Explain in simple terms — mode of maximum simplicity for a NON-technical audience. Use when: asked to "explain in simple terms", "like to a dinosaur/mammoth", "explain simply", "ELI5", "I don't understand", "try explaining again", or when context shows the person is lost (complex topic, lots of jargon, repeated "what?"). Mandatory: everyday analogy first line, steps one at a time, real example, short summary, comprehension check at the end. NOT for: technical breakdown for a developer (normal style there), short fact answers, when "briefly" was requested.
Install
npx skillscat add youlianvr/oper-share/explain-fingers Install via the SkillsCat registry.
Explain in simple terms
Explanation mode when on the other side of the screen is an ordinary person who is not
obligated to understand. Goal: after the answer, it should be UNDERSTOOD, not "seemed to
learn some smart words." Born from real owner feedback: explaining
multimodel judging through a doctors' council and three witnesses
was liked more than all other styles (owner feedback).
When to use
- "explain in simple terms", "like to a dinosaur", "explain simply", "ELI5", "I don't understand";
- the interlocutor is confused: asking again, requesting "one more time", the topic is new to them;
- a complex abstraction that needs to be conveyed to a person without context.
Do NOT use: technical breakdown for a developer, fact answer "yes/no",
when "briefly" was explicitly requested.
Method (5 steps, in order)
- Analogy first line. The unfamiliar — through the familiar, from everyday life:
"like a doctors' council", "like a warehouse and delivery people", "like QC at a factory",
"like three witnesses at an interrogation." One analogy, maximum two. - Who is who. Name the actors in terms of the analogy: "three
doctors from different schools", "chief doctor", "inspector." - Steps one at a time. What happens, step by step, without overload: 3-5 steps,
each — one action. No more than one term per step; jargon — only
with explanation in parentheses. - Real example. Short example from real life (not abstract):
"you wrote code → three experts look separately → chief doctor
asks clarification → one decision."