TL;DR: Get Shorter Answers

Problem: AI writes 500 words when you needed 50 Quick fix: Add "Keep it under [X] words" to every prompt Better fix: Train AI with examples of brevity you want Best fix: Use right tool (Gemini faster/shorter than Claude) Reality: AI defaults to thorough. You must specify brief.

You ask simple question. ChatGPT writes three paragraphs explaining background, context, nuance, and finally answers buried in paragraph four.

You wanted one sentence.

Here's how to make AI shut up and get to the point.

Why AI Responses Are Too Long

Default Behavior

AI trained to be:

• Thorough

• Explain things completely

• Provide context

• Anticipate follow-up questions

• Be helpful (by being comprehensive)

Result: Writes more than you need

Not a bug: Working as designed (unfortunately for quick answers)

Trying to Be Helpful

AI assumes:

• You want full explanation

• Context is valuable

• Background matters

• Examples help

Reality: Sometimes you just want the answer

Claude Especially Guilty

Claude optimized for:

• Thoughtful responses

• Nuanced analysis

• Thorough explanation

Makes it worse at being brief

ChatGPT slightly better at concise when asked

Gemini best at naturally short responses

Quick Fixes (Add to Any Prompt)

Fix 1: Specify Length

Add:

Or:

Or:

Why this works: Clear constraint AI must follow

Example:

Fix 2: "Brief Answer Only"

Add:

Example:

Gets you: "1945" instead of paragraph about VE Day and VJ Day

Fix 3: "Just the Facts"

Add:

Example:

Gets you: Step 1, 2, 3 without explanation of backup importance

Fix 4: "TL;DR Style"

Add:

Example:

Why this works: AI knows "TL;DR" means ultra-concise

Making It Permanent (Custom Instructions)

Set Default Brevity

Settings → Custom Instructions:

Why this helps: Every conversation starts brief

Still can ask for more: "Explain that in more detail" when you want it

Specific Techniques

The "One Sentence" Rule

[Your question]

Forces AI to:

• Cut fluff

• Get to essence

• Be precise

Use for: Quick factual questions

The Word Budget

[Your question]

Why it works: Frames as constraint game

AI responds: By prioritizing what matters most

The Bullet Points

[Your question]

Gets you:

• Concise

• Scannable

• No rambling

Use for: Lists, steps, comparisons

The "Bottom Line Up Front"

[Your question]

Military communication style

Gets: Answer first, supporting info after

Example response structure: "Yes, do X. [Then explanation if needed]"

The "Assume I Know"

[Your question]

Cuts out:

• "Let me explain what X is first..."

• Background you don't need

• Context you already have

Example:

For Different Query Types

Quick Facts

Quick fact check: [question]

Gets: "42" not "The answer is 42 because..."

Yes/No Questions

[Question]

Gets: "Yes. [Reason]" instead of three paragraphs building to yes

How-To Questions

How do I [task]

Gets:

1. Do this

2. Then this

3. Finally this

Not: Paragraphs about why each step matters

Comparison Questions

Gets: Clean comparison table

Not: Essay about similarities and differences

When You Get Too Much Anyway

Response Too Long? Fix It

AI will: Compress response to essentials

Ask for Summary

Extracts: Core message without fluff

Request Just the Answer

Skip the explanation. Just tell me: [specific thing you want]

Gets you: The one piece you actually needed

Tool Comparison for Brevity

Gemini - Best for Short Answers

Naturally concise

• Default responses shorter

• Less explanation

• Faster to point

Use Gemini when: Want quick answers, speed over depth

ChatGPT - Middle Ground

Can be brief when asked

• Needs explicit instruction

• Otherwise defaults thorough

• Better than Claude at concise

Use ChatGPT when: Need balance of quality and brevity

Claude - Worst for Brevity

Optimized for thoroughness

• Naturally explanatory

• Thoughtful (which means longer)

• Hard to get truly concise

Use Claude when: You actually want thorough explanation

Don't use Claude when: Just want quick answer

Advanced Brevity Techniques

The "Twitter Length" Constraint

[Your question]

Forces: Extreme brevity

Good for: Really simple questions

The "Explain Like I'm Busy"

[Your question]

Gets: Priority-focused answer

The "Executive Summary" Style

[Your complex question]

Use for: Business or decision-making questions

The "Headline Only"

[Your question]

Example response: "Yes, update to iOS 17" not paragraph about features

Common Situations

When Researching

Bad prompt: "Tell me about [topic]"

Good prompt:

3 key facts about [topic]

Gets: Exactly what you need for quick research

When Learning New Concept

Bad prompt: "Explain [concept]"

Good prompt:

Explain [concept]

Gets: Core understanding without information overload

When Making Decision

Bad prompt: "Should I [decision]?"

Good prompt:

Should I [decision]

Gets: Clear guidance without analysis paralysis

What Doesn't Work

❌ "Be concise"

Too vague

AI's idea of concise = 300 words Your idea = 50 words

Use specific numbers instead

❌ "Short answer"

Still vague

Better: "Answer in 2 sentences"

❌ Asking nicely

Doesn't work well

Better: Clear constraint "Under 100 words"

❌ Hoping it figures it out

AI defaults to thorough

You must explicitly request brief

Training AI Over Conversation

Progressive Shortening

First response too long?

Still too long?

AI learns: Your brevity preference in this conversation

Show Example

Like this: [paste example of brevity you want]

Showing beats telling

Reinforce When Right

AI will: Maintain that brevity style for conversation

For Team or Repeated Use

Create Brevity Template

Save this:

[Task/question]

Response requirements:
- Maximum [X] words
- [Format - bullet points, one paragraph, etc]
- Skip [what to leave out]
- Focus on [what matters most]

Use for: Common queries where you always want brief

Share with Team

If team uses AI:

Create doc with brevity prompts team can copy

Ensures: Consistent concise responses across team

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does AI write so much?

Trained to be thorough and helpful. Defaults to comprehensive unless told otherwise.

Which AI is naturally most concise?

Gemini. ChatGPT second. Claude least concise.

Can I set permanent brevity?

Yes, in custom instructions. But still need to specify for complex topics.

What if brief answer isn't enough?

Always can ask "explain more" or "give me details on [specific part]"

Is there a cost to being brief?

Sometimes yes - might miss nuance or context. But usually you can get that by asking follow-up.

Does brief mean less accurate?

No. Brief means concise, not wrong. But verify complex topics either way.

Will custom instructions make everything brief?

Sets default but can override with "explain in detail" when you want more.

What's the shortest possible response?

Depends on question. Some need 100 words minimum. Others can be 10.

Related Reading

Opposite Problem:

• ChatGPT Responses Keep Stopping 2026: Fix Incomplete Answers

Getting Better Results:

• How to Write ChatGPT Prompts 2026: Beginner Guide with Examples That Actually Work

Tool Comparison:

• Best AI Tools 2026: Top 10 Ranked by Real Use Cases

www.topfreeprompts.com

Access 80,000+ prompts including brevity templates that force concise responses. Every prompt indicates expected length so you get answers without the rambling.