<p>Note that answers should <em>explain</em> why they're correct; they should give the arguments in any references not simply offer a link or reference (even when a question is a request for a reference, it should explain the reason for the recommendation). </p>

<p>Very short answers often fail to explain anything and quite a few amount to little more than pointing elsewhere.</p>

<p>Quite brief answers are on occasion acceptable, but if they're very short they need to be as complete as possible (that is, there's really nothing more that could be said). Since often very short answers are not suitable answers by Stack Exchange's criteria, they are automatically flagged by the system.</p>
