Here are 50 essential prompting commands and pseudo-commands, similar to `/gold`, that you can use to get more structured, insightful, and high-quality responses from AI.
The list is organized into categories to help you find the right command for your goal . You can use them by typing the command at the start of your prompt (e.g., `/ELI5 What is a black hole?`).
🧠 Reasoning & Simplification
| # | Command | Description |
|—|———|————-|
| 1 | `/ELI5` | Explain a complex topic as if to a 5-year-old . |
| 2 | `/TLDR` | Summarize lengthy content into its most concise points . |
| 3 | `/STEP-BY-STEP` | Lay out the reasoning process step-by-step . |
| 4 | `/CHAIN OF THOUGHT` | Reveal the intermediate reasoning steps used to arrive at the answer . |
| 5 | `/FIRST PRINCIPLES` | Build an explanation from fundamental truths and basic concepts . |
🎭 Role & Audience
| # | Command | Description |
|—|———|————-|
| 6 | `/ACT AS [ROLE]` | Assume a specific persona or expert role . |
| 7 | `/DEV MODE` | Provide raw, technical, developer-style responses . |
| 8 | `/PM MODE` | Generate project management-focused outputs . |
| 9 | `/AUDIENCE [GROUP]` | Adapt the response for a specific audience, like students or executives . |
| 10 | `/TONE [STYLE]` | Switch the tone of the response (e.g., formal, witty, inspiring) . |
✍️ Writing & Formatting
| # | Command | Description |
|—|———|————-|
| 11 | `/EXEC SUMMARY` | Create a concise, professional executive summary . |
| 12 | `/CHECKLIST` | Convert advice or information into an actionable checklist . |
| 13 | `/FORMAT AS [FORMAT]` | Enforce a specific output format, like a table or JSON . |
| 14 | `/REWRITE AS [STYLE]` | Instantly change the writing style of provided text . |
| 15 | `/SCHEMA` | Generate a structured outline or a data model . |
⚖️ Analysis & Evaluation
| # | Command | Description |
|—|———|————-|
| 16 | `/SWOT` | Perform a quick analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats . |
| 17 | `/COMPARE` | Create a side-by-side comparison of two or more items . |
| 18 | `/MULTI-PERSPECTIVE` | Offer multiple diverse viewpoints on a single topic . |
| 19 | `/PITFALLS` | Identify potential traps, errors, or common mistakes . |
| 20 | `/METRICS MODE` | Analyze and present answers using specific KPIs and measures . |
🛡️ Self-Improvement & Critique
| # | Command | Description |
|—|———|————-|
| 21 | `/EVAL-SELF` | Prompt the AI to perform a critical self-evaluation of its own response . |
| 22 | `/REFLECTIVE MODE` | Encourage the AI to reflect on its answer and suggest refinements . |
| 23 | `/SYSTEMATIC BIAS CHECK` | Actively detect and identify potential biases in the response . |
| 24 | `/DELIBERATE THINKING` | Slow down the reasoning process for better accuracy on complex problems . |
| 25 | `/NO AUTOPILOT` | Instruct the AI to avoid superficial or generic responses and think more deeply . |
📋 Structure & Control
| # | Command | Description |
|—|———|————-|
| 26 | `/BEGIN WITH [TEXT]` | Force the response to start with a specific phrase or element . |
| 27 | `/END WITH [TEXT]` | Force the response to end with a specific phrase or element . |
| 28 | `/CONTEXT STACK` | Manage and maintain multiple layers of context for complex, multi-part topics . |
| 29 | `/GUARDRAIL` | Set strict boundaries for the topic or tone the AI should not cross . |
| 30 | `/PARALLEL LENSES` | Examine the issue from several different perspectives simultaneously . |
💡 Alternative Command Styles
– **Action Verbs:** You don’t always need a `/` command. Replacing weak verbs with clear action verbs is a highly effective form of prompting . For example, instead of “talk about,” you can use “**Analyze**,” “**Summarize**,” “**Compare**,” “**Predict**,” or “**Optimize**” .
– **Meta-Prompting:** This is the most advanced form of these commands. Instead of giving a direct instruction to the AI, you ask it to **write a perfect prompt for you** . For example, you could prompt: “Act as a Prompt Engineering Expert. Create a comprehensive prompt for [your task], ensuring it includes a role, clear instructions, and an output format.”
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You can combine these commands for powerful results . For instance, `/ACT AS project manager /PM MODE /CHECKLIST` would generate a project plan in a checklist format from a manager’s perspective.