diff --git a/R/col_exists.R b/R/col_exists.R
index 986c9e0e3..39e58556f 100644
--- a/R/col_exists.R
+++ b/R/col_exists.R
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ col_exists <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id[i],
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/col_is_character.R b/R/col_is_character.R
index 6d34e92a8..d5f26e219 100644
--- a/R/col_is_character.R
+++ b/R/col_is_character.R
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ col_is_character <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id[i],
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/col_is_date.R b/R/col_is_date.R
index 351e70da6..652b485da 100644
--- a/R/col_is_date.R
+++ b/R/col_is_date.R
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ col_is_date <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id[i],
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/col_is_factor.R b/R/col_is_factor.R
index 0e8a3350c..b0f4f6148 100644
--- a/R/col_is_factor.R
+++ b/R/col_is_factor.R
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ col_is_factor <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id[i],
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/col_is_integer.R b/R/col_is_integer.R
index 0796f8900..f8f76cade 100644
--- a/R/col_is_integer.R
+++ b/R/col_is_integer.R
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ col_is_integer <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id[i],
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/col_is_logical.R b/R/col_is_logical.R
index c6832e161..b83121d7e 100644
--- a/R/col_is_logical.R
+++ b/R/col_is_logical.R
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ col_is_logical <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id[i],
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/col_is_numeric.R b/R/col_is_numeric.R
index 459b4ee1e..55f33c189 100644
--- a/R/col_is_numeric.R
+++ b/R/col_is_numeric.R
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ col_is_numeric <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id[i],
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/col_is_posix.R b/R/col_is_posix.R
index 229d8c873..e469d9dfb 100644
--- a/R/col_is_posix.R
+++ b/R/col_is_posix.R
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ col_is_posix <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id[i],
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_between.R b/R/col_vals_between.R
index d0715a8f7..f614ba4b2 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_between.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_between.R
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ col_vals_between <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_decreasing.R b/R/col_vals_decreasing.R
index d8545fd97..7276770ec 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_decreasing.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_decreasing.R
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ col_vals_decreasing <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_equal.R b/R/col_vals_equal.R
index fa81a154b..bd4a659f5 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_equal.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_equal.R
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ col_vals_equal <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_expr.R b/R/col_vals_expr.R
index ab8f930fb..ded8e60b9 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_expr.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_expr.R
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ col_vals_expr <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id,
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_gt.R b/R/col_vals_gt.R
index 07b64c80e..430e71605 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_gt.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_gt.R
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ col_vals_gt <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_gte.R b/R/col_vals_gte.R
index 2588a08b2..8dcfd6f8f 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_gte.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_gte.R
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ col_vals_gte <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_in_set.R b/R/col_vals_in_set.R
index 37cbdde20..13aa06595 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_in_set.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_in_set.R
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ col_vals_in_set <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_increasing.R b/R/col_vals_increasing.R
index 1b55db9c8..8dc0de4ec 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_increasing.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_increasing.R
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ col_vals_increasing <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_lt.R b/R/col_vals_lt.R
index 179c64ef6..dd206711e 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_lt.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_lt.R
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ col_vals_lt <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_lte.R b/R/col_vals_lte.R
index 7d21a5a65..74ac42d4a 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_lte.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_lte.R
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ col_vals_lte <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_make_set.R b/R/col_vals_make_set.R
index caab56fd2..1277acd5b 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_make_set.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_make_set.R
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ col_vals_make_set <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_make_subset.R b/R/col_vals_make_subset.R
index 23106f1cf..8b8491735 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_make_subset.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_make_subset.R
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ col_vals_make_subset <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_not_between.R b/R/col_vals_not_between.R
index d23982593..a653f36a3 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_not_between.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_not_between.R
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ col_vals_not_between <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_not_equal.R b/R/col_vals_not_equal.R
index 052fe586f..56b5be348 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_not_equal.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_not_equal.R
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ col_vals_not_equal <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_not_in_set.R b/R/col_vals_not_in_set.R
index 3f8fc1348..40eda2802 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_not_in_set.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_not_in_set.R
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ col_vals_not_in_set <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_not_null.R b/R/col_vals_not_null.R
index 44129a0b4..6c04adaa5 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_not_null.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_not_null.R
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ col_vals_not_null <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_null.R b/R/col_vals_null.R
index ee1814340..69172e3b6 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_null.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_null.R
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ col_vals_null <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_regex.R b/R/col_vals_regex.R
index f961a16f7..105111464 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_regex.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_regex.R
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ col_vals_regex <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/col_vals_within_spec.R b/R/col_vals_within_spec.R
index 1557481f4..d9817fb8b 100644
--- a/R/col_vals_within_spec.R
+++ b/R/col_vals_within_spec.R
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ col_vals_within_spec <- function(
           actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
           step_id = step_id[i],
           label = label[[i, j]],
-          brief = brief[[i, j]],
+          brief = brief[i, j],
           active = active
         )
     }
diff --git a/R/conjointly.R b/R/conjointly.R
index 5f203832c..8d9620cea 100644
--- a/R/conjointly.R
+++ b/R/conjointly.R
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ conjointly <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id,
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/row_count_match.R b/R/row_count_match.R
index c382688d4..bb4846e06 100644
--- a/R/row_count_match.R
+++ b/R/row_count_match.R
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ row_count_match <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id,
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/rows_complete.R b/R/rows_complete.R
index 9dce015df..3ffcf551f 100644
--- a/R/rows_complete.R
+++ b/R/rows_complete.R
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ rows_complete <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id,
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/rows_distinct.R b/R/rows_distinct.R
index c7096f5ee..6819b3add 100644
--- a/R/rows_distinct.R
+++ b/R/rows_distinct.R
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ rows_distinct <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id,
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/serially.R b/R/serially.R
index bda525014..e8f8121b3 100644
--- a/R/serially.R
+++ b/R/serially.R
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ serially <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id,
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/specially.R b/R/specially.R
index 548f7f161..dfdf0ce69 100644
--- a/R/specially.R
+++ b/R/specially.R
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ specially <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id,
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/steps_and_briefs.R b/R/steps_and_briefs.R
index a98e30e2f..ab12bea91 100644
--- a/R/steps_and_briefs.R
+++ b/R/steps_and_briefs.R
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ create_validation_step <- function(
       actions = ifelse(is.null(actions), list(NULL), list(actions)),
       label = ifelse(is.null(label), NA_character_, as.character(label)),
       brief = ifelse(is.null(brief), NA_character_, as.character(brief)),
+      brief_cls = as.character(class(.env$brief)[1]),
       active = ifelse(is.null(active), list(NULL), list(active)),
       eval_active = NA,
       eval_error = NA,
diff --git a/R/tbl_match.R b/R/tbl_match.R
index a270c5dba..b77c8905f 100644
--- a/R/tbl_match.R
+++ b/R/tbl_match.R
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ tbl_match <- function(
         actions = covert_actions(actions, agent),
         step_id = step_id,
         label = label[[i]],
-        brief = brief[[i]],
+        brief = brief[i],
         active = active
       )
   }
diff --git a/R/utils.R b/R/utils.R
index e47881f74..1112fece7 100644
--- a/R/utils.R
+++ b/R/utils.R
@@ -248,7 +248,9 @@ resolve_brief <- function(brief, agent,
   n_combinations <- n_columns * n_segments
 
   # If missing, apply auto-brief
-  if (is.null(brief)) {
+  brief_cls <- class(brief)
+  use_autobrief <- is.null(brief)
+  if (use_autobrief) {
     brief <- generate_autobriefs(
       agent = agent, columns = columns,
       preconditions = preconditions, values = values,
@@ -270,10 +272,23 @@ resolve_brief <- function(brief, agent,
   # Recycle the string
   brief <- rep_len(brief, n_combinations)
   # Return packed vector/matrix for iteration over steps
-  pack_by_col_seg(brief, n_columns, n_segments,  c(columns, segments))
+  brief <- pack_by_col_seg(brief, n_columns, n_segments,  c(columns, segments_list))
+
+  # Track brief type: one of autobrief, AsIs/verbatim, character
+  if (use_autobrief) {
+    class(brief) <- "autobrief"
+  } else if (any(c("AsIs", "verbatim") %in% brief_cls)) {
+    brief <- I(brief)
+  } else {
+    brief <- unclass(brief)
+  }
+
+  brief
 
 }
 
+`[.autobrief` <- function(x, i, ...) structure(NextMethod("["), class = "autobrief")
+
 resolve_label <- function(label, columns = list(NULL), segments = list(NULL)) {
   n_columns <- length(columns)
   n_segments <- length(segments)
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-brief.R b/tests/testthat/test-brief.R
index f422b9bcf..5f5be5970 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-brief.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-brief.R
@@ -227,3 +227,34 @@ test_that("Briefs batch tests: special validations", {
   )
 
 })
+
+test_that("brief_cls hosts information about class", {
+
+  get_brief_cls <- function(brief) {
+    create_agent(~ small_table) %>%
+      col_vals_gt(c(a, c), 5, brief = brief) %>%
+      el("validation_set") %>%
+      el("brief_cls")
+  }
+
+  expect_identical(
+    get_brief_cls("chr"),
+    rep("character", 2)
+  )
+
+  expect_identical(
+    get_brief_cls(NULL),
+    rep("autobrief", 2)
+  )
+
+  yml <- yaml::as.yaml(list(author = "June", id = 123))
+  expect_identical(
+    get_brief_cls(I(yml)),
+    rep("AsIs", 2)
+  )
+  expect_identical(
+    get_brief_cls(structure(yml, class = "verbatim")),
+    rep("AsIs", 2)
+  )
+
+})
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-x_list.R b/tests/testthat/test-x_list.R
index a56101163..a6c1a24e6 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-x_list.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-x_list.R
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ test_that("A complete x-list is structurally correct", {
   expect_equal(x_list_before$notify, rep(NA, 3))
   expect_s3_class(x_list_before$validation_set, c("tbl_df", "tbl", "data.frame"))
   expect_equal(nrow(x_list_before$validation_set), 3)
-  expect_equal(ncol(x_list_before$validation_set), 35)
+  expect_equal(ncol(x_list_before$validation_set), 36)
   expect_type(x_list_before$lang, "character")
   expect_equal(x_list_before$lang, "en")
   expect_s3_class(x_list_before$report_object, "gt_tbl")
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ test_that("A complete x-list is structurally correct", {
   expect_equal(x_list_after$notify, rep(NA, 3))
   expect_s3_class(x_list_after$validation_set, c("tbl_df", "tbl", "data.frame"), exact = TRUE)
   expect_equal(nrow(x_list_after$validation_set), 3)
-  expect_equal(ncol(x_list_after$validation_set), 35)
+  expect_equal(ncol(x_list_after$validation_set), 36)
   expect_type(x_list_after$lang, "character")
   expect_equal(x_list_after$lang, "en")
   expect_s3_class(x_list_after$report_object, "gt_tbl")