Despite the growing use of AI technologies like ChatGPT for a wide range of daily tasks — from writing articles and summarizing meetings to seeking psychological advice — some users still find it difficult to receive accurate and personalized responses that go beyond superficiality or repetition.
In this context, the “Three-Word Rule” stands out as a smart and simple tool that can make a noticeable difference in the quality and tone of outputs, whether for professional or creative purposes.
What is the Three-Word Rule?
The rule is simply based on adding a three-word directive to your ChatGPT prompt, giving it a clear framework for responding in a particular tone, writing style, or professional perspective. You don’t need to rephrase your question or complicate the language — just insert a short phrase like: “like a lawyer,” “be a teacher,” or “act like a poet”—and” it will encourage the AI to deliver deeper, more specialized answers.
For example:
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“Like a lawyer” leads to organized and logical responses.
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“Be a teacher” generates simplified and clear explanations.
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“Act like a poet” results in powerful and expressive texts.
Why does this method work?
The success of this rule lies in ChatGPT’s ability to simulate various writing styles and professional voices, thanks to its training on massive volumes of text and language patterns.
Once it is guided by a short phrase like “like a university professor,” its tone and style automatically shift to reflect that role, offering users a reply closer to what a human expert in that field might provide.
This rule is especially useful when:
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Targeting a specific audience
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Using a defined tone (e.g., persuasive, educational, technical)
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Avoiding generic or shallow answers
Examples of Effective Prompts
You can apply the rule in a variety of ways to suit different goals — from writing to translation to creative analysis. Some popular examples include:
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“Summarize like a journalist”
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“Explain like a professor”
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“Give feedback like a mentor”
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“Write a poem like a songwriter”
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“Translate like a diplomat”
The more specific and well-defined the persona, the more effective the results — such as a CEO, psychologist, designer, coach, or even a teenager — adding a more human and realistic dimension to the reply.