If you’ve used ChatGPT before, you already know how helpful it can be for writing, studying, or even creating captions for social media. But here’s something most people don’t know, ChatGPT has secret codes that can make it respond faster, sound more human, and give you results that are easier to understand.
These hidden prompt commands can completely change how ChatGPT interacts with you. Instead of typing long sentences and hoping for the right answer, you canb use simple “codes” that guide ChatGPT on how to respond. And the best part is they're short, easy to remember, and surprisingly powerful.
Here are five secret ChatGPT commands you should know and how they can make your experience smoother, smarter, and more effective.
1. /human — Get Natural, Human-Like Answers
Typing '/human' before your prompt tells ChatGPT to sound more like a real person. This is perfect for people who want natural, relatable responses that don’t sound robotic.
For instance, if you type:
/human Write a caption for my food picture
ChatGPT will respond with something more engaging, like: “Still thinking about this jollof — 10/10 would eat again.”
This hidden code helps when you’re writing essays, blog posts, or captions for social media and want them to sound human and authentic. It also makes ChatGPT better at passing AI detectors that usually identify machine-written text.
2. TL;DR — The Shortcut for Instant Summaries
If you ever feel overwhelmed by long reports, articles, or PDFs, the TL;DR command is your shortcut. TL;DR stands for “Too Long; Didn’t Read.” When you type this before a prompt, ChatGPT will summarise the content quickly and clearly.
Example:
TL;DR Summarise this PDF on Nigerian fintech trends
ChatGPT instantly gives you a clear summary without missing key details. It’s one of the most practical ChatGPT shortcuts for students, journalists, and professionals who handle lengthy documents. You can also paste entire paragraphs of text, and ChatGPT will condense them into neat, digestible summaries.
3. ELI10 — Make Complex Topics Easy to Understand
Sometimes ChatGPT gives explanations that sound too technical or complicated. That’s where ELI10 comes in. It means “Explain Like I’m 10.” When you add ELI10 to your prompt, ChatGPT simplifies the topic so anyone can understand it.
Example:
ELI10 Explain how cryptocurrency works
Instead of giving a complex breakdown, ChatGPT will reply with something like:
“Cryptocurrency is digital money people use online, just like regular money but stored on computers.”
It’s ideal for learners, beginners, or anyone who wants to understand difficult subjects in plain English. You can also change the number, for instance, typing ELI5 makes it even simpler.
4. Jargonise — Sound Like an Expert Instantly
Now imagine you need to write something formal or technical, maybe a report or a professional email. The jargonisecommand does the opposite of ELI10. It makes ChatGPT use expert-level terms and sound more sophisticated.
Example:
jargonise Explain blockchain technology
ChatGPT will respond with a detailed explanation filled with technical accuracy and professional language. This is helpful for people in finance, law, tech, or academia who need refined, formal writing. It’s like switching ChatGPT into “expert mode.”
You can also use it to edit your work and make your writing sound more professional or academic.
5. LISTIFY — Organise Answers into Clean Lists
Tired of reading long, scattered paragraphs? Add LISTIFY to your prompt, and ChatGPT will format the response into a clear, well-structured list.
Example:
LISTIFY Ways to save money in Lagos
ChatGPT will return something like:
Cook at home instead of eating out.
Use public transport or ride-sharing apps.
Buy items in bulk.
Track your monthly expenses.
This hidden ChatGPT code is especially useful for content creators, students, and professionals who want well-organised results without extra editing. It’s also great for creating bullet points, blog outlines, and social media lists.
Bonus Tip: Combine Codes for Sharper Results
This is even more interesting, you can combine these ChatGPT codes to get smarter and more accurate results.
Example:
/human LISTIFY Best side hustles in Nigeria 2025
This tells ChatGPT to reply in a human-like tone and format the answers in a neat list. You’ll get ideas that sound natural and are easy to read, perfect for social media posts, blog articles, or quick brainstorming.
You can also mix ELI10 with LISTIFY if you want simplified explanations in a list form. These combinations make ChatGPT more adaptable and efficient, helping you get better-quality answers faster.
Smarter Prompts, Better Results
The truth is, ChatGPT can do much more than most people think. With these simple secret commands, you can guide ChatGPT to give you exactly the kind of response you want and make your daily work smoother and more productive.
So the next time you open ChatGPT, try one of these secret commands and watch how your results transform instantly.