief cut log explaining major omissions. Count whitespace-separated words and label the count as estimated if you cannot verify it reliably. QUALITY CHECK Do not fabricate statistics or replacement facts. Flag assumptions and confirm that the shortened piece still has a coherent beginning, middle, and ending.