# Ask, don't display

> A card is a question, not a slide — make the learner retrieve, not read.

## What & why

Memory grows when you _retrieve_ something, not when you re-read it. A card whose
front just names a topic lets the learner nod along — "yes, I know this" — without
ever pulling the answer out of their own head. That feels like studying but teaches
almost nothing. A card that asks a real question forces the recall that actually
moves knowledge into long-term memory.

## The rule

> Write the front as a question the learner must answer from memory, not a label they
> can simply recognise.

## Bad → good

A real fact from the **Science Facts** catalog deck. Tap a card to reveal its answer.

**Before — A heading. The learner reads it, feels familiar, and learns nothing.**

> **Q:** The powerhouse of the cell
> **A:** Mitochondria

**After — A question with one clear answer — the learner has to retrieve it.**

> **Q:** Which organelle is the powerhouse of the cell?
> **A:** The mitochondria

## When it applies

Every card front. If you can imagine a learner reading the front and thinking "yep,
familiar" without producing an answer, it's a display, not a question — rewrite it as
something they have to _finish_, _name_, or _choose_.

The quick test: cover the back and read only the front aloud. If there's nothing to
say in reply, the card isn't asking anything yet.

## Related

- [One card, one fact](https://www.deckberry.com/creators/guide/deck-craft/one-fact/)
- [Answers you can self-grade](https://www.deckberry.com/creators/guide/deck-craft/self-gradable/)
- [Common mistakes & anti-patterns](https://www.deckberry.com/creators/guide/tips/anti-patterns/)

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[Read this guide on Deckberry](https://www.deckberry.com/creators/guide/deck-craft/ask-dont-display/)