Did you know that ChatGPT has something like a set of “secret commands” that can help you control how it answers?
They are not really secret, but most people don’t know that you can use simple keywords and phrases to tell ChatGPT how you want it to think, explain, analyze, or respond.
I use these keywords to get better and more useful answers instead of just asking a question and accepting the first response.
For example, if I want ChatGPT to be brutally honest, I use **TRUTHMODE**. If I want a simple explanation, I use **ELI5**. If I want it to find weaknesses in my idea, I use **DEVIL’S ADVOCATE**.
Here are some of the keywords and prompt commands I find most useful:
ChatGPT Prompt Keywords
Use these keywords or phrases to control how ChatGPT approaches your question, analyzes information, or formats its response.
| Keyword / Phrase | What It Does |
|---|---|
| TRUTHMODE | Give me the honest truth. Be direct, realistic, and constructive. No sugarcoating, flattery, or unnecessary reassurance. |
| ELI5 | Explain the topic in very simple terms, assuming I am a complete beginner. |
| TL;DR | Give me the shortest useful summary. Focus only on the key points. |
| DEEP DIVE | Provide a thorough and detailed analysis. Explore the topic from multiple angles, including important context and implications. |
| STEP-BY-STEP | Break the solution into clear, sequential steps that I can follow from beginning to end. |
| NO BS | Get straight to the point. Remove fluff, filler, and unnecessary explanations. |
| DEVIL’S ADVOCATE | Challenge the idea. Present the strongest counterarguments, weaknesses, risks, and reasons why the approach might fail. |
| CRITIQUE MODE | Analyze what is wrong, weak, unclear, ineffective, or improvable, then suggest specific improvements. |
| COMPARE | Compare two or more options side by side using the factors that actually matter. |
| PROS & CONS | Clearly list the main advantages and disadvantages of each option. |
| BEGINNER MODE | Assume I have little or no knowledge of the subject. Avoid unnecessary technical jargon. |
| EXPERT MODE | Give a more technical, sophisticated, and detailed response suitable for someone with advanced knowledge. |
| ACT AS [ROLE] | Approach the task from a specific professional perspective, such as “Act as an SEO expert” or “Act as a business consultant.” |
| FACT CHECK | Separate verified facts from assumptions, opinions, interpretations, and uncertain information. |
| RESEARCH MODE | Perform deeper research and, when appropriate, use reliable web sources to support the answer. |
| LATEST | Focus on the most current information available. Use web search when the topic may have changed recently. |
| NO HALLUCINATION | Do not guess or invent information. Clearly say when something is unknown, uncertain, or cannot be verified. |
| BE CONCISE | Keep the answer short, focused, and easy to scan while still answering the question properly. |
| FULLY ENGLISH | Respond entirely in English. |
| TAGLISH | Use a natural mix of Filipino and English. |
| NO EM DASH | Do not use the em dash character (—) in the response. |
| GIVE ME OPTIONS | Provide multiple possible approaches, versions, or solutions so I can choose. |
| RANK THEM | Rank the options from best to worst and briefly explain the reasoning behind the ranking. |
| ACTION PLAN | Turn the analysis into specific, practical actions I can actually execute. |
| PRIORITIZE | Identify what matters most and tell me what I should do first, second, and so on. |
| RED FLAGS | Look specifically for warning signs, risks, suspicious patterns, or potential problems. |
| WHAT AM I MISSING? | Identify blind spots, overlooked factors, unanswered questions, or things I may not have considered. |
| ASSUME NOTHING | Do not make unsupported assumptions. Ask for clarification or explicitly state what is unknown when necessary. |
💡 You Can Combine Keywords
These commands become even more powerful when combined.
Example:
TRUTHMODE + DEEP DIVE + ACTION PLAN
Analyze my business idea honestly, go deep into the weaknesses and opportunities, then give me a practical action plan.Or:
LATEST + FACT CHECK + NO HALLUCINATION
Tell me the latest information about this topic, verify the important claims, and don’t guess if something cannot be confirmed.
Or:
COMPARE + PROS & CONS + RANK THEM
Compare these three options, show the pros and cons, then rank them from best to worst.
🔥 The Most Useful Combination
For serious decisions, try:
TRUTHMODE + DEVIL’S ADVOCATE + WHAT AM I MISSING? + ACTION PLAN
This tells ChatGPT to:
Tell you the truth.
- Challenge your thinking.
- Find your blind spots.
- Turn the analysis into something you can actually do.
Tip: You don’t need to use these keywords exactly. You can combine them naturally in one prompt to tell ChatGPT exactly how you want it to think and respond.