The 40 tells · Phrases · No. 31
"The result? A question, then the answer": why it reads as machine-written
Flagged Question, then answer
"The result? Faster load times." A one-word question followed by the answer is a drumroll. Used once, it can work. Machine-written copy uses it in every other paragraph, and readers have started to notice the pattern.
State the result. It lands harder without the pause.
Before
We rebuilt the checkout from scratch. The result? A smoother experience for everyone.
After
The new checkout is two screens instead of five, and it remembers your card.
The fix
State the result.
What the checker matches
A pattern match. In plain terms: question, then answer.
(^|[.!?]\s+)(the result|the outcome|the best part|the catch|the secret|the answer|the kicker|the twist)\?