ChatGPT has a the tendency to over-explain. A simple question is answered with a wall of unnecessary context.
Sometimes you just need a one-sentence answer.
In those cases, it’s useful to tweak your prompt a little bit to get a response for exactly what you need no know, and nothing more.
In this guide you’ll learn 4 different ways to make ChatGPT responses more concise and to-the-point.
If you want to make ChatGPT more concise in all of your prompts, feel free to skip to step 4.
1. Start your prompt with the word ‘briefly’
As simple as it sounds, adding “Briefly explain …” at the beginning of your prompt is a great way to get a much straightforward answer.
Here’s an example:
A prompt like “How do I cook rice?” gave me a 472-word wall of text with a description, list of ingredients, list of instructions,
tips, and even the reasons for why we do some of the steps.
User:
How do I cook rice?
ChatGPT:
Cooking rice is a straightforward process, and there are different methods you can use depending on your preferences and available kitchen equipment. Here’s a basic method for cooking white rice on the stovetop:
Ingredients:
1 cup of white rice (long-grain, medium-grain, or short-grain)
2 cups of water
1/2 teaspoon of salt (optional)
1 tablespoon of butter or oil (optional)
Instructions:
Measure the Rice: Start by measuring the amount of rice you want to cook. One cup of uncooked rice typically yields about 3 cups of cooked rice, which is enough for 2-3 servings.
Rinse the Rice: Rinse the rice under cold running water in a fine-mesh strainer or a sieve. This helps remove excess starch and prevents the rice from being too sticky. Rinse until the water runs clear.
Boil the Water: In a medium-sized saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. You can add a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of butter or oil at this stage for extra flavor, but these are optional.
Add the Rice: Once the water is boiling, add the rinsed and drained rice to the pot. Stir briefly to ensure the rice is evenly distributed in the water.
Simmer and Cover: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid, and let the rice simmer. Be sure not to lift the lid during cooking, as this lets out steam and can disrupt the cooking process.
Cooking Time: The cooking time will vary depending on the type of rice. Here are approximate cooking times for common types:
White Long-Grain Rice: Simmer for about 15-18 minutes.
White Medium-Grain Rice: Simmer for about 15-20 minutes.
White Short-Grain Rice: Simmer for about 10-15 minutes.
Check for Doneness: To check if the rice is done, carefully lift the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. The grains should be tender and no longer have a hard, chalky center. If the rice is still too firm, cover and continue to cook for a few more minutes.
Rest and Serve: Once the rice is done, remove it from the heat, keep the lid on, and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. This resting period allows any remaining moisture to be absorbed, resulting in perfectly cooked rice.
Fluff and Serve: After resting, fluff the rice with a fork to separate the grains. Serve as a side dish, as a base for stir-fries, or with your favorite toppings or sauces.
Remember that cooking times may vary based on your stove and the type of rice you’re using, so it’s a good idea to follow the instructions on the rice package as a general guideline. Additionally, you can use a rice cooker for even more convenience and consistent results.
In this situation you could benefit from some briefness.
If you’re in a hurry, or don’t really care about the additional information that ChatGPT is throwing at you, changing the prompt to ”Briefly explain how do I cook rice” reduced the answer by 52%, while still keeping the important parts.
Here’s the result:
User:
Briefly explain how do I cook rice?
ChatGPT:
Cooking rice is a straightforward process. Here are the basic steps:
Rinse the Rice: Rinse the rice in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch and prevents the rice from becoming too sticky.
Measure Water: Use the correct ratio of water to rice. Typically, it’s 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of water for most types of rice. Check the packaging for specific instructions as ratios can vary.
Boil Water: In a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, bring the water to a boil over high heat.
Add Rice: Once the water is boiling, add the rinsed rice to the pot. Stir it once to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom.
Simmer: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with the lid, and let it simmer for the recommended time (usually around 15-20 minutes for white rice, longer for brown or other varieties). Do not lift the lid during this time.
Rest: After the cooking time, remove the pot from the heat but keep it covered. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. This allows the rice to steam and become fully cooked.
Fluff: After resting, use a fork to gently fluff the rice to separate the grains. Serve and enjoy!
Remember that cooking times and water ratios can vary slightly depending on the type of rice and your personal preference, so always refer to the specific instructions on your rice packaging when available.
You could even change the prompt to “Very briefly explain how…” to drop even more fuss.
This is specially useful if:
You need instructions for something that you have somewhat of an idea on how to do, but don’t remember all the steps.
You already know (most of) the steps, but what to make sure you’re not forgetting something.
2. Start your prompt with ‘In one sentence…’
A single sentence might be too crammed for a rice recipe, but if you need a very short definition of a concept without the extra details that ChatGPT tends to append then you might benefit from the ‘In one sentence…’ pre-prompt.
Here’s an example:
Let’s say you heard the term ‘paleo’ in a conversation about food and don’t know what it refers to.
You ask ChatGPT: “What’s ‘paleo’?“.
You get a wall of text, as usual. Here’s an example of what I got:
User:
What’s paleo?
ChatGPT:
The term “paleo” typically refers to the Paleo diet or Paleolithic diet, which is a dietary approach that aims to mimic the eating patterns of our prehistoric ancestors, specifically those who lived during the Paleolithic era, which lasted from about 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago. The idea behind the Paleo diet is to focus on foods that would have been available to early humans who were hunter-gatherers, before the advent of agriculture and modern food processing.
Here are some key principles of the Paleo diet:
Emphasis on Whole Foods: The diet promotes the consumption of whole, unprocessed foods such as lean meats, fish, seafood, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and some oils (like olive and coconut oil).
Exclusion of Processed Foods: Processed foods, grains, legumes, dairy products, refined sugar, and most vegetable oils are typically avoided or limited on the Paleo diet. This means no bread, pasta, cereal, and processed snacks.
Lean Protein: The diet encourages the consumption of lean sources of protein, such as poultry, lean cuts of meat, and fish. Red meat is also allowed in moderation.
Healthy Fats: While saturated fats are not entirely excluded, the diet promotes healthier fat sources like avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil.
No Dairy: Dairy products are typically avoided on the Paleo diet because they were not part of the ancestral diet, and some people may have lactose intolerance.
No Grains or Legumes: Grains (like wheat, barley, and rice) and legumes (like beans and lentils) are excluded because they became staples in human diets after the advent of agriculture.
No Processed Sugar: Processed sugar is not allowed; instead, natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup are sometimes used in moderation.
Emphasis on Quality: The quality of food sources is emphasized, with an emphasis on organic, grass-fed, and pasture-raised options.
Proponents of the Paleo diet argue that it can lead to weight loss, improved blood sugar control, and other health benefits by eliminating processed foods and focusing on nutrient-dense, whole foods. However, it’s essential to note that the scientific evidence supporting these claims is mixed, and there is ongoing debate within the nutrition community about the long-term sustainability and potential health risks of the diet.
Before starting any diet, including the Paleo diet, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian to ensure that it aligns with your specific health goals and needs. Additionally, individual responses to dietary approaches can vary, so what works well for one person may not work the same way for another.
Not ideal if you’re in a hurry and don’t to read all of that.
You could change your question to: “in one sentence explain what’s ‘paleo’“. In my case, that gave me a 33-word sentence that might be just enough to answer the question:
User:
In one sentence explain what’s ‘paleo’
ChatGPT:
Paleo refers to a dietary and lifestyle approach that seeks to emulate the presumed eating and activity patterns of our pre-agricultural ancestors, focusing on whole foods and avoiding processed foods, grains, and dairy.
Much better, right?
Now, sometimes asking ChatGPT to be brief is not enough to get the response that you’re looking for.
That happens often when your prompt is too broad. You’ll get better responses if you add focus to your prompt.
Let’s see how to do that:
3. Ask ChatGPT to use simpler terms
By default, ChatGPT will generally give you the best definition it can come up with.
This means that asking about complex concepts and terms will generally result in equally complex answers.
If you’re not looking for the most “official” definition, but rather a simple overview of a topic in a way that is actually understandable, you can tell ChatGPT to use simpler terms.
Here’s an example:
If you ask ChatGPT “What is blockchain?” you’ll probably get a long and very technical description. Here’s the one I got:
User:
What is blockchain?
ChatGPT:
Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that underlies cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, but its applications go far beyond digital currencies. At its core, a blockchain is a decentralized and immutable database that records transactions across multiple computers in a way that ensures the integrity and security of the data.
Here are some key characteristics and components of blockchain technology:
Decentralization: Unlike traditional centralized systems where a single authority (like a bank or government) controls the database, a blockchain operates on a decentralized network of computers (nodes). Each node has a copy of the entire blockchain, and no single entity has full control.
Immutable and Tamper-Resistant: Once data is recorded on the blockchain, it becomes extremely difficult to alter or delete. Each new block in the chain contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, creating a secure and tamper-proof link between them. Changing information in one block would require changing all subsequent blocks, which is computationally infeasible and highly transparent.
Transparency: Blockchains are typically public and transparent, allowing anyone to view the entire transaction history. This transparency can be a powerful tool for accountability and trust in various applications.
Cryptographic Security: Blockchain uses cryptographic techniques to secure transactions and control access to data. Private and public keys are used to verify ownership and enable secure transactions.
Consensus Mechanisms: Blockchains use consensus mechanisms to validate and agree on the contents of the ledger. In proof-of-work (PoW) blockchains like Bitcoin, nodes compete to solve complex mathematical puzzles to add new blocks, while in proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchains, validators are chosen to create new blocks based on the amount of cryptocurrency they hold or other criteria.
Smart Contracts: Some blockchains, like Ethereum, support smart contracts. These are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code. They automatically execute and enforce the contract rules when predefined conditions are met.
Blockchain technology has a wide range of applications beyond cryptocurrencies. It is being used in industries such as supply chain management, healthcare, finance, voting systems, identity verification, and more, to create secure, transparent, and efficient systems for recording and verifying transactions and data. Its potential to disrupt traditional centralized systems and enhance trust and security in various domains has led to significant interest and investment in blockchain development.
Not ideal if you just want to have a basic understanding.
To get a more brief answer, you could try a prompt like “Explain in very simple terms what’s a blockchain”. You can expect an answer like this:
User:
Explain in very simple terms what’s a blockchain
ChatGPT:
Sure, let’s break it down in very simple terms:
Imagine a blockchain as a digital ledger or a record book, kind of like a shared spreadsheet on a computer that lots of people use.
Blocks: Think of it as a chain made up of many blocks, like a chain of connected Lego pieces.
Information: Each block in the chain contains some information, like a list of transactions (buying and selling stuff, for example).
Security: Here’s the cool part - once information is written in a block, it’s very hard to change. It’s like using a super-secure pen that can’t be erased.
Connection: Each new block in the chain links to the previous one, forming a chain. This connection makes it even harder to tamper with the information.
Everyone Can See: What’s written in these blocks can be seen by lots of people on the internet, making it transparent and trustworthy.
So, a blockchain is like a secure, unchangeable, and transparent digital ledger made up of connected blocks, used for various things, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
These tips are a very fast way to improve your prompt without much effort. However, if you find yourself asking ChatGPT to be brief in most of your chats, or having to rephrase your prompts constantly to improve the responses,
you should consider using the free [‘Custom instructions’ ChatGPT feature](How to enable and use Custom instructions in ChatGPT).
‘Custom instructions’ is a feature that allows you to customize the way ChatGPT answers your prompts. It’s the perfect way to tell ChatGPT to be more concise in all of your chats.
Here’s a quick description on how to do just that.
4. Configure ChatGPT to be more concise in all of your chats
‘Custom instructions’ is a really powerful ChatGPT feature that you can use to tell ChatGPT
how do you want it to respond in all of your chats.
This feature is perfect when you want ChatGPT to always answer with brief, concise responses.