A lot of people go looking for secret ChatGPT commands.
They don’t exist.
What actually improves your results isn’t a hidden feature. It’s how clearly you structure your instructions. Slash prompts are simply shortcuts that help guide tone, depth, and formatting.
They’re not magic. They’re formatting signals.
Below is a practical breakdown of the best ChatGPT commands, including one of the most useful (and most misunderstood): /HUMANIFY.
/HUMANIFY: Make the Text Sound More Natural and Human
If you create content regularly, this is one of the most valuable prompts you can use.
Writers use it. Marketers use it. Students use it.
How to write it
/HUMANIFY Rewrite this text: [paste text]
or
/HUMANIFY Make this blog post sound more natural and less robotic
What /HUMANIFY Actually Does
- Reduces stiff or repetitive phrasing
- Breaks predictable sentence patterns
- Improves rhythm and flow
- Adds smoother transitions
- Makes content feel less mechanical
It doesn’t change the substance. It changes the tone and texture.
When to Use It
- After generating SEO articles
- Before publishing blog posts
- For LinkedIn content
- For newsletters and email campaigns
- Anytime the text feels “technically correct” but emotionally flat
How to Use It Properly
The difference between average and excellent output is specificity.
Weak:
/HUMANIFY this
Strong:
/HUMANIFY this article for a professional audience. Keep authority but make it conversational. Reduce repetition.
Even better:
/HUMANIFY this for SaaS founders. Make it confident, slightly direct, and avoid generic phrasing.
You can also combine it:
/HUMANIFY and /SIMPLIFY this text for a startup founder audience
That combination improves tone and clarity at the same time.
Important Clarification
/HUMANIFY does not guarantee content will bypass AI detection tools.
It improves readability and natural tone.
It does not “hide” AI usage.
/ELI5: Explain Like I’m 5
/ELI5 Explain artificial intelligence
This forces simplification.
- Removes jargon
- Uses analogies
- Focuses on clarity over precision
It’s useful when you need to understand a complex idea quickly.
/ELI10: Clear but More Balanced
/ELI10 Explain how inflation works
This version is usually better for adults.
- Less childish
- More structured
- More technically accurate
For most topics, /ELI10 strikes the right balance between clarity and rigor.
/TLDR: Get a Short Summary
/TLDR Summarize this in 3 sentences
Always define the limit.
If you don’t specify length, the summary will often be longer than expected.
You can also request:
- Executive summary
- Bullet summary
- Critical summary
/LISTIFY: Turn Content into Bullet Points
/LISTIFY Benefits of content marketing
This improves scannability and structure.
For stronger results, add constraints:
- “Maximum 7 points”
- “Rank by importance”
- “Keep each point under 15 words”
The tighter the structure, the cleaner the output.
/STEP-BY-STEP: Create a Structured Action Plan
/STEP-BY-STEP in 6 steps: start a dropshipping business
This works best when you define:
- Number of steps
- Skill level
- Desired outcome
Example:
/STEP-BY-STEP in 7 steps for beginners: build a personal brand from scratch
Specificity transforms vague advice into a usable roadmap.
/CHECKLIST: Make It Executable
/CHECKLIST Website conversion audit
A checklist is different from a list.
Each item should be something you can verify or complete.
You can refine it with:
- “Quick checklist”
- “Advanced checklist”
- “For agency use”
/TEMPLATE: Generate a Ready-to-Use Model
/TEMPLATE Client onboarding email
Templates reduce friction.
To improve them, specify:
- Tone (formal, friendly, direct)
- Industry
- Length
- Context
The more context you provide, the less editing you’ll need later.
/SCRIPT: Produce Spoken-Ready Content
/SCRIPT 5-minute YouTube video about productivity
This adds:
- Natural transitions
- Verbal pacing
- Hook and closing
Ideal for creators, speakers, and educators.
/SIMPLIFY: Rewrite in Clearer Language
/SIMPLIFY Rewrite this paragraph
This removes jargon and shortens sentences.
It’s particularly useful for:
- Website copy
- Sales pages
- Technical documentation
- Professional emails
/ANALOGY: Explain Using Comparison
/ANALOGY Explain SEO
Analogies improve understanding and retention.
They work especially well for:
Just remember: analogies clarify concepts. They don’t replace full explanations.
How to Actually Get Better Results with ChatGPT Commands
The slash itself is not the advantage.
Precision is.
1. Define the Audience
Instead of:
/HUMANIFY this article
Write:
/HUMANIFY this article for SaaS founders. Keep authority but make it conversational.
The more clearly you define who it’s for, the better the output becomes.
2. Add Constraints
Specify:
- Word count
- Tone
- Level of complexity
- Structure
- Format
Constraints create clarity.
Clarity improves output.
3. Combine Commands
For example:
/STEP-BY-STEP in 7 steps: build a personal brand
Then /TLDR in 3 lines
Then /HUMANIFY the full response
Layering prompts creates structured, polished results.
Are These Official ChatGPT Features?
No.
They:
- Do not unlock hidden modes
- Do not change the underlying model
- Do not guarantee factual accuracy
They simply structure your request.
And structured prompts consistently outperform vague ones.
