Prompt Modifiers Reference Guide
38 single-word directives that transform any GenAI output – Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini
Prompt Modifiers are single-word or short-phrase directives that instantly reconfigure GenAI output – changing tone, structure, depth, and audience calibration without rewriting the entire prompt. This reference guide organises 38 modifiers into six functional categories, provides executive-ready examples for each, and demonstrates chaining patterns that compound their effect. These directives are tool-agnostic and work across Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini. The bottom line: mastering even five modifiers will measurably improve the quality, speed, and precision of every GenAI interaction you have.
The 38 Prompt Modifiers
Each modifier functions as a precision directive. Append it to any prompt, use it as a follow-up instruction, or chain multiple modifiers for compound analytical workflows. Organised by functional category for rapid selection.
Explain using basic, concrete, child-friendly terms. Eliminates all abstraction.
Explain intuitively for an intelligent 10-year-old. No jargon but retains conceptual integrity.
Explain for a high-school senior – simple but technically correct. Good for mixed audiences.
Convert to Grade 7–8 reading level while remaining professional. Ideal for public-facing communications.
Remove all acronyms, buzzwords, and complex terminology. Leaves only clear, accessible language.
Begin by defining all essential terms before explaining the concept. Prevents assumed knowledge.
Describe visually, as if drawing on a whiteboard with shapes, arrows, and spatial relationships.
Explain using scenario-based, real-world illustrations only – no theory, no abstraction.
Compress the entire concept into one clean, precise sentence. The ultimate clarity test.
Turn the concept into a strong, intuitive metaphor for instant understanding and retention.
Provide a one-paragraph summary of the core message immediately. The executive brief generator.
Bottom Line Up Front – state the conclusion and recommendation first, then provide supporting details.
Synthesise into a high-level overview suitable for DM/C-suite review. Strategic implications only.
Condense the value proposition into a persuasive narrative of ~75 words (under 30 seconds).
Focus on the strategic big picture, omitting all granular tactical details.
Organise into Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive categories. The McKinsey structuring principle.
Structure analysis using Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control. The Six Sigma backbone.
Map Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats in a four-quadrant structure.
Apply the 80/20 principle – identify the vital few causes driving the majority of the effect.
Strip away all assumptions and rebuild from fundamental truths. The Elon Musk reasoning method.
Assume the project has already failed. Work backward to identify what went wrong and why.
Structure a quantified trade-off analysis with explicit costs, benefits, risks, and a recommendation.
Force visible step-by-step reasoning. Reveals the logic path, making errors auditable.
Argue the strongest possible opposing case. Stress-tests assumptions and surfaces blind spots.
Respond with probing questions rather than answers. Forces deeper thinking before conclusions.
Structure as Situation, Task, Action, Result. Ideal for evidence-based narratives and case studies.
Break into numbered sequential instructions. Reduces cognitive load on complex processes.
Restructure the response into a structured table. Converts prose into scannable data.
Extract only the specific next steps someone can execute immediately. No background, no theory.
Restructure as a series of anticipated questions and direct answers. Pre-empts stakeholder objections.
Add domain-specific terminology to elevate precision for a technical audience. The inverse of Plain Language.
Convert any prose, paragraph, or narrative into a clean structured list with consistent hierarchy.
Rewrite in the style of a specified format, voice, or institutional convention.
Project the concept forward 3“5 years. Explore implications, trends, and second-order effects.
Describe how to represent this information visually – chart type, layout, data mapping, and labels.
Provide a structured critical review identifying weaknesses, gaps, logical flaws, and missing perspectives.
What's In It For You? Reframe the message through the audience's self-interest and priorities.
Generate the 10 toughest questions a sceptical executive would ask. Pre-empt due diligence challenges.
Modifier Chaining Patterns
Single modifiers are effective. Chained sequences are transformative. Stack modifiers in a single prompt session to create compound analytical workflows that build on each other's output.
Board Briefing Pipeline
CRITIQUE → Identify weaknesses in the narrativeWIIFY? → Reframe for the board's prioritiesBLUF → Lead with the decision neededTL;DR → Compress to a three-sentence briefProcess Improvement Sequence
DMAIC → Structure the improvement initiativePARETO → Isolate the critical 20% of wasteVISUALIZE# → Render as a value stream mapACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS → Extract the top three interventionsMulti-Audience Communication
JARGONIZE → Version for the CISOELI10 → Version for the all-handsPASTICHE → Version in TB memo styleELEVATOR PITCH → Version for the DM hallwayRisk & Decision Analysis
PRE-MORTEM → Identify what could go wrongDEVIL'S ADVOCATE → Challenge the assumptionsCOST-BENEFIT → Quantify the trade-offsSTAR METHOD → Package as evidence narrativeWhen to Use Which Modifier
Quick decision matrix mapping 12 common executive situations to the optimal modifier or chain. Start here if you know what you need to accomplish but not which modifier to reach for.
| Situation | Recommended Approach | Why This Works |
|---|---|---|
| Preparing a board briefing | BLUF + WIIFY? | Leads with the decision and calibrates to board priorities |
| Reviewing a vendor proposal | CRITIQUE + INTERROGATE | Surfaces hidden risks and generates due diligence questions |
| Explaining AI to non-technical leaders | ELI10 + METAPHOR MODE | Reduces complexity while keeping engagement high |
| Structuring a process improvement | DMAIC + PARETO | Framework-driven analysis with 80/20 focus |
| Writing for multiple audiences | PASTICHE N audiences | Same source content, different institutional voices |
| Strategic planning workshop | FIRST PRINCIPLES + PRE-MORTEM | Strips assumptions, then stress-tests the resulting plan |
| Converting meeting notes to actions | LISTIFY + ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS | Structures the raw notes, then extracts executable next steps |
| Building a business case | COST-BENEFIT + STAR METHOD | Quantifies the decision and packages the evidence narrative |
| Minister's hallway encounter | ELEVATOR PITCH | 75 words, 30 seconds, full value proposition |
| Stakeholder change resistance | WIIFY? + FAQ STYLE | Addresses "what about me?" then pre-empts common objections |
| Making a complex decision auditable | CHAIN OF THOUGHT + TABLE FORMAT | Visible reasoning path in a structured, reviewable format |
| Forecasting long-term implications | FUTURIZE + DEVIL'S ADVOCATE | Projects forward then challenges the optimistic assumptions |
Platform Compatibility
All 38 modifiers are tool-agnostic by design. This matrix highlights where each platform has particular strengths so you can calibrate expectations.
| Category | Claude | ChatGPT | Copilot | Gemini |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplification (ELI5“ELI18) | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Executive Summary (BLUF, TL;DR) | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Analytical (DMAIC, MECE, SWOT) | Excellent | Good | Fair | Good |
| Logic (Chain of Thought, Socratic) | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Transform (JARGONIZE, PASTICHE) | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Strategic (CRITIQUE, WIIFY?) | Excellent | Good | Fair | Good |
For specialised modifiers like DMAIC, MECE, or PRE-MORTEM, Claude and ChatGPT handle them natively. For Copilot or Gemini, pair the modifier with a brief definition on first use – for example: "MECE – organise into mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive categories." This one-time context primes the model for the pattern.
30-Second Quick Win
Try This Right Now
- Open your GenAI tool of choice (Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini)
- Paste any document, email, or report you received today
- Type:
TL;DR– review the summary - Follow up:
CRITIQUE– watch the analytical depth shift - Follow up:
WIIFY?for my CFO – note the audience recalibration - Follow up:
ELEVATOR PITCH– get the 30-second version
Four modifiers. Four fundamentally different outputs. Same source document. That is prompt modifiers in action.
Important Considerations
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Context Matters | Modifiers work best when paired with sufficient source material – paste the document, do not just describe it. The richer the input, the more precise the modified output. |
| Chaining Sequence | Order matters. Analytical modifiers (CRITIQUE, DMAIC) before synthesis modifiers (TL;DR, BLUF) produces better results than the reverse. |
| Platform Variation | Test each modifier on your primary platform first. Claude and ChatGPT handle framework terminology (DMAIC, MECE) natively; Copilot may need brief context on first use. |
| Confidential Content | Standard GenAI data handling policies apply. Use your organisation's approved platform for Protected B or sensitive material. Never paste classified content into a public GenAI tool. |
| Not Magic Words | These are prompt engineering patterns, not hidden features. They work because they activate specific reasoning modes in language models – not because of any special syntax. |
| Compound Returns | Modifier fluency is a skill that compounds. The more you use them, the faster you develop intuition for which modifier fits which situation – and when to chain them. |
The real value is not memorising 38 modifiers – it is internalising the principle that output structure is controlled by directive precision, not prompt length. A three-word follow-up often outperforms a 300-word initial prompt. Start with the five modifiers you will use daily – TL;DR, BLUF, CRITIQUE, WIIFY?, and STEP-BY-STEP – then expand from there.
Based on verified prompt engineering patterns tested across Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini in executive consulting and academic environments. Tool-agnostic by design.