Easy Tech TutsHow to Create Short and Long Answer Questions Easily 2026
By Impran M N
Open-ended text questions need the right format to capture useful data, whether that's a single-line email address or a full paragraph of essay feedback. This guide covers setting up short and long answer text fields in Microsoft Forms and applying restrictions so responses stay clean.
01Add a Text question
Click Add New and select the Text question type from the field menu.
02Write your prompt
Click into the question text zone and enter your descriptive open-ended prompt.
03Switch to long answer if needed
By default the field is a single-line short answer box — slide the Long Answer toggle on to deploy an expanded multi-line box instead.
04Add restrictions and a subtitle
Use the three-dot More Settings menu to add a subtitle with instructions, or apply restrictions that limit input to specific numeric ranges or character lengths.
05Require the field and preview
Toggle Required if the question shouldn't be skippable, then use Preview to test typing limits on both desktop and mobile.
Frequently asked questions
When should I use short answer instead of long answer?
Short answer suits brief entries like names or emails, while long answer fits detailed feedback or essay-style responses.
Can I restrict a text field to only accept numbers?
Yes, the Restrictions option under the three-dot menu lets you limit entries to numeric ranges or specific digit counts.
How do I give respondents formatting instructions?
Use the Subtitle option to add clear guidance directly below the question prompt.
Can I require an answer before the form can be submitted?
Yes, toggling the Required switch prevents blank submissions for that specific text question.
Watch the full walkthrough
The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.
