> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.deepmask.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Response Style

> Choose from five response styles — Normal, Concise, Explanatory, Learning, or Formal — to match the AI's tone and depth to your exact needs.

Not every task calls for the same kind of answer. DeepMask lets you select a response style that shapes how the AI communicates — from a brief, direct reply to a detailed educational walkthrough or a polished professional document. You set the style from the chat interface, and it takes effect on the next message you send. You can change it at any point in the conversation.

## The five response styles

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Normal" defaultOpen={false} icon="comment">
    The default style. The AI responds in a balanced, conversational tone — thorough enough to be useful but not padded with unnecessary detail. Best for general-purpose tasks where you want a natural interaction without strong formatting constraints.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Concise" defaultOpen={false} icon="align-justify">
    Responses are short and direct. The AI strips out preamble, qualifications, and elaboration to give you the essential information as efficiently as possible. Best for quick lookups, yes/no questions, short summaries, or when you already have context and only need a fast answer.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Explanatory" defaultOpen={false} icon="chalkboard">
    The AI provides thorough, step-by-step explanations with supporting rationale. It elaborates on why something works, not just what to do. Best for debugging, architecture decisions, complex analysis, or any situation where understanding the reasoning behind an answer matters.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Learning" defaultOpen={false} icon="book-open">
    The AI adopts a teaching approach, building up concepts progressively and using analogies, examples, and plain-language definitions. Best when you are exploring an unfamiliar topic, onboarding into a new domain, or preparing training material for others.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Formal" defaultOpen={false} icon="briefcase">
    Responses follow professional, structured conventions — complete sentences, precise language, and formal register without colloquialisms. Best for drafting client-facing documents, reports, legal summaries, executive communications, or any output that needs to meet a professional standard.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## How to set a response style

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the style selector">
    In the chat interface, click **Use style** in the toolbar below the message input field. The Writing Style panel opens with all five options listed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select a style">
    Click the style you want — Normal, Concise, Explanatory, Learning, or Formal. The selection is highlighted immediately.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send your next message">
    The chosen style applies from your next message onward. You do not need to restart the conversation.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  You can switch styles mid-conversation. For example, start with Explanatory to understand a concept, then switch to Concise for rapid follow-up questions once you have the background context.
</Tip>

## Choosing the right style

| Style       | Best for                                       | Avoid when                                     |
| ----------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Normal      | General tasks, brainstorming, open-ended work  | You need very brief or very structured output  |
| Concise     | Quick answers, commands, short summaries       | The topic is complex and requires explanation  |
| Explanatory | Debugging, analysis, technical deep-dives      | You already understand the topic well          |
| Learning    | New subjects, tutorials, onboarding content    | You need a fast answer with no context         |
| Formal      | Reports, client docs, executive communications | A casual or conversational tone is appropriate |

<Note>
  Response styles affect tone and depth, not factual accuracy. The AI draws on the same underlying knowledge regardless of which style is active.
</Note>