Claude Prompt Command Modifiers
These are prompt prefix conventions, not true slash commands. Claude has no built-in slash command parser — these work because you’re instructing the model in plain language. Think of them as shorthand prompting patterns.
Output Format & Length
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
/BRIEFLY | Forces a very short answer |
/TLDR | Summarizes a long text in a few lines |
/EXEC SUMMARY | Quick executive-style summary |
/CHECKLIST | Turns a response into a checklist |
/STEP-BY-STEP | Lays out reasoning step by step |
/FORMAT AS [format] | Enforces a specific format (table, XML, JSON, Markdown, etc.) |
/SCHEMA | Generates a structured outline or data model |
/BEGIN WITH / END WITH [text] | Forces the response to start or end with something specific |
/EXPAND | Go deeper on a topic or section |
/CONDENSE | Make an existing response shorter without losing meaning |
/TRANSLATE [language] | Translate content to another language |
Persona & Tone
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
/ACT AS [role] | Makes Claude speak in a specific role |
/TONE [style] | Changes the tone — formal, witty, empathetic, blunt, etc. |
/DEV MODE | Simulates a raw, technical developer style |
/PM MODE | Gives a project-management perspective |
/JARGON | Asks Claude to use domain-specific technical vocabulary |
/ELI5 | Explain Like I’m 5 — simplifies for a lay audience |
/AUDIENCE [type] | Adapts the response to a specific audience |
/REWRITE AS [style] | Rephrases content in a requested style |
/ANALOGIZE | Explain using analogies |
Analysis & Reasoning
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
/COMPARE | Puts two or more things side by side |
/PROS AND CONS | Simple pros/cons breakdown — distinct from SWOT |
/SWOT | Produces a Strengths / Weaknesses / Opportunities / Threats analysis |
/MULTI-PERSPECTIVE | Shows several points of view |
/PARALLEL LENSES | Examines a topic from multiple angles simultaneously |
/COUNTERARGUMENT | Steelman the opposing position |
/DEVIL'S ADVOCATE | Argue against the stated position |
/FIRST PRINCIPLES | Rebuilds reasoning from fundamental basics |
/CHAIN OF THOUGHT | Shows intermediate reasoning steps |
/SOCRATIC | Use the Socratic method — guide via questions rather than answers |
/TIMELINE | Present events or steps as a chronological timeline |
/SYSTEMATIC BIAS CHECK | Asks Claude to identify potential biases in the response |
Quality & Self-Evaluation
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
/REFLECTIVE MODE | Prompts Claude to reflect on and critique its own answer |
/EVAL-SELF | Asks for a critical self-evaluation of the response |
/CRITIQUE | Critically evaluate the thing provided |
/DELIBERATE THINKING | Forces slower, more methodical reasoning — less pattern-matching |
Structured Prompting
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
/ROLE: [role] TASK: [task] FORMAT: [format] | Explicitly defines all three dimensions of the prompt in one shot |
Last updated: April 2026