# Best Practices for Redlining in Gavel Exec

This guide offers practical, step-by-step best practices for using Gavel Exec, Gavel's AI assistant in Microsoft Word. You can review, redline, and negotiate contracts more efficiently. Whether you're drafting in Chat, creating reusable Playbooks, or managing more complex Projects, the guide walks you through how to structure prompts, use context files, benchmark clauses, and train the tool to reflect your preferences. We're written this specifically for transactional lawyers using legal AI in their practice.

By the team at Gavel

Published: Jun 13, 2025

|  Last updated: Sep 3, 2025

Gavel Exec is an AI assistant embedded in Microsoft Word that helps transactional lawyers revise, analyze, redline, and train the AI to their own preferences. Below are specific, actionable best practices for getting the most out of Playbooks, Projects, and chat-based drafting in Gavel Exec.

### 1. **Ask for Summaries Before Diving In**

If you're reviewing a long contract, use chat or Projects to get a quick summary first. For example:

- "Summarize this agreement in bullet points."
- "Highlight the key risk areas in this draft."

### 2. **Use the Context of the Entire Document or Specific Sections**

You can ask Gavel Exec to revise your entire document or just specific sections.

### 3. **Be Specific with a Clear, Full Prompt**

The clarity of your prompts directly affects the quality of the output.

### 4. **Feed Context Files (Uploads) Early In Both Chat or Projects**

The quality of Gavel Exec’s output improves dramatically with rich, relevant context. Upload these files early:

- Your preferred templates or fallback clauses.
- Style guides or firm policies.
- Previous drafts or versions you’ve reviewed.

### 5. **Check for Defined and Undefined Terms Automatically**

Use Gavel Exec to help you verify that every defined term is used.

### 6. **Adjust Risk Sensitivity to Match Your Client or Deal**

Tune how aggressive or conservative you want the redlines to be.

### 7. **Mark Language as Approved or Disapproved for Better Results**

Redlines become more accurate with your feedback.

### 8. **Create a Playbook and Calibrate It With Your Perfect Template**

Playbooks are one of the most efficient ways to create a repeatable, rules-based review of your contracts.

### 9. **Use Chat Flexibly, Inside or Outside of Projects**

Chat in Gavel Exec is a powerful standalone feature as well as a key part of Projects.

### 10. **Playbooks vs. Projects. Choose the Right Tool for the Job**

Think of Playbooks like a junior associate applying your checklist. Projects allow you to bring everything together.

These best practices are designed to help you move confidently from first use to advanced adoption. Start simple. Try a clause edit or a quick chat, and build from there. The more context and preferences you give it, the more accurate and aligned the AI becomes.