Get a shorter or simpler version of a ChatGPT answer in one click
The Problem with Verbose ChatGPT Answers
ChatGPT is known for being highly detailed, but it often generates answers that are excessively long and verbose. When you need a quick summary, a simple explanation, or a direct answer to a straightforward question, you often have to read through several paragraphs of introductory text and repetitive explanations.
Asking the AI to make its answer shorter or simpler requires you to type follow-up instructions manually. This breaks your reading flow, requires extra effort, and submits new messages that count against your hourly usage and token limits.
The Manual Method: Typing Follow-Up Prompts
To shorten or simplify a long response manually, you must submit a new prompt to the chat. Here is the honest manual process:
- Wait for ChatGPT to finish generating its initial long response.
- Scroll to the prompt input field at the bottom of the screen.
- Type a targeted follow-up prompt, such as "summarize this in three bullet points" or "explain the above concept in simple language for a beginner".
- Press Enter and wait for the AI to process the new instructions and generate the shorter output.
This manual method is slow and inefficient. It requires you to come up with and type out specific prompts repeatedly, and it uses up valuable tokens in your conversation history.
The One-Click Solution: Quick Refinement Buttons with DevPause
You can instantly condense or simplify any response with a single click by using the free browser extension DevPause.
DevPause adds intuitive, local action buttons directly beneath the AI's replies. Here is how to shorten your answer: 1. Look at the DevPause button bar under the ChatGPT reply. 2. Click the "Shorter" button (or the "Simpler" button, depending on your needs).
DevPause automatically sends a highly optimized, context-aware command behind the scenes. This prompt instructs the AI model to instantly summarize or simplify the previous answer, delivering the concise explanation you need in a single click with no manual typing.
DevPause is designed with a strict privacy-first architecture. It runs 100% locally on your computer, does not read your chat logs, and never uploads your data to external servers. It works seamlessly on chatgpt.com, claude.ai, and gemini.google.com.
Install the extension here: https://devpause.vercel.app/
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clicking "Shorter" require a paid API key?
No. DevPause works directly inside the web interface and interacts with your active web session, meaning it uses your existing chat session without needing external API keys.
What is the difference between the "Shorter" and "Simpler" buttons?
The "Shorter" button instructs the AI to reduce the overall word count and remove filler text. The "Simpler" button prompts the AI to explain the core concepts using simpler vocabulary and easy-to-understand analogies.
Can I use these quick prompt buttons on Claude and Gemini?
Yes. DevPause adds these convenient shortening and simplifying buttons to chatgpt.com, claude.ai, and gemini.google.com, providing a consistent experience across all three platforms.