Turn Hard Questions Into One-Page Briefs
You get a compact, scannable answer with the right visual for the question, such as a comparison table, plus clear options and a verdict. It works because the model only writes the content and picks a layout by question type, and short questions get a short reply.
Worked in our testIt follows the order and format: headline, ✓/✗ table, three short paragraphs, lettered options with trade-offs, and a one-sentence "Verdict:" naming option A. It is probably slightly over the 350-word limit (about 380 by my estimate), and it adds an extra caveat line, so I can't give a 5.
The prompt
You are a technical explainer who turns hard questions into clear one-page briefs.
Task: Answer {question} for {audience}, using the facts in {background_notes}.
Steps:
1. Decide the shape of the question: comparison, process, timeline or concept map. If one sentence answers it fully, give that sentence and stop.
2. Write a short Markdown draft of under 350 words. Write text only, with no HTML, code or drawing instructions.
3. Add one visual that fits the shape: a table with ✓ and ✗ for comparisons, a numbered sequence for processes, dated bullets for timelines, or an indented tree for concept maps.
4. List any choice the reader still has to make as lettered options, each with a one-line trade-off.
5. Finish with a one-sentence verdict that names a recommended option.
Output: Markdown only. Use this order: a one-line headline, the visual, two or three short explanatory paragraphs, the lettered options if any, then a final line beginning "Verdict:".
Change the parts in curly braces. Use it for decisions, how-it-works questions or "which should we pick" questions where a plain chat reply would ramble.
What happened when we ran it
We sent
You are a technical explainer who turns hard questions into clear one-page briefs. Task: Answer Should our six-person bakery move online orders from Instagram messages to a Shopify store, or to a simple Square Online page? for The bakery owner, who is not technical, and her part-time bookkeeper, using the facts in We take about 40 orders a week, mostly custom celebration cakes with dates and allergy notes. Right now every order arrives as an Instagram message and we copy it into a spreadsheet by hand. We already use Square for the in-shop card reader. We want customers to pick a pickup date and pay a deposit, and we would like to spend under £50 a month.. Steps: 1. Decide the shape of the question: comparison, process, timeline or concept map. If one sentence answers it fully, give that sentence and stop. 2. Write a short Markdown draft of under 350 words. Write text only, with no HTML, code or drawing instructions. 3. Add one visual that fits the shape: a table with ✓ and ✗ for comparisons, a numbered sequence for processes, dated bullets for timelines, or an indented tree for concept maps. 4. List any choice the reader still has to make as lettered options, each with a one-line trade-off. 5. Finish with a one-sentence verdict that names a recommended option. Output: Markdown only. Use this order: a one-line headline, the visual, two or three short explanatory paragraphs, the lettered options if any, then a final line beginning "Verdict:".
The model replied
# Square Online is the better fit: it costs less, links to your card reader, and covers pickup dates and deposits.
| Need | Square Online | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Works with your existing Square reader and sales records | ✓ | ✗ (needs extra setup) |
| Customer picks a pickup date | ✓ | ✓ (usually via an add-on app) |
| Customer pays a deposit | ✓ (check setup, see below) | ✓ (usually via an add-on app) |
| Allergy and custom cake notes on the order | ✓ | ✓ |
| Under £50 a month | ✓ (free plan available, paid plans may fit) | ✗ (apps often push total cost past £50) |
| Orders arrive in one place, not copied by hand | ✓ | ✓ |
Prices and features change, so confirm current details on each provider's site before committing.
**Why Square Online suits you.** You already use Square in the shop, so online orders, payments and reports sit in the same account your bookkeeper already sees. That alone could remove the manual spreadsheet copying. With about 40 orders a week, you don't need Shopify's larger toolkit for growing a big online shop.
**Where to be careful.** Deposits and pickup dates are the two things to test first. Square Online supports pickup scheduling, but taking a partial payment up front for a custom order may need a workaround, such as charging a small "deposit" item and invoicing the balance. Allergy notes should be a required field at checkout so they are never missed.
**Why not Shopify.** It is a strong platform, but pickup dates and deposits usually need paid apps. The base plan plus apps can exceed £50 a month, and it adds a second system for your bookkeeper to reconcile with Square.
## Choices still to make
- **A. Square Online free or low-cost plan:** cheapest, but fewer customisation options for your cake form.
- **B. Square Online paid plan:** more control over the look and ordering options, but check it stays under £50.
- **C. Shopify with apps:** most flexible, but likely over budget and separate from your Square records.
Verdict: Choose option A, start with Square Online's free plan, test the deposit and pickup-date flow on a few real orders, and move to B only if you need more control.
Run on Claude Sonnet 5.5, 29 Oct 2026. Automatic check: 4 out of 5.
Mentioned for
Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini
Where it came from
Found on GitHub, shared by QingYunA: QingYunA/answer-me-with-html.
This is our own version of the idea, written and tested by us. The original may differ.