You know what an email needs to say. Getting it to sound clear without being stiff is the part that takes three rewrites. An AI email writer can help you shape a draft while you keep control of the facts and the final message. Lensia's Chrome sidebar gives you space to paste the draft, describe the reader, and refine the wording beside your email tab. Install Lensia free and try it with a short message you have been putting off.
Give the assistant a draft with real substance
A few rough sentences are enough. Write what happened, what you need, and what the recipient should do next. You can leave the phrasing messy; give the assistant the substance before asking it to fix the wording.
For example: "The review is taking longer. We need your feedback on the two options by Thursday. After that we can finish the schedule. I want to explain the delay without sounding like I am blaming you."
Add the relationship: a regular client, a teammate, a supplier you have never contacted, or a friend. That helps the assistant choose a suitable level of formality. Reader context is often more useful than an instruction to make something "professional," which can produce language much more formal than you need.
If you are responding to a thread, provide the relevant part of the exchange. You do not have to include the entire history. Remove personal information that the assistant does not need to understand the request.
Rewrite beside the email you are working on
Open Lensia using its Chrome toolbar icon and sign in with Google. Keep your email tab open, paste the draft into sidebar chat, and give the assistant a specific editing instruction.
- Supply your draft and the reader's relationship to you.
- Name the goal: shorter, warmer, more direct, or easier to scan.
- Specify which facts and commitments must stay unchanged.
- Read the proposed revision and request one focused adjustment.
- Copy the version you approve into your email draft.
- Check the recipient and details before sending it yourself.
This is a chat-based editing workflow. You supply the text and review the result. The example does not depend on an automatic Gmail integration or an assistant sending the email for you.
Free includes sidebar chat within its allowance. If you want saved preferences through Custom Instructions, Basic and above include them; you can compare plans after trying a few messages.
Ask for a change you can judge
"Make it better" is difficult to evaluate. "Cut the repeated explanation and put the request in the first paragraph" tells you exactly what to check in the revision.
Try: "Rewrite this email in under 120 words. Put the requested action near the start. Keep the Thursday deadline, do not add an apology, and preserve the reason for the delay."
You can also ask for editing notes before a rewrite: "Which sentence makes the request unclear? Suggest a small change without rewriting the whole message." That is useful when most of your draft already sounds right.
Small edits often preserve your voice better than starting from scratch. If the assistant replaces familiar wording with formal phrases, tell it which part you prefer and ask for a lighter revision. The thread lets you refine the draft without restating the whole situation.
Match the tone to the relationship
A request that is easy to answer
State the action and when you need it. Instead of asking vaguely for thoughts, identify what you want feedback on. A recipient can respond more quickly to "Which of these two dates works?" than to a paragraph ending with "Let me know what you think."
Prompt: "Make this request direct but friendly. Keep the two date options. End with one clear question."
A follow-up that does not sound irritated
Give enough context for the recipient to recognize the earlier message. Then restate what you need, without turning the draft into a record of every unanswered attempt.
Prompt: "Write a brief follow-up using the facts below. Refer to the proposal we sent Monday and ask whether they need any clarification. Do not invent a response deadline."
An update when the plan has changed
Separate the change from the action needed. If you have a revised date, provide it. If you do not, say what is still being checked. Preserve uncertainty rather than letting the assistant add a reassuring commitment you cannot make.
For an update based on several sources, first build a checked brief with our research guide. Then ask the sidebar to turn that brief into an email for the intended reader.
Keep wording that sounds like you
Supply a short example of your usual style if you have one. Choose a message you are comfortable sharing, or write a sample specifically for the task. Ask the assistant to match its sentence length and level of formality.
You can name preferences directly: "Use short paragraphs. Avoid sales language. I normally say 'thanks' rather than 'I sincerely appreciate your consideration.' Keep that level of formality."
Custom Instructions on Basic and above can store broader preferences for your conversations. They are useful for habits you want across tasks. Put one-off details, such as a particular client's name or a deadline, in the current message instead.
If you want to try a different model's phrasing, keep the same draft and instructions. Our multi-model guide explains how to compare responses without mistaking a different style for a better answer.
Check what changed before you send
A polished rewrite can quietly change the meaning. "We aim to finish Friday" can become "We will finish Friday." "Could you review this?" can turn into a promise that the document is ready for approval.
Read the revision beside the draft and check:
- Names, dates, amounts, and links.
- Promises about delivery or availability.
- Which person is responsible for the next action.
- Any apology, explanation, or claim the assistant added.
Ask the sidebar to identify changes in meaning, but still review them yourself. Check every commitment before sending the revised message.
If the source of an update is a long article or report, summarize it first using the article summarizer workflow. Editing an accurate brief is easier than asking a writing assistant to infer the facts from a vague instruction.
Make one repeatable editing habit
Start with the email category you write most often. Save a prompt that describes your preferred length, tone, and final check. Reuse the structure while supplying fresh facts for each message.
Keep your sent message in the email system and use conversation history for the editing discussion. Before submitting private correspondence, read the privacy policy and follow any document-sharing rules that apply to your work.
Install Lensia beside your next draft and ask for one change that would make it easier to send.