tools-only Parallel Structure and Consistency
Opus: Maintains consistent style, format, and level of detail across multiple similar outputs within a single response.
Haiku: First few items in a list are well-formed. Quality and consistency degrade after item 4-5. Later items may be shorter, less detailed, or structurally different from earlier ones.
Mitigation: Provide a template and enforce it per-item.
For each item, output EXACTLY this structure:
**Name**: [name]
**Category**: [one of: A, B, C]
**Summary**: [one sentence, 10-20 words]
**Score**: [integer 1-10]
Do not vary this structure between items.
For long lists (>5 items), consider:
- Processing in batches of 5
- Including a "format checkpoint" instruction: "After every 5th item, verify your format matches the template."
- Using JSON arrays (structural enforcement is stronger than prose)
If generating comparative content (pros/cons for multiple options), provide the comparison scaffold:
| Criterion | Option A | Option B | Option C |
|-----------|----------|----------|----------|
| Cost | ... | ... | ... |
| Speed | ... | ... | ... |
Tables enforce parallel structure mechanically.