Discover the hidden prompt codes that turn ChatGPT from a basic chatbot into your personal AI genius—and why 99% of users are missing out on these game-changing shortcuts.
Most people use ChatGPT like a simple search engine. They type in a question, get an answer, and move on. But what if I told you there’s a secret language of commands that can transform how ChatGPT responds to you? These aren’t hidden features locked behind paywalls—they’re simple prompt techniques that anyone can use right now, for free.
Think of these codes as shortcuts that tell ChatGPT exactly how you want your answer delivered. Whether you need a five-year-old’s explanation, a professional executive summary, or a step-by-step breakdown, these 42 commands will help you get better results in seconds.
What Are ChatGPT Prompt Codes and Why Should You Care?
Prompt engineering is the art of crafting effective instructions for AI models like ChatGPT. While most users write lengthy, complicated prompts hoping for the best, experts have discovered that simple one or two-word commands can dramatically improve the quality and relevance of AI responses.
These “secret codes” aren’t really secret—they’re just underutilized techniques that can save you time and deliver more accurate, tailored responses. By mastering these commands, you’ll unlock ChatGPT’s full potential without needing technical skills or expensive subscriptions.
According to research from OpenAI, clear and specific prompts with proper structure can significantly improve response quality. The difference between asking “Tell me about marketing” and using a structured prompt with these codes can mean the difference between generic fluff and actionable insights.
The 42 Game-Changing ChatGPT Commands You Need to Know
Let me break down all 42 prompt codes into easy-to-understand categories. You can start using these immediately by simply adding them to the beginning of your prompts.
Response Style Commands: Control How ChatGPT Talks to You
These commands change how ChatGPT delivers information, making it perfect for your specific needs.
1. BRIEFLY – When you need quick answers without the fluff. Perfect for busy professionals who don’t have time to read paragraphs.
Example: “BRIEFLY explain how blockchain works”
2. JARGON – Makes ChatGPT use technical, expert-level language. Great for professionals who want industry-specific terminology.
Example: “JARGON: Explain the difference between REST and GraphQL APIs”
3. AUDIENCE – Adapts the response for specific readers like students, executives, or beginners.
Example: “AUDIENCE: senior citizens – Explain how to use Instagram”
4. ELI5 (Explain Like I’m 5) – The most popular code that breaks down complex topics into simple, easy language anyone can understand.
Example: “ELI5: What is quantum computing?”
5. TLDL (Too Long; Didn’t Listen) – Summarizes lengthy text into a few digestible lines. Perfect for condensing articles, reports, or transcripts.
Example: “TLDL: [paste long article text]”
6. TONE – Changes the writing style to match your needs—formal, casual, funny, dramatic, or professional.
Example: “TONE: friendly and conversational – Write an email to my team about deadline changes”
Formatting Commands: Structure Your Answers Perfectly
These codes tell ChatGPT exactly how to organize information for maximum clarity.
7. STEP-BY-STEP – Breaks down processes into clear, logical steps. Essential for tutorials and instructions.
Example: “STEP-BY-STEP guide to setting up a WordPress website”
8. CHECKLIST – Converts any information into an actionable checklist you can follow immediately.
Example: “CHECKLIST for launching a new product”
9. EXEC SUMMARY – Delivers concise, executive-style overviews perfect for business reports and presentations.
Example: “EXEC SUMMARY of quarterly sales performance”
10. FORMAT AS – Forces output in specific formats like tables, JSON, bullet points, or numbered lists.
Example: “FORMAT AS table: Compare features of iPhone 15 vs Samsung S24”
11. SCHEMA – Creates structured outlines and data models, ideal for planning and organization.
Example: “SCHEMA for a customer database system”
12. BEGIN WITH / END WITH – Controls exactly how responses start or finish, perfect for presentations or emails.
Example: “BEGIN WITH a surprising statistic / END WITH a call to action: Write about climate change”
Role-Playing Commands: Make ChatGPT Become the Expert You Need
These commands transform ChatGPT into different professionals or personas.
13. ACT AS – The most versatile command that makes ChatGPT respond as any role or character.
Example: “ACT AS a nutritionist – Create a meal plan for weight loss”
14. DEV MODE – Responds like a hands-on software engineer with technical depth.
Example: “DEV MODE: Debug this Python code”
15. PM MODE – Adds a project manager’s perspective with focus on timelines and deliverables.
Example: “PM MODE: Create a project plan for mobile app development”
Analysis Commands: Get Deeper Insights and Comparisons
When you need critical thinking and evaluation, these commands deliver.
16. SWOT – Creates comprehensive strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis.
Example: “SWOT analysis for starting an online tutoring business”
17. COMPARE – Shows two or more options side by side with clear differences.
Example: “COMPARE electric cars vs hybrid cars”
18. MULTI-PERSPECTIVE – Presents multiple viewpoints simultaneously, great for understanding complex issues.
Example: “MULTI-PERSPECTIVE analysis of remote work”
19. PARALLEL LENSES – Examines topics from several different angles at once.
Example: “PARALLEL LENSES: Analyze AI impact from economic, ethical, and technological perspectives”
20. METRICS MODE – Uses data, measurements, and KPIs in answers for quantitative insights.
Example: “METRICS MODE: Evaluate social media campaign performance”
21. RISK-ANALYSIS – Lists risks, potential impact, and mitigation strategies.
Example: “RISK-ANALYSIS for expanding business internationally”
Advanced Reasoning Commands: For Complex Problem-Solving
These codes unlock ChatGPT’s deepest thinking capabilities.
22. CONTEXT STACK – Maintains multiple layers of context for complex, multi-part questions.
Example: “CONTEXT STACK: Remember I’m a beginner in Python, working on web development, with limited budget”
23. ROLE: TASK: FORMAT: – The ultimate structured prompt that defines role, objective, and output format.
Example: “ROLE: Career counselor / TASK: Create career transition plan / FORMAT: Step-by-step guide”
24. DELIBERATE THINKING – Slows down reasoning for more accurate, thoughtful responses.
Example: “DELIBERATE THINKING: Solve this complex math problem”
25. FIRST PRINCIPLES – Breaks problems down to fundamental truths and builds up from there.
Example: “FIRST PRINCIPLES: Explain how airplanes fly”
26. CHAIN OF THOUGHT – Shows transparent reasoning steps so you understand the logic.
Example: “CHAIN OF THOUGHT: Calculate the ROI of this investment”
Quality Control Commands: Ensure Accuracy and Depth
These commands help you get more reliable, well-thought-out responses.
27. REFLECTIVE MODE – Makes ChatGPT review and improve its own answer.
Example: “REFLECTIVE MODE: Is this marketing copy effective?”
28. SYSTEMATIC BIAS CHECK – Identifies potential biases in reasoning or content.
Example: “SYSTEMATIC BIAS CHECK: Review this hiring policy”
29. NO AUTOPILOT – Forces thoughtful, non-generic answers instead of standard responses.
Example: “NO AUTOPILOT: Give me unique content marketing ideas”
30. EVAL-SELF – Prompts ChatGPT to critique and improve its own response.
Example: “EVAL-SELF: How could this article be better?”
31. PITFALLS – Points out possible mistakes, risks, or things to avoid.
Example: “PITFALLS: What could go wrong with this business strategy?”
32. GUARDRAIL – Sets clear boundaries and limits for responses.
Example: “GUARDRAIL: Focus only on legal and ethical solutions”
33. PROMPT-TUNE – Asks ChatGPT to improve your prompt for better results.
Example: “PROMPT-TUNE: How can I ask about social media strategy better?”
Content Enhancement Commands: Make Output More Useful
These codes add valuable elements to responses.
34. EXAMPLES – Provides three concrete, practical examples to illustrate concepts.
Example: “EXAMPLES: Show me how successful companies use email marketing”
35. SOURCES – Lists credible references with citations for fact-checking.
Example: “SOURCES: Provide information about climate change with references”
36. FAQ – Creates clear, simple frequently asked questions with short answers.
Example: “FAQ: Create common questions about cryptocurrency”
Content Transformation Commands: Repurpose and Rewrite
Perfect for content creators and marketers.
37. REWRITE AS – Rephrases text in a completely different style or voice.
Example: “REWRITE AS a casual blog post: [paste formal text]”
Productivity Commands: Get Things Done Faster
These commands help with planning and task management.
38. PRIORITIZE – Ranks tasks by impact and effort, highlighting the top three priorities.
Example: “PRIORITIZE these 10 tasks for my product launch”
39. TIMEBOX – Breaks plans into timed tasks with realistic deadlines.
Example: “TIMEBOX: Create a schedule for writing a 50-page report”
40. NEXT-ACTIONS – Suggests your next three concrete steps with owners and deadlines.
Example: “NEXT-ACTIONS: What should I do after finishing website design?”
Technical Commands: For Developers and Coders
Specialized commands for programming tasks.
41. CODE-TRANSLATE – Converts code between programming languages accurately.
Example: “CODE-TRANSLATE: Convert this Python code to JavaScript”
42. TEST-CASES – Creates unit tests with inputs and expected results.
Example: “TEST-CASES: Generate tests for this login function”
How to Actually Use These Codes (With Real Examples)
The beauty of these commands is their simplicity. Just add them to the beginning of your prompt, followed by a colon, and then your actual question.
Basic format:[CODE]: [Your question or request]
Example 1: Learning Something New
Instead of: “Explain blockchain to me”
Try: “ELI5: Explain blockchain”
Result: You’ll get a simple, jargon-free explanation anyone can understand.
Example 2: Professional Content
Instead of: “Write an email about our meeting”
Try: “TONE: professional / FORMAT AS: bullet points – Summarize our meeting decisions”
Result: You’ll get a properly formatted, business-appropriate email.
Example 3: Deep Analysis
Instead of: “What are the pros and cons of remote work?”
Try: “SWOT analysis of implementing remote work policy”
Result: You’ll get a structured analysis with strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
Pro Tips for Maximizing These Commands
Combine Multiple Codes – Don’t limit yourself to one command. You can stack them for powerful results.
Example: “ACT AS a marketing expert / TONE: casual / FORMAT AS checklist: Create social media strategy”
Be Specific – Even with codes, providing context improves results. Mention your industry, experience level, or specific constraints.
Experiment and Iterate – If the first response isn’t perfect, refine your prompt or ask ChatGPT to revise using commands like EVAL-SELF or REFLECTIVE MODE.
Save Your Favorites – Keep a personal list of the codes you use most frequently for quick reference.
Test Different Variations – Some codes work better for certain types of questions. Don’t be afraid to try different approaches.
Why These Simple Codes Make Such a Big Difference
ChatGPT is trained on massive amounts of text, but it needs clear direction to give you exactly what you want. Think of these codes as a shared language between you and the AI—they eliminate ambiguity and set clear expectations.
Research shows that well-structured prompts can improve AI output quality by up to 18 F1 points in performance benchmarks. More importantly, they save you time by reducing the back-and-forth needed to get useful answers.
These commands work because they tap into how large language models process information. By providing structure, role definition, and output format upfront, you help ChatGPT understand not just what you’re asking, but how you want the answer delivered.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Being Too Vague – Even with codes, you need to provide enough information. “ELI5: business” is too broad. Try “ELI5: How does a business make profit from selling products?”.
Ignoring Context – ChatGPT remembers your conversation. Build on previous responses instead of starting fresh every time.
Expecting Perfection – These codes dramatically improve results, but ChatGPT isn’t perfect. Always review and fact-check important information.
Overcomplicating Prompts – Sometimes simpler is better. Don’t use five codes when one will do.
The Bottom Line: Start Using These Today
You don’t need to memorize all 42 codes right away. Start with the five most practical ones for everyday use:
- ELI5 – For understanding complex topics
- TONE – For adjusting writing style
- STEP-BY-STEP – For instructions and processes
- COMPARE – For making decisions between options
- CHECKLIST – For actionable task lists
Bookmark this post and experiment with one or two new codes each week. Within a month, you’ll be using ChatGPT more effectively than 99% of users.
These aren’t secret codes locked away—they’re simple techniques that transform ChatGPT from a basic chatbot into your personal AI assistant. The only question is: what will you create with these new superpowers?
Your turn: Which of these 42 codes will you try first? The smarter you prompt, the smarter ChatGPT becomes. Start experimenting today and watch your productivity soar.
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