I prompt AI to write at a 7th-grade level
The author explains that prompting AI to write at a 7th-grade reading level improves clarity, readability, and audience engagement. They argue this approach helps avoid overly complex phrasing and ensures the output is accessible to a wider audience.
Background
- Anatoliy Babushka is a solopreneur and developer who writes about practical AI use, especially for content creation and programming.
- Many AI-produced texts default to a verbose, corporate, or "academic" tone. A "7th-grade reading level" means writing that a typical 13-year-old can understand — clear, short sentences, common words, no jargon.
- Ela7 is Babushka's custom prompt designed to force AI to write at that level. The post explains his method, why he uses it (clarity, wider audience, better engagement), and often includes the exact prompt text.
- This matters because the gap between what AI can generate and what is genuinely useful/readable is a major practical problem for anyone using LLMs for real-world writing tasks.