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Should you build pages for best-of and list intent even if users do not ask that way?

Yes. AI turns a meaningful share of vague prompts into list-like and best-of retrieval queries, so pages that already match that structure are easier for models to find and cite.

The key numbers.

List-format conversion
2,319 rewrites added list framing.
20.13%
Best-of conversion
2,328 rewrites added best-of framing.
20.21%

This is a strong argument for query-shape coverage, not just volume-based keyword coverage. Models actively rewrite 20.13 percent of queries to include list framing and 20.21 percent to include best-of framing.

MeasureResult
List-format conversion

2,319 rewrites added list framing.

20.13%
Best-of conversion

2,328 rewrites added best-of framing.

20.21%

What this study measured.

An observational snapshot.
Tested 22 January 2026.

Read the full methodology

Population and method

Built from 11,521 captured prompt-to-query pairs observed in OpenAI web search calls, with 100% search-query coverage in the sampled dataset.

Where the evidence stops

This study reflects captured search-query transformations rather than every hidden retrieval step a model may perform.

Some inserted entities reflect category heuristics or market leaders rather than final recommendation outcomes.

The underlying dataset is concentrated in commercial and research prompts rather than all possible conversational traffic.

What to do with this

  • Write for the query the model is likely to search, not just the wording a human might type first.
  • Add current-year, format, and category framing where it genuinely helps the page answer the query.
  • Make sure competitor and category language is present when the model is likely to inject it during retrieval.

This answer matters because it turns a study finding into an operating rule teams can use when they decide what to publish, refresh, or measure next. Content strategies must account for AI rewriting behavior to maintain visibility.

Questions about this answer.

“Yes. AI turns a meaningful share of vague prompts into list-like and best-of retrieval queries, so pages that already match that structure are easier for models to find and cite.”

Mack Grenfell · Should you build pages for best-of and list intent even if users do not ask that way?
How AI Translates Your Questions · Trakkr Research · Updated 22 January 2026

https://trakkr.ai/trakkr-research/query-translation/answers/should-you-build-pages-for-best-of-and-list-intent-even-if-users-dont-ask-that-way
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