Put Yourself in the Place of Your Readers

As you read, pretend that you are one of your readers. Try to imagine a single reader — or, if you’re ambitious, a group of readers. Ask questions they might ask. Imagine concerns they might bring to their reading of your document. A reader interested in solving a problem might ask, for example, whether a proposed solution is cost-effective, is more appropriate than alternative solutions, or has unacceptable side effects. As you revise, take these questions and concerns into account.