diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index ee5a1f81..b516edc7 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ All design work follows the constitution at `design/constitution/constitution.md
 4. **Errors Are Interface** — every error condition is documented
 5. **Tests Prove Interfaces** — concrete test specs for every interface
 
+**Output discipline.** Every agent in the roster authors PR descriptions and in-code comments. Before any agent ships a PR body or writes a WHY-style comment, it applies `/brevity` (`.claude/skills/brevity/`). The skill's 8 rules + 5-row rationalization table hold against the verbose-by-default biases an LLM agent produces under pressure. The skill self-determines when input is at floor — agents do not pre-skip. Doc/design, runbooks, memory writes, and mid-conversation chat are out of scope for the skill today; see its `references/guardrails.md` for un-defer triggers.
+
 ## Cross-Component Interfaces
 
 The most critical contracts between components. The **provider owns** the interface; consumers adapt.
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index e7ff7d2d..84b8e30a 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ The single source of truth for all cross-component interfaces is `tide/interface
 - **Completion signaling:** `/dev/termination-log` is primary (survives pod termination). `status.json` is advisory only.
 - **Exit codes:** Granular codes (10-52) from runtimes. Operator groups them for retry/fail decisions.
 - **Commit style:** Conventional commits (`feat:`, `fix:`, `docs:`, `refactor:`). Reference the component in scope.
+- **Brevity discipline:** Apply `/brevity` (`.claude/skills/brevity/`) before writing PR bodies or in-code comments. The skill self-determines floor; agents do not pre-skip.
 
 ## Key File Locations
 - `design/constitution/constitution.md` — governing document for all design work