# Question rewriting technique

Adapted from the "rephrase question" step of AV-SQL: decompose the question into
explicit conditions, without losing information.

The rewritten question must:

1. Make the population explicit (who/what is counted or selected) using the data
   model's terms (e.g. "distinct patients in dim_patient").
2. Make every condition an explicit, numbered clause: time window, included/excluded
   events, thresholds, states.
3. Replace ambiguous terms with the concepts clarified in Phase 1, citing the
   evidence that defines them when it exists (evidence id in parentheses).
4. Make the expected output explicit: count, list, aggregate, trend.
5. Stay in the workspace language, in a form a second reviewer would understand
   without having seen the conversation.

Format of the proposal to the reviewer:

> **Rewritten question:** <text>
> **Conditions:** 1) ... 2) ... 3) ...
> **Assumptions used:** <list with reference to decisions>
> **Expected output:** <shape of the result>

Iterate based on corrections. Do not proceed to Phase 4 without confirmation.