This One ChatGPT Prompt Will Save You Time And Energy
Unlock ChatGPT's Critical Side with a Simple Trigger Word
If you've leaned on ChatGPT for everything from drafting emails to untangling complex thoughts, you've probably hit a familiar wall: the AI's tendency to agree with nearly everything you say. That constant validation might feel nice, but it rarely helps you refine an idea, spot flaws in your reasoning, or push past creative blocks.
There's a smarter way to engage with the tool—and it starts with a single word.
The "Trigger Word" Technique
Popularized by outlets like Tom's Guide and adopted by power users, this approach lets you toggle ChatGPT into a more rigorous, editorial mode on demand. Here's how it works:
At the start of a new chat session, give ChatGPT a one-time instruction like this:
> "Whenever I begin a prompt with '[your trigger word],' respond with direct, unfiltered feedback. Skip the compliments and hedging. Critique my logic, fact-check claims, highlight blind spots, and challenge assumptions."
You don't have to use "potato"—that's just a memorable example. Choose any word or phrase that sticks for you: "critique," "red pen," "devil's advocate," or "editor mode." The key is consistency.
Make It Stick Without Repetition
Rather than typing this setup every time, use ChatGPT's **Custom Instructions** feature (available to Plus subscribers and increasingly to free users). Add your trigger-word rule there once, and the model will retain it across future conversations. From then on, just type your chosen word at the start of a prompt—like "potato: Is my argument about remote work convincing?"—and you'll get a sharper, more analytical response.
When to Use It
This technique shines when you need honest feedback, not affirmation:
- **Work projects:** Stress-test a proposal before presenting it to leadership.
- **Creative writing:** Ask whether a character's motivation feels forced or a plot twist comes out of nowhere.
- **Personal decisions:** Challenge your own assumptions about a career move or major purchase.
- **Learning:** Push beyond surface-level explanations by asking the AI to poke holes in your understanding.
Less Fluff, More Insight
After years of iterative prompting, a clear pattern emerges: ChatGPT performs best when you're explicit about the *kind* of response you want. Vague prompts yield verbose, generic answers. Precise framing—especially with a built-in mode switch—delivers focused, actionable insight.
The trigger-word method cuts through the AI's default politeness layer and unlocks a more useful collaborator: one that doesn't just echo your thoughts, but helps you improve them.