Most people use ChatGPT by typing a question and hoping for the best.
Power users do something different. They add a few simple prompt shortcuts that change how ChatGPT responds. Instead of writing long instructions every time, they use short commands that act like "response modes."
Before you start, there's one important step.
These shortcuts are not built-in ChatGPT commands. You'll first need to define what they mean in your Custom Instructions (or another persistent instruction that ChatGPT will follow). Once you've done that, ChatGPT will remember their meanings.
That means you don't have to type a long paragraph of instructions every time—you can simply use the shortcut.
For example, define these mappings:
- x10 think → Think more deeply before answering.
- kill critic → Don't critique; just generate.
- alt 3 → Produce 3 different alternatives.
- /human → Write in a natural, human-sounding way.
- EL10 (or ELI10) → Explain it like I'm 10 years old.
Once these are defined, you can simply type the shortcut instead of repeating the full instruction.
Here are five of the most useful ones.
1. x10 think
Meaning: Think more deeply before answering.
Use this when the question has multiple trade-offs or requires careful reasoning.
Instead of giving the first reasonable answer, ChatGPT will spend more effort considering alternatives, assumptions, and edge cases before responding.
Example
x10 think: Should my startup focus on enterprise customers or SMBs?
This works well for:
- Business strategy
- Technical architecture
- Hiring decisions
- Complex planning
- Research and analysis
2. kill critic
Meaning: Generate ideas without stopping to judge them.
Normally, AI tries to filter and improve ideas as it writes. Sometimes that's helpful—but during brainstorming, it can limit creativity.
kill critic tells ChatGPT to focus on generation first and evaluation later.
Example
Kill critic. Give me 30 YouTube video ideas about AI agents.
This is especially useful for:
- Brainstorming
- Content ideas
- Product concepts
- Marketing campaigns
- Naming exercises
3. alt 3
Meaning: Produce three different alternatives.
Instead of receiving one answer, you'll get three distinct approaches.
Example
Write a LinkedIn hook. Alt 3.
You might receive:
- A curiosity-driven hook
- A data-driven hook
- A storytelling hook
This helps you compare different styles quickly without rewriting your prompt.
You can also use:
- alt 5
- alt 10
depending on how many options you want.
4. /human
Meaning: Write naturally, like a real person.
AI writing can sometimes sound robotic or overly polished.
Adding /human tells ChatGPT to make the writing feel more conversational, with natural flow and realistic phrasing.
Example
/human Rewrite this email.
This is useful for:
- Emails
- LinkedIn posts
- Blog articles
- Sales messages
- Social media captions
5. EL10 (or ELI10)
Meaning: Explain it like I'm 10 years old.
Instead of using technical language, ChatGPT explains ideas with simple words, analogies, and everyday examples.
Example
EL10: Explain vector databases.
Instead of discussing embeddings and nearest-neighbor search immediately, ChatGPT might compare a vector database to organizing toys by similarity instead of alphabetical order.
Perfect for learning:
- AI
- Programming
- Finance
- Science
- Business concepts
Combining Shortcuts
The real power comes from combining these shortcuts.
For example:
x10 think + alt 3
Think carefully, then provide three different solutions.
Or:
kill critic + alt 10
Generate ten creative ideas without evaluating them.
Or:
/human + x10 think
Provide a well-reasoned answer written in a natural, conversational tone.
Or:
EL10 + alt 3
Explain a concept in three different beginner-friendly ways.
Example Prompt
Instead of writing a long paragraph of instructions, you could simply write:
/human x10 think alt 3
Write a LinkedIn post explaining why AI agents will change knowledge work.
With just a few words, you've asked ChatGPT to:
- Think carefully before answering
- Write in a natural, human voice
- Produce three different versions
Final Thoughts
These prompt shortcuts aren't official ChatGPT commands. They're simply concise instructions that you define once and reuse whenever you need them.
After you've added them to your Custom Instructions, they become a lightweight shorthand for your preferred prompting style. Instead of repeatedly writing the same detailed guidance, you can trigger it with just a few words.
Over time, you'll probably create your own library of shortcuts for writing, coding, brainstorming, research, and strategic thinking—making every conversation with ChatGPT faster, more consistent, and more productive.
