Answer-First Format Checker
Check if your content uses the answer-first writing pattern that AI search engines prefer to cite. Analyze paragraph structure, lead sentences, Q&A pairs, and get specific recommendations.
What is answer-first formatting?
Answer-first formatting is a content writing pattern where the direct answer appears in the first sentence of each section rather than building up to it. AI search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews extract individual sentences and paragraphs as answer citations. If your key answer is buried in the middle of a paragraph or after introductory filler, AI may skip it in favor of a competitor's more direct answer.
Lead every section with the answer
The first sentence after each heading should directly answer or define the heading's topic. Do not start with preamble like “In this section, we will explore...” — start with the answer itself. This is the single most important pattern for AI citation.
Use question-format headings with immediate answers
Structure key sections as Q&A pairs: use headings like “What is X?” or “How does Y work?” followed by a direct answer in the first sentence. This mirrors exactly how users query AI engines, making your content a natural match for citation.
Make every paragraph self-contained
AI engines extract individual paragraphs as answers. If a paragraph starts with “This approach also...” or “However, the above method...”, it makes no sense when extracted on its own. Write each paragraph so it could stand alone as a complete, coherent answer.
Keep paragraphs at extraction size (40-80 words)
AI engines extract content in paragraph-sized blocks. If your paragraphs are too long, they may be truncated or the AI may choose a shorter competitor's answer instead. If too short, they may lack enough context. The sweet spot is 40-80 words per paragraph.
Include definition statements and facts
“X is a...” definition statements are the #1 most-cited pattern by AI engines. Pair these with specific numbers, percentages, and source attributions. Vague claims like “many businesses benefit” get passed over in favor of “73% of businesses report increased visibility.”
Answer format is just one piece of AEO
Answer-first formatting makes your content easy for AI to cite, but AI visibility also depends on technical signals like schema markup, robots.txt configuration, and site authority. This tool checks your writing format — for a complete analysis, run a full AEO audit.
Answer format is one of 34 AI visibility factors
Check your schema markup, robots.txt, content depth, site authority, and 30+ other signals with a free AEO audit. See exactly how visible your site is to AI search engines.
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