diff --git a/src/cli/orchestrator.ts b/src/cli/orchestrator.ts
index ee3cf08..9fd50a0 100644
--- a/src/cli/orchestrator.ts
+++ b/src/cli/orchestrator.ts
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ function reportIssue(params: ReportIssueParams): void {
     ruleName,
     outputFormat,
     jsonFormatter,
+    analysis,
     suggestion,
     fix,
     scoreText,
@@ -165,6 +166,7 @@ function reportIssue(params: ReportIssueParams): void {
       message: summary,
       rule: ruleName,
       match: match || "",
+      ...(analysis ? { analysis } : {}),
       ...(suggestion ? { suggestion } : {}),
       ...(fix ? { fix } : {}),
     };
@@ -209,7 +211,7 @@ function locateAndReportViolations(params: ProcessViolationsParams): {
   for (const v of violations) {
     if (!v) continue;
 
-    const rowSummary = (v.analysis || "").trim();
+    const rowSummary = (v.message || "").trim();
 
     try {
       const locWithMatch = locateQuotedText(
@@ -274,6 +276,7 @@ function locateAndReportViolations(params: ProcessViolationsParams): {
       ruleName,
       outputFormat,
       jsonFormatter,
+      ...(v.analysis !== undefined && { analysis: v.analysis }),
       ...(v.suggestion !== undefined && { suggestion: v.suggestion }),
       ...(v.fix !== undefined && { fix: v.fix }),
       scoreText,
diff --git a/src/cli/types.ts b/src/cli/types.ts
index 902ea2f..31c4b6d 100644
--- a/src/cli/types.ts
+++ b/src/cli/types.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ export interface ReportIssueParams {
     ruleName: string;
     outputFormat: OutputFormat;
     jsonFormatter: ValeJsonFormatter | JsonFormatter | RdJsonFormatter;
+    analysis?: string;
     suggestion?: string;
     fix?: string;
     scoreText?: string;
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ export interface ProcessViolationsParams extends EvaluationContext {
         quoted_text?: string;
         context_before?: string;
         context_after?: string;
+        message?: string;
         analysis?: string;
         suggestion?: string;
         fix?: string;
diff --git a/src/output/json-formatter.ts b/src/output/json-formatter.ts
index 54a7a64..eeddac6 100644
--- a/src/output/json-formatter.ts
+++ b/src/output/json-formatter.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export interface Issue {
   message: string;
   rule: string;
   match: string;
+  analysis?: string;
   suggestion?: string;
   fix?: string;
 }
diff --git a/src/prompts/directive-loader.ts b/src/prompts/directive-loader.ts
index f4ed43b..13e28ca 100644
--- a/src/prompts/directive-loader.ts
+++ b/src/prompts/directive-loader.ts
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ filter can decide whether to surface it.
 
 Return valid JSON matching the required schema exactly.
 
+The \`message\` field is shown directly to the user in the terminal and UI. Keep it under 15 words, with no rule references. The \`analysis\` field is your internal reasoning and is not shown in the UI.
+
 ## Hard constraints
 - Do NOT invent evidence. Every quoted span must be copied exactly from the Input.
 - Use the provided line numbers.
diff --git a/src/prompts/schema.ts b/src/prompts/schema.ts
index f168bf6..26c137e 100644
--- a/src/prompts/schema.ts
+++ b/src/prompts/schema.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ export function buildJudgeLLMSchema() {
                       description:
                         "A concise 1-2 sentence explanation of the specific issue.",
                     },
+                    message: {
+                      type: "string",
+                      description:
+                        "Under 15 words. State the issue directly to the user. No rule references.",
+                    },
                     suggestion: {
                       type: "string",
                       description: "Suggest a fix in 15 words or less.",
@@ -124,6 +129,7 @@ export function buildJudgeLLMSchema() {
                     "context_after",
                     "description",
                     "analysis",
+                    "message",
                     "suggestion",
                     "fix",
                     "rule_quote",
@@ -168,6 +174,11 @@ export function buildCheckLLMSchema() {
                 description:
                   "A concise 1-2 sentence explanation of the specific issue.",
               },
+              message: {
+                type: "string",
+                description:
+                  "Under 15 words. State the issue directly to the user. No rule references.",
+              },
               suggestion: {
                 type: "string",
                 description: "Suggest a fix in 15 words or less.",
@@ -235,6 +246,7 @@ export function buildCheckLLMSchema() {
               "context_after",
               "description",
               "analysis",
+              "message",
               "suggestion",
               "fix",
               "rule_quote",
@@ -263,6 +275,7 @@ export type JudgeLLMResult = {
       context_after: string;
       description: string;
       analysis: string;
+      message: string;
       suggestion: string;
       fix: string;
       rule_quote: string;
@@ -279,6 +292,7 @@ export type CheckLLMResult = {
     line: number;
     description: string;
     analysis: string;
+    message: string;
     suggestion: string;
     fix: string;
     quoted_text: string;
@@ -309,6 +323,7 @@ export type JudgeResult = {
       context_after: string;
       description: string;
       analysis: string;
+      message: string;
       suggestion: string;
       fix: string;
       rule_quote: string;
@@ -325,6 +340,7 @@ export type CheckItem = {
   line: number;
   description: string;
   analysis: string;
+  message?: string;
   suggestion?: string;
   fix?: string;
   quoted_text?: string;
@@ -348,6 +364,7 @@ export type CheckResult = {
   violations: Array<{
     line?: number;
     analysis: string;
+    message?: string;
     suggestion?: string;
     fix?: string;
     quoted_text?: string;
diff --git a/tests/prompt-schema.test.ts b/tests/prompt-schema.test.ts
index 43c6748..bf651a8 100644
--- a/tests/prompt-schema.test.ts
+++ b/tests/prompt-schema.test.ts
@@ -32,4 +32,40 @@ describe("prompt schema verbosity constraints", () => {
       description: "Suggest a fix in 15 words or less.",
     });
   });
+
+  it("check schema violation includes message field with correct description", () => {
+    const schema = buildCheckLLMSchema();
+    const violationProperties =
+      schema.schema.properties.violations.items.properties;
+
+    expect(violationProperties.message).toEqual({
+      type: "string",
+      description: "Under 15 words. State the issue directly to the user. No rule references.",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("judge schema violation includes message field with correct description", () => {
+    const schema = buildJudgeLLMSchema();
+    const violationProperties =
+      schema.schema.properties.criteria.items.properties.violations.items
+        .properties;
+
+    expect(violationProperties.message).toEqual({
+      type: "string",
+      description: "Under 15 words. State the issue directly to the user. No rule references.",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("check schema violation required array includes message", () => {
+    const schema = buildCheckLLMSchema();
+    const required = schema.schema.properties.violations.items.required;
+    expect(required).toContain("message");
+  });
+
+  it("judge schema violation required array includes message", () => {
+    const schema = buildJudgeLLMSchema();
+    const required =
+      schema.schema.properties.criteria.items.properties.violations.items.required;
+    expect(required).toContain("message");
+  });
 });