diff --git a/docs/my-resources.md b/docs/my-resources.md
index af50e003..8e2721bc 100644
--- a/docs/my-resources.md
+++ b/docs/my-resources.md
@@ -219,7 +219,8 @@ the material needs (one case-question-answer run per topic, one timeline
 segment per event) and may leave out when the material has none.
 
 The author picks the format beside the theme; "Free" is the default and is
-what every deck was before. The choice is stored on the deck (`deck.format`,
+what every deck was before. The slide count stays the one length control —
+a format's typical length is not shown or sent, so the two never disagree. The choice is stored on the deck (`deck.format`,
 validated against the catalogue the same way `deck.theme` is) so a later
 modification keeps the shape it was written in — the revision prompt carries
 the same brief.
diff --git a/public/js/myResources.js b/public/js/myResources.js
index 33ef64e9..3dbd6a06 100644
--- a/public/js/myResources.js
+++ b/public/js/myResources.js
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@
           formats.forEach(function (f) {
             var option = document.createElement('option');
             option.value = f.id;
-            option.textContent = f.name + (f.length ? ' · ' + f.length : '');
+            option.textContent = f.name;
             formatSelect.appendChild(option);
           });
           if (chosenFormat && formats.some(function (f) { return f.id === chosenFormat; })) {
@@ -271,6 +271,9 @@
     var hint = document.getElementById('mr-format-hint');
     if (!select || !hint) return;
     var chosen = formats.filter(function (f) { return f.id === select.value; })[0];
+    // Audience and shape only: how long the session runs is the slide count
+    // above, which guides rather than dictates, and a second number here
+    // read as a contradiction of it.
     hint.textContent = chosen
       ? [chosen.audience ? 'For ' + chosen.audience : '', chosen.description || ''].filter(Boolean).join('. ')
       : 'The layouts are chosen slide by slide with no fixed order of parts.';
diff --git a/src/utils/deckFormats.js b/src/utils/deckFormats.js
index 88568def..23a02f4f 100644
--- a/src/utils/deckFormats.js
+++ b/src/utils/deckFormats.js
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ function instructions(id) {
   if (!format) return '';
   var lines = [
     'FORMAT: this is a ' + format.name + (format.audience ? ' for ' + format.audience : '') + '.',
-    format.length ? 'Typical length: ' + format.length + '.' : '',
+    'The slide count asked for above is the length; fit the parts into it.',
     'Its parts, in this order:'
   ];
   (format.sequence || []).forEach(function (part, i) {