Why Claude Ignores Your Formatting Instructions
Claude has default formatting preferences from training. Without format specifications, it defaults to these -- often bullet points, headers, and bold text. When you specify format in a prompt, Claude follows it for that response but returns to defaults in the next one.
The fix is adding formatting rules to your Claude Project documents so they apply automatically to every conversation -- you never need to repeat them.
Key principle: positive rules are more effective than negative rules. "Do not use bullet points" is less effective than "always respond in prose paragraphs unless I explicitly ask for a list." Claude follows concrete positive instructions more reliably than avoidance rules.
What to Include in Your Formatting Rules
Response structure: Prose or structured lists by default? When are headings appropriate? When should Claude use bold text?
Length defaults: Brief and direct or comprehensive by default? This prevents over-explaining simple requests.
Content format rules: For each format you produce regularly, write two to three specific rules. "Blog posts always have a direct answer in the first paragraph. Social captions are never more than three sentences."
An example: One example of correct formatting and one of incorrect with a label explaining what was wrong. More effective than any written rule alone.