Public preview

BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front

First line of email: answer/request/decision. Context after. Cuts read time 70%.

8 min Beginner

Goal

Respect reader's time — they know answer before reading the paragraph.

Steps

1

Per email you send, ask: what's the single most important sentence?

4 more steps locked

Expected Outcome

Immediate

Recipients reply 2x faster.

Evidence base

School: Military Communication / Plain Language

Founders: US Military · Barbara Minto (1948)

BLUF is military since 1948 for combat messages. Barbara Minto extended to business writing in "Pyramid Principle" 1973.

Frequently asked questions

How long does "BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front" take?

This exercise takes about 8 minutes, practiced solo in a Creative format.

When will I notice the effect of "BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front"?

Recipients reply 2x faster. In the short term: "Follow-ups" ("did you read?") drop 80%.

Is "BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front" evidence-based?

Yes — it draws on Military Communication / Plain Language (US Military, Barbara Minto (1948)). BLUF is military since 1948 for combat messages. Barbara Minto extended to business writing in "Pyramid Principle" 1973.

Is "BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front" suitable for beginners?

Its difficulty level is: Beginner. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.

Subscribe for full access

Subscribe to Plus for full access to this practice and the whole catalogue, or try first — free, no sign-in, no commitment.

Interactive practice locked · 4 more steps locked

7 complete practices (one per domain) are free forever, no sign-in.