The part that gets read.
WHAT IT IS
A standalone account of the whole document.
WHAT STANDALONE MEANS
Comprehensible without reading anything else.
WHAT IT MUST CONTAIN
The question or situation What was found or proposed What it means What you recommend What is needed from the reader
WHAT IT MUST NOT BE
An introduction A description of what the document contains A teaser
WHY THOSE FAIL
They require reading the document, which the reader may not do.
HOW LONG
One page at most; frequently a paragraph.
WHAT TO INCLUDE IF THERE IS A NUMBER
The number.
WHY
Decisions turn on figures.
WHAT TO WRITE FIRST IN IT
The conclusion.
WHAT TO AVOID
Hedging Every caveat Vocabulary the reader may not share
WHAT TO DO ABOUT GENUINE UNCERTAINTY
State it plainly, once.
WHAT THAT SOUNDS LIKE
The estimate assumes current volumes; a doubling would change the conclusion.
WHAT TO TEST
Whether someone reading only the summary could act correctly.
HOW
Give it to someone and ask what they would do.
WHAT TO DO IF THEY ARE UNSURE
Rewrite it.
WHAT TO WRITE IT
Last, always.
