Claude writes you an essay? Add one line to your prompt
AI defaults to long answers. Tell it the format and the length at the end of your prompt and you get answers you can actually use.
What the reel showed
The same question, "What should I post this week?", asked to Claude Opus 5.5 twice. The default answer kept going past 100 words. The second one had one extra line, "Answer in 3 bullets, under 50 words.", and was done in 1.3 seconds with three usable ideas.
What this means for your business
Long answers cost you time twice: once waiting, once reading. Most business questions need a decision or a short list, not an essay.
Ending every prompt with a format line is the fastest upgrade you can make. It works in ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini.
What I’d use
Save the lines below as a text shortcut on your phone and laptop (for example, typing ;3b expands to the bullets line). Then you never have to remember them.
Try it yourself
Pick the ending that fits what you need and paste it after your question.
For ideas or to-dos
Short, scannable, ready to act on.
Answer in 3 bullets, under 50 words.
For a decision
Forces a clear call instead of 'it depends'.
Give me your recommendation in one sentence, then the single biggest reason.
For an email or message
Stops the corporate tone and the waffle.
Write it in under 80 words, plain and friendly, like a person, no 'I hope this finds you well'.
For a plan
Steps you can follow today.
Give me 5 numbered steps, one line each, starting with what I can do today.
Make it permanent
Put your favourite into your custom instructions (ChatGPT) or a Project's instructions (Claude) so every answer follows it.
Keep answers short by default: bullets over paragraphs, under 100 words unless I ask for more. Lead with the answer.
Links
Want prompts like this built into your team's tools?
I set up the instructions, templates and assistants so everyone in your business gets short, usable answers by default.