diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index 3548115dff3..ea673da5d3b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ v 8.12.0 (unreleased)
   - Reduce contributions calendar data payload (ClemMakesApps)
   - Add `web_url` field to issue, merge request, and snippet API objects (Ben Boeckel)
   - Set path for all JavaScript cookies to honor GitLab's subdirectory setting !5627 (Mike Greiling)
+  - Shorten task status phrase (ClemMakesApps)
   - Add hover color to emoji icon (ClemMakesApps)
   - Optimistic locking for Issues and Merge Requests (title and description overriding prevention)
   - Add `wiki_page_events` to project hook APIs (Ben Boeckel)
diff --git a/app/models/concerns/taskable.rb b/app/models/concerns/taskable.rb
index df2a9e3e84b..a3ac577cf3e 100644
--- a/app/models/concerns/taskable.rb
+++ b/app/models/concerns/taskable.rb
@@ -52,11 +52,11 @@ module Taskable
   end
 
   # Return a string that describes the current state of this Taskable's task
-  # list items, e.g. "20 tasks (12 completed, 8 remaining)"
+  # list items, e.g. "12 of 20 tasks completed"
   def task_status
     return '' if description.blank?
 
     sum = tasks.summary
-    "#{sum.item_count} tasks (#{sum.complete_count} completed, #{sum.incomplete_count} remaining)"
+    "#{sum.complete_count} of #{sum.item_count} #{'task'.pluralize(sum.item_count)} completed"
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/features/task_lists_spec.rb b/spec/features/task_lists_spec.rb
index 6ed279ef9be..abb27c90e0a 100644
--- a/spec/features/task_lists_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/task_lists_spec.rb
@@ -20,6 +20,22 @@ feature 'Task Lists', feature: true do
     MARKDOWN
   end
 
+  let(:singleIncompleteMarkdown) do
+    <<-MARKDOWN.strip_heredoc
+    This is a task list:
+
+    - [ ] Incomplete entry 1
+    MARKDOWN
+  end
+
+  let(:singleCompleteMarkdown) do
+    <<-MARKDOWN.strip_heredoc
+    This is a task list:
+
+    - [x] Incomplete entry 1
+    MARKDOWN
+  end
+
   before do
     Warden.test_mode!
 
@@ -34,77 +50,145 @@ feature 'Task Lists', feature: true do
   end
 
   describe 'for Issues' do
-    let!(:issue) { create(:issue, description: markdown, author: user, project: project) }
+    describe 'multiple tasks' do
+      let!(:issue) { create(:issue, description: markdown, author: user, project: project) }
 
-    it 'renders' do
-      visit_issue(project, issue)
+      it 'renders' do
+        visit_issue(project, issue)
 
-      expect(page).to have_selector('ul.task-list',      count: 1)
-      expect(page).to have_selector('li.task-list-item', count: 6)
-      expect(page).to have_selector('ul input[checked]', count: 2)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('ul.task-list',      count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('li.task-list-item', count: 6)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('ul input[checked]', count: 2)
+      end
+
+      it 'contains the required selectors' do
+        visit_issue(project, issue)
+
+        container = '.detail-page-description .description.js-task-list-container'
+
+        expect(page).to have_selector(container)
+        expect(page).to have_selector("#{container} .wiki .task-list .task-list-item .task-list-item-checkbox")
+        expect(page).to have_selector("#{container} .js-task-list-field")
+        expect(page).to have_selector('form.js-issuable-update')
+        expect(page).to have_selector('a.btn-close')
+      end
+
+      it 'is only editable by author' do
+        visit_issue(project, issue)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.js-task-list-container')
+
+        logout(:user)
+
+        login_as(user2)
+        visit current_path
+        expect(page).not_to have_selector('.js-task-list-container')
+      end
+
+      it 'provides a summary on Issues#index' do
+        visit namespace_project_issues_path(project.namespace, project)
+        expect(page).to have_content("2 of 6 tasks completed")
+      end
     end
 
-    it 'contains the required selectors' do
-      visit_issue(project, issue)
+    describe 'single incomplete task' do
+      let!(:issue) { create(:issue, description: singleIncompleteMarkdown, author: user, project: project) }
 
-      container = '.detail-page-description .description.js-task-list-container'
+      it 'renders' do
+        visit_issue(project, issue)
 
-      expect(page).to have_selector(container)
-      expect(page).to have_selector("#{container} .wiki .task-list .task-list-item .task-list-item-checkbox")
-      expect(page).to have_selector("#{container} .js-task-list-field")
-      expect(page).to have_selector('form.js-issuable-update')
-      expect(page).to have_selector('a.btn-close')
+        expect(page).to have_selector('ul.task-list',      count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('li.task-list-item', count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('ul input[checked]', count: 0)
+      end
+
+      it 'provides a summary on Issues#index' do
+        visit namespace_project_issues_path(project.namespace, project)
+        expect(page).to have_content("0 of 1 task completed")
+      end
     end
 
-    it 'is only editable by author' do
-      visit_issue(project, issue)
-      expect(page).to have_selector('.js-task-list-container')
+    describe 'single complete task' do
+      let!(:issue) { create(:issue, description: singleCompleteMarkdown, author: user, project: project) }
 
-      logout(:user)
+      it 'renders' do
+        visit_issue(project, issue)
 
-      login_as(user2)
-      visit current_path
-      expect(page).not_to have_selector('.js-task-list-container')
-    end
+        expect(page).to have_selector('ul.task-list',      count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('li.task-list-item', count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('ul input[checked]', count: 1)
+      end
 
-    it 'provides a summary on Issues#index' do
-      visit namespace_project_issues_path(project.namespace, project)
-      expect(page).to have_content("6 tasks (2 completed, 4 remaining)")
+      it 'provides a summary on Issues#index' do
+        visit namespace_project_issues_path(project.namespace, project)
+        expect(page).to have_content("1 of 1 task completed")
+      end
     end
   end
 
   describe 'for Notes' do
     let!(:issue) { create(:issue, author: user, project: project) }
-    let!(:note) do
-      create(:note, note: markdown, noteable: issue,
-                    project: project, author: user)
+    describe 'multiple tasks' do
+      let!(:note) do
+        create(:note, note: markdown, noteable: issue,
+                      project: project, author: user)
+      end
+
+      it 'renders for note body' do
+        visit_issue(project, issue)
+
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.note ul.task-list',      count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.note li.task-list-item', count: 6)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.note ul input[checked]', count: 2)
+      end
+
+      it 'contains the required selectors' do
+        visit_issue(project, issue)
+
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.note .js-task-list-container')
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.note .js-task-list-container .task-list .task-list-item .task-list-item-checkbox')
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.note .js-task-list-container .js-task-list-field')
+      end
+
+      it 'is only editable by author' do
+        visit_issue(project, issue)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.js-task-list-container')
+
+        logout(:user)
+
+        login_as(user2)
+        visit current_path
+        expect(page).not_to have_selector('.js-task-list-container')
+      end
     end
 
-    it 'renders for note body' do
-      visit_issue(project, issue)
+    describe 'single incomplete task' do
+      let!(:note) do
+        create(:note, note: singleIncompleteMarkdown, noteable: issue,
+                      project: project, author: user)
+      end
 
-      expect(page).to have_selector('.note ul.task-list',      count: 1)
-      expect(page).to have_selector('.note li.task-list-item', count: 6)
-      expect(page).to have_selector('.note ul input[checked]', count: 2)
+      it 'renders for note body' do
+        visit_issue(project, issue)
+
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.note ul.task-list',      count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.note li.task-list-item', count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.note ul input[checked]', count: 0)
+      end
     end
 
-    it 'contains the required selectors' do
-      visit_issue(project, issue)
+    describe 'single complete task' do
+      let!(:note) do
+        create(:note, note: singleCompleteMarkdown, noteable: issue,
+                      project: project, author: user)
+      end
 
-      expect(page).to have_selector('.note .js-task-list-container')
-      expect(page).to have_selector('.note .js-task-list-container .task-list .task-list-item .task-list-item-checkbox')
-      expect(page).to have_selector('.note .js-task-list-container .js-task-list-field')
-    end
+      it 'renders for note body' do
+        visit_issue(project, issue)
 
-    it 'is only editable by author' do
-      visit_issue(project, issue)
-      expect(page).to have_selector('.js-task-list-container')
-
-      logout(:user)
-
-      login_as(user2)
-      visit current_path
-      expect(page).not_to have_selector('.js-task-list-container')
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.note ul.task-list',      count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.note li.task-list-item', count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.note ul input[checked]', count: 1)
+      end
     end
   end
 
@@ -113,42 +197,78 @@ feature 'Task Lists', feature: true do
       visit namespace_project_merge_request_path(project.namespace, project, merge)
     end
 
-    let!(:merge) { create(:merge_request, :simple, description: markdown, author: user, source_project: project) }
+    describe 'multiple tasks' do
+      let!(:merge) { create(:merge_request, :simple, description: markdown, author: user, source_project: project) }
 
-    it 'renders for description' do
-      visit_merge_request(project, merge)
+      it 'renders for description' do
+        visit_merge_request(project, merge)
 
-      expect(page).to have_selector('ul.task-list',      count: 1)
-      expect(page).to have_selector('li.task-list-item', count: 6)
-      expect(page).to have_selector('ul input[checked]', count: 2)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('ul.task-list',      count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('li.task-list-item', count: 6)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('ul input[checked]', count: 2)
+      end
+
+      it 'contains the required selectors' do
+        visit_merge_request(project, merge)
+
+        container = '.detail-page-description .description.js-task-list-container'
+
+        expect(page).to have_selector(container)
+        expect(page).to have_selector("#{container} .wiki .task-list .task-list-item .task-list-item-checkbox")
+        expect(page).to have_selector("#{container} .js-task-list-field")
+        expect(page).to have_selector('form.js-issuable-update')
+        expect(page).to have_selector('a.btn-close')
+      end
+
+      it 'is only editable by author' do
+        visit_merge_request(project, merge)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.js-task-list-container')
+
+        logout(:user)
+
+        login_as(user2)
+        visit current_path
+        expect(page).not_to have_selector('.js-task-list-container')
+      end
+
+      it 'provides a summary on MergeRequests#index' do
+        visit namespace_project_merge_requests_path(project.namespace, project)
+        expect(page).to have_content("2 of 6 tasks completed")
+      end
+    end
+    
+    describe 'single incomplete task' do
+      let!(:merge) { create(:merge_request, :simple, description: singleIncompleteMarkdown, author: user, source_project: project) }
+
+      it 'renders for description' do
+        visit_merge_request(project, merge)
+
+        expect(page).to have_selector('ul.task-list',      count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('li.task-list-item', count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('ul input[checked]', count: 0)
+      end
+
+      it 'provides a summary on MergeRequests#index' do
+        visit namespace_project_merge_requests_path(project.namespace, project)
+        expect(page).to have_content("0 of 1 task completed")
+      end
     end
 
-    it 'contains the required selectors' do
-      visit_merge_request(project, merge)
+    describe 'single complete task' do
+      let!(:merge) { create(:merge_request, :simple, description: singleCompleteMarkdown, author: user, source_project: project) }
 
-      container = '.detail-page-description .description.js-task-list-container'
+      it 'renders for description' do
+        visit_merge_request(project, merge)
 
-      expect(page).to have_selector(container)
-      expect(page).to have_selector("#{container} .wiki .task-list .task-list-item .task-list-item-checkbox")
-      expect(page).to have_selector("#{container} .js-task-list-field")
-      expect(page).to have_selector('form.js-issuable-update')
-      expect(page).to have_selector('a.btn-close')
-    end
+        expect(page).to have_selector('ul.task-list',      count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('li.task-list-item', count: 1)
+        expect(page).to have_selector('ul input[checked]', count: 1)
+      end
 
-    it 'is only editable by author' do
-      visit_merge_request(project, merge)
-      expect(page).to have_selector('.js-task-list-container')
-
-      logout(:user)
-
-      login_as(user2)
-      visit current_path
-      expect(page).not_to have_selector('.js-task-list-container')
-    end
-
-    it 'provides a summary on MergeRequests#index' do
-      visit namespace_project_merge_requests_path(project.namespace, project)
-      expect(page).to have_content("6 tasks (2 completed, 4 remaining)")
+      it 'provides a summary on MergeRequests#index' do
+        visit namespace_project_merge_requests_path(project.namespace, project)
+        expect(page).to have_content("1 of 1 task completed")
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/support/taskable_shared_examples.rb b/spec/support/taskable_shared_examples.rb
index 927c72c7409..201614e45a4 100644
--- a/spec/support/taskable_shared_examples.rb
+++ b/spec/support/taskable_shared_examples.rb
@@ -3,30 +3,57 @@
 # Requires a context containing:
 #   subject { Issue or MergeRequest }
 shared_examples 'a Taskable' do
-  before do
-    subject.description = <<-EOT.strip_heredoc
-      * [ ] Task 1
-      * [x] Task 2
-      * [x] Task 3
-      * [ ] Task 4
-      * [ ] Task 5
-    EOT
-  end
-
-  it 'returns the correct task status' do
-    expect(subject.task_status).to match('5 tasks')
-    expect(subject.task_status).to match('2 completed')
-    expect(subject.task_status).to match('3 remaining')
-  end
-
-  describe '#tasks?' do
-    it 'returns true when object has tasks' do
-      expect(subject.tasks?).to eq true
+  describe 'with multiple tasks' do
+    before do
+      subject.description = <<-EOT.strip_heredoc
+        * [ ] Task 1
+        * [x] Task 2
+        * [x] Task 3
+        * [ ] Task 4
+        * [ ] Task 5
+      EOT
     end
 
-    it 'returns false when object has no tasks' do
-      subject.description = 'Now I have no tasks'
-      expect(subject.tasks?).to eq false
+    it 'returns the correct task status' do
+      expect(subject.task_status).to match('2 of')
+      expect(subject.task_status).to match('5 tasks completed')
+    end
+
+    describe '#tasks?' do
+      it 'returns true when object has tasks' do
+        expect(subject.tasks?).to eq true
+      end
+
+      it 'returns false when object has no tasks' do
+        subject.description = 'Now I have no tasks'
+        expect(subject.tasks?).to eq false
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'with an incomplete task' do
+    before do
+      subject.description = <<-EOT.strip_heredoc
+        * [ ] Task 1
+      EOT
+    end
+
+    it 'returns the correct task status' do
+      expect(subject.task_status).to match('0 of')
+      expect(subject.task_status).to match('1 task completed')
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'with a complete task' do
+    before do
+      subject.description = <<-EOT.strip_heredoc
+        * [x] Task 1
+      EOT
+    end
+
+    it 'returns the correct task status' do
+      expect(subject.task_status).to match('1 of')
+      expect(subject.task_status).to match('1 task completed')
     end
   end
 end