DR-301c · Module 1

Information Density Calibration

3 min read

Information density is the ratio of actionable content to total words. A brief with high information density delivers more signal per sentence. A brief with low information density buries signal in context, background, and qualifications. The calibration challenge is matching density to the consumer. C-suite briefs need maximum density — every sentence must carry payload. Analyst briefs can afford lower density because the consumer needs the methodology and edge cases, not just the conclusion.

Do This

  • Calibrate density to the consumer — executives get compressed, analysts get expanded
  • Cut every sentence that restates what the previous sentence already said
  • Front-load each paragraph — the first sentence carries the finding, the rest carry evidence
  • Use quantified specifics instead of qualitative assessments — "15% decline" not "significant drop"

Avoid This

  • Write at one density for all audiences — the VP and the analyst have different attention budgets
  • Pad briefs with background context that the consumer already knows
  • Bury the finding in the third paragraph after two paragraphs of methodology
  • Use hedge words where confidence is actually high — "perhaps" and "might" when the data says "is"