You are likely working too hard on your prompts by treating the AI like a human instead of the powerful engine it actually is.
Most of us fall into the trap of writing long, conversational paragraphs to get ChatGPT to do what we want, but often that just leads to confusion and average outputs. I recently discovered a brilliant framework from a savvy Reddit user that completely flips this dynamic on its head. The original poster argues that top users don’t just chat; they steer the model using specific, capitalized command tags called Code Words.
This system is refreshing because it strips away the fluff. Instead of begging the AI to be concise or explaining a complex formatting requirement, you simply place a specific keyword at the very start of your prompt. The author created a massive library of 75 different code words that act as distinct cognitive gears for the AI. It works because it forces a transformation immediately. By using a standard format like CODEWORD: [Paste Text], you turn a vague request into an explicit operation.
Here is a breakdown of why this works and the best codes from the creator’s library to try immediately.
📌 The Mechanics of the Code Word
The genius behind this approach lies in how Large Language Models (LLMs) interpret instructions. The expert explains that ChatGPT isn’t usually confused by your request; it is simply under-directed. When you write casually, the model has too much freedom to guess your intent regarding tone, length, and format. A Code Word acts as a hard constraint.
When you start a prompt with CRITIQUE: or TLDR:, you are setting the boundary conditions before the model processes the rest of your input. This reduces randomness significantly. The creator notes that this single constraint cuts down on revision loops because the AI knows exactly what mode to operate in from the very first token. It is the difference between asking a friend to look over your work and hiring an editor to fix the grammar. The specificity drives the quality. You can even add secondary constraints after the code word, such as audience or format, but the heavy lifting is done by that single, capitalized tag.
✅ The Essential Code Word Library
The original poster compiled a comprehensive list of 75 words, categorized by what they achieve. I have selected the most high-impact ones from the author’s list that you can add to your workflow today. These are designed to be used exactly as written, in all caps.
For Clarity and Compression
Use these when you are drowning in text and need to surface the signal from the noise.
• TLDR: Asks for a short summary followed by key bullets. Perfect for long email chains.
• ELI5: Explain Like I’m 5. Uses simple stories to explain complex topics.
• ELI10: A slightly more mature version of the above, removing jargon without being childish.
• ONE-LINER: Forces the AI to reduce the entire input into a single sentence. Great for high-level overviews.
• DEJARGON: Specifically targets buzzwords and corporate speak to make the text human again.
For Structure and Organization
These tags help when you have the raw data but need a specific format.
• LISTIFY: Converts paragraphs into a clean, readable list.
• ACTIONS: Extracts only the action items from a text. This is invaluable for meeting transcripts.
• TIMELINE: Arranges events or steps into a chronological sequence with milestones.
• DECISION-TREE: Turns a process into logical if/then steps.
• PLAYBOOK: Converts a rough process into a repeatable Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
For Critical Thinking and Logic
This is where the author’s list shines. These tools force the AI to think harder before answering.
• CRITIQUE: Points out weaknesses in your argument and suggests fixes.
• REDTEAM: Actively attacks your idea like a skeptic. This is amazing for stress-testing business plans.
• STEELMAN: The opposite of a strawman argument; it builds the strongest possible case for the opposing view.
• BLINDSPOTS: Identifies exactly what you are missing or failing to consider.
• PREDICT: Asks the AI to look forward and analyze potential second-order effects or outcomes.
For Business and Strategy
• WIIFY: What’s In It For You. Rewrites text to focus entirely on value and stakeholder impact.
• OBJECTIONS: Generates a list of potential pushback you might receive, plus responses.
• PRE-MORTEM: (Implied by the Risks category) Helps you identify why a project might fail before you start.
• ONE-PAGER: Condenses a project into a single-page brief suitable for executives.
For Style and Tone
• STORYTIZE: Turns dry facts into a narrative with tension and payoff.
• DIRECT: Removes softness and hedging language to be decisive.
• PUNCH-UP: Adds energy, strong verbs, and clarity to a draft.
💡 Advanced Strategy: Stacking Codes
The most powerful takeaway from this expert’s guide is the concept of Stacking. You are not limited to just one code word. The author demonstrates that you can combine them to create complex, multi-step workflows in a single prompt.
For example, if you have a messy transcript from a brainstorming session, you wouldn’t just want a summary. You would use TLDR + ACTIONS. This tells the AI to first give you the high-level summary and then immediately list the things that need to be done.
Another brilliant combination suggested by the creator is CRITIQUE + PUNCH-UP. This is perfect for content creation. First, the AI analyzes your draft for logical weaknesses (Critique), and then it rewrites the content to be more engaging and energetic (Punch-Up). By stacking these, you are essentially asking the AI to act as both your strategic editor and your copywriter simultaneously.
Try this Stacking workflow specifically for your next meeting:
WIIFY + EXEC-SUMMARY: Paste your project update notes. This combination ensures the output is not just a summary of what happened, but is framed specifically around why it matters to the leadership team (WIIFY) and presented in a format they can digest in seconds (Exec-Summary).
This simple vocabulary shift from chatting to coding gives you immediate control over the output quality without needing to learn complex prompt engineering frameworks.
I highly recommend checking out the original thread to see the full list of 75 words and find the ones that fit your specific niche!
💡 FAQ & Troubleshooting
Is there hard data proving these code words work better than normal prompts?
While the guide does not provide external statistical studies, the methodology relies on “constraint-based prompting.” As noted in the post, AI models are often “under-directed” rather than confused. Using a specific code word transforms a vague natural language request into an explicit operation, designed to reduce randomness and eliminate the need for multiple revision loops.
How exactly should I format the prompt?
Place the code word in all caps at the very beginning of your message, followed by a colon and your content (e.g., DECIDE: [paste text]). You can also “stack” multiple codes to combine their effects into a single output, such as TLDR + LISTIFY + ACTIONS: [paste meeting notes].
Can I use these for creative or non-business tones?
Yes. Beyond standard professional outputs, you can use specific tags to alter the persona or entertainment value of the response. Examples provided include ROASTME (for savage critiques), SPICY-TLDR (for sassy summaries), and NPC-DIALOGUE (to rewrite explanations as video game characters).
Why use a “code word” instead of just asking politely?
Treating the AI like a person often leads to ambiguous results. These code words allow you to “steer it like a machine.” A single tag acts as a forcing function for a specific transformation—such as DEJARGON or STEELMAN—which creates immediate consistency that conversational language often misses.
Use these 75 ChatGPT Code Words to get great results instead of writing long prompts
byu/Beginning-Willow-801 in