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

# How to write a paragraph AI will cite — answer shape wins

> Peec's reranker tests (Aug 2026) — writing one direct-answer sentence at the top of a paragraph is the highest-leverage edit; an on-topic description scored near zero, a direct answer >99%.

Writing a paragraph so AI search cites it comes down to answer shape: "about the topic" and "answers this query" are different tests. Peec ran 12 open rerankers on the same two passages for the query "what are the best AEO tools" ([full guide](https://peec.ai/blog/rerankers-for-geo-aeo-how-ai-search-chooses-passages-and-sources), Aug 2026): a product description scored near zero on strict models (MiniLM 0.0019%, BGE-large 0.20%), while a direct shortlist — "The best AEO tools in 2026 are…" — scored above 99% on every model. Every model scored the direct-answer version higher.

What follows for content (Aug 2026 findings):

* **The cheapest high-impact edit is one direct-answer sentence** in the first two lines of each query-targeting section — answer first, evidence and nuance after.
* **Match intent to answer shape:** a shortlist with criteria for "best X" queries, a concise definition for "what is X", like-for-like criteria for "X vs Y", ordered steps for "how to", an exact dated value for price/status questions.
* **Missing concepts matter more than word order.** Cover the decision criteria and entities the intent requires (audience, price, year, alternatives) — repetition is not coverage.
* **Make sections locally self-contained:** name the subject explicitly instead of "it/this tool", keep the answer next to its evidence — whatever window a system cuts is judged alone.

A model score is not a citation guarantee — authority, freshness, diversity rules, and the generating LLM all still gate the final answer (see [How AI search chooses passages](/research/how-ai-search-chooses-passages)). Why this mechanic favors listicles: [Why listicles get cited](/research/why-listicles-get-cited). What not to over-do: [The reranker-friendly chunks myth](/research/reranker-friendly-chunks-myth).

**Source:** [Rerankers for GEO/AEO: How AI search chooses passages and sources](https://peec.ai/blog/rerankers-for-geo-aeo-how-ai-search-chooses-passages-and-sources), Peec (Metehan Yesilyurt), Aug 2026.