Skip to main content Tom's Guide Tom's Guide Search Tom's Guide View Profile Newsletters Best Picks Entertainment Memorial Day sales Switch 2 Pre-Orders Best laptops Best Mattress Wordle Today Recommended reading This tiny prompt change makes ChatGPT way more useful — here’s how I write about AI for a living — here's my top 5 ChatGPT prompt tips The #1 mistake people make when using ChatGPT — and how to fix it I test ChatGPT for a living — 5 game-changing prompts to try next I wasn’t sold on ChatGPT — until I tried these 5 prompts Level up your ChatGPT use with these 6 practical and creative prompts 5 mind-blowing ChatGPT prompts you’ll wish you knew sooner The ‘3-word rule’ that makes ChatGPT give expert-level responses Amanda Caswell 27 May 2025 Add three words, get better results When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Shutterstock) ChatGPT can do a lot. It can be used to write essays, summarize meetings and even act as your therapist in a pinch. But if you’re still struggling to get personalized responses that go beyond the bland or overly basic, the problem might not be the AI. It could be your prompt. That’s where the “3-word rule” comes in — a super-simple prompt tweak that can take your chatbot from surface-level answers to something that feels custom, thoughtful and expert-level. You may like This tiny prompt change makes ChatGPT way more useful — here’s how I write about AI for a living — here's my top 5 ChatGPT prompt tips The #1 mistake people make when using ChatGPT — and how to fix it What is the 3-word rule? (Image credit: Petar Chernaev / Getty Images) No, the three little words are not “I love you” — but it doesn’t hurt to be polite. The concept is simple: Add a short, three-word directive to your prompt that tells ChatGPT how to respond. These three words can instantly shape the tone, voice and depth of the output. You’re not rewriting your whole question. You’re just giving the AI a lens through which to answer. Here are a few examples that work surprisingly well: “Like a lawyer” — for structured, detailed and logical responses Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. “Be a teacher” — for simplified, clear and educational explanations “Act like Hemingway” — for punchy, minimalist writing with impact It’s kind of like casting the AI in a role, and then you're directing the performance with the specifics in your prompts. Why it works (Image credit: Shutterstock) ChatGPT has been trained on a massive variety of writing styles and professional voices. When you give it a short cue — something like“like a professor" — it taps into that persona and shifts its tone accordingly. That one tweak can turn a vague summary into something polished, insightful and audience-appropriate. The 3-word rule is especially helpful when: You want a response tailored to a specific audience You need a certain tone, like persuasive or technical You’re trying to avoid generic, shallow replies It’s a lightweight form of prompt engineering that makes a big difference; no jargon or prompt-hacking required. Prompts to try (Image credit: Shutterstock) Need a few starter ideas? These formats work across writing, research, translation and even creative tasks: “Summarize this article like a journalist” “Explain dark matter like a professor” “Give feedback like a mentor” “Write a poem like a songwriter” “Translate this message like a diplomat” You can swap in almost any role or voice that fits your needs: CEO, therapist, designer, coach, teenager or just about anyone else. The more specific, the better. Each tweak helps ChatGPT interpret your request through a more useful lens, and the difference in quality is often immediate. Final thoughts The 3-word rule isn’t magic, but it’s close. It’s one of the easiest ways to upgrade your prompts and get smarter, more human-like responses from AI. Whether you’re writing emails, building lesson plans or brainstorming your next novel, three extra words could make all the difference. More from Tom's Guide I tested Gemini 2.5 Pro vs Claude 4 Sonnet with the same 7 prompts — here’s who came out on top The only 5 prompt types you need to master ChatGPT (and any other chatbot) New to Google Gemini? Try these prompts to get started Back to Laptops Intel Core i5 Intel Core i7 Storage Size Screen Size Refurbished Screen Type Showing 10 of 83 deals Apple 13" MacBook Air M4 (2025) $891.50Preorder Apple 15" MacBook Air M4 (2025) $1,599View Dell XPS 13 (2016) Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) $858.11View Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i ChromeBook Plus Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) $1,579.95View Apple 13" MacBook Air M4 (2025) Apple 15" MacBook Air M4 (2025) $1,068View Dell XPS 13 Plus (13.4-inch) $909.99View Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) $949.99View Amanda Caswell Social Links Navigation Amanda Caswell is an award-winning journalist, bestselling YA author, and one of today’s leading voices in AI and technology. A celebrated contributor to various news outlets, her sharp insights and relatable storytelling have earned her a loyal readership. Amanda’s work has been recognized with prestigious honors, including outstanding contribution to media. Known for her ability to bring clarity to even the most complex topics, Amanda seamlessly blends innovation and creativity, inspiring readers to embrace the power of AI and emerging technologies. As a certified prompt engineer, she continues to push the boundaries of how humans and AI can work together. Beyond her journalism career, Amanda is a bestselling author of science fiction books for young readers, where she channels her passion for storytelling into inspiring the next generation. A long-distance runner and mom of three, Amanda’s writing reflects her authenticity, natural curiosity, and heartfelt connection to everyday life — making her not just a journalist, but a trusted guide in the ever-evolving world of technology. 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This tiny prompt change makes ChatGPT way more useful — here’s how I write about AI for a living — here's my top 5 ChatGPT prompt tips The #1 mistake people make when using ChatGPT — and how to fix it I test ChatGPT for a living — 5 game-changing prompts to try next I wasn’t sold on ChatGPT — until I tried these 5 prompts Level up your ChatGPT use with these 6 practical and creative prompts Latest in AI Google I/O showed off AI done right — hopefully, Apple was paying attention Apple has gotten in the way of its own AI rollout — here’s how it can get Apple Intelligence back on track I ditched Google for Perplexity for a month — and I don't think I can go back I'm not handing control of my wallet to an AI — and not even Google's AI shopping features can change that I test AI for a living — and ChatGPT is still missing these 5 key features Google’s $249/month AI video tool is incredible — but this one feature left me frustrated Latest in Features I played Call of Duty on AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 — and this GPU could steal the mid-range crown from Nvidia’s RTX 5070 I test smartwatches for a living — and these are my 5 favorite models when I go hiking I spent 96 hours with the Ringconn Gen 2 Air — 5 things I liked, 2 things I didn’t I'm a personal trainer — here's 3 hip-opening exercises to reduce stiffness and boost lower-body mobility I tried the Supcase MagFlip Stand and it’s ruined all other MagSafe wallets I’ve used — here’s why I borrowed the EV Hummer to visit my mom - and the drive almost ruined Mother's Day LATEST ARTICLES Best Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge cases in 2025 No, not push-ups — strengthen your pecs with a pair of dumbbells and these 4 exercises Recreate a Sheraton Hotel experience in your bedroom for under $2,000 in this year's Memorial Day sales Tempur-Pedic's Memorial Day sale just got exciting — save up to $1,300 with the adjustable base bundle I test bedding for a living — the one pillow I recommend for all sleep styles is on sale for Memorial Day Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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