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A free guide by Mariah Brunner ↗ INSTAGRAM ↗ TIKTOK

10 Secret Words That
Make Claude 10x Better

I use these every day. Add any of them to a prompt and the output gets sharper. Full copy-paste cheat sheet at the bottom.

Each word below changes how Claude answers. Under each one is a full prompt you can copy, fill in the [brackets] and send. They work in ChatGPT and Gemini too, except ultrathink, which is a Claude Code thing.

The 10 Words

01

“No preamble”

Stops the "Great question! I’d be happy to help!" warm-up and gets straight to the answer. Two words, instantly cleaner output.

Try It
No preamble. Write a cold email to [name, title] at [company] about [what I sell]. They care about [their likely priority]. Under 120 words, one clear ask for a 15-minute call, and a subject line under 6 words.

02

“Ultrathink”

This one depends on where you type it. In Claude Code, typing ultrathink raises that one turn to deeper reasoning (Claude Code docs). In the regular Claude app, the dial is Effort instead. Click the model name next to the send button, open Effort, and pick High, Extra high or Max for anything complex or high-stakes. (How effort works)

Try It
[Set Effort to High or Max first, or type ultrathink if you're in Claude Code.] Review the attached contract as if you were my lawyer. Flag every clause that could hurt me, quote it exactly with the section number, explain the risk in plain English, and suggest the change I should ask for. End with the 3 clauses I should push back on first. Note anything a real lawyer should double-check.

03

“No yapping”

Even blunter than the first one. It strips the pleasantries, the "here are some considerations" and any explanation you didn’t ask for, so you get only the thing you asked for.

Try It
No yapping. What's the best CRM for a [5]-person [sales] team under [$50] per user per month? Give me your top pick, one runner-up, and one line each on why. Check current pricing on each company's site and tell me if you couldn't.

04

“Be brutal”

Claude leans polite. This gets you the honest take on your resume, your pitch, your writing or your business idea, without the sugarcoating.

Try It
Be brutal. Here's my resume and the job I'm applying for: [paste both]. You're the hiring manager with 200 applications. Tell me the top 5 reasons you'd pass on me, ranked, and the exact fix for each. Don't soften anything and don't praise what works.

05

“Steelman this”

Claude builds the strongest possible version of an argument. Use it on your own rough pitch to make it airtight, or on the side you disagree with so you finally understand it.

Try It
Steelman this. [Paste my rough pitch or proposal.] Rewrite it as the strongest, most persuasive version it can honestly be, for [audience]. Then list the 2 objections it still can't answer, so I can prepare for them.

06

“Devil’s advocate”

Claude argues against you on purpose and pokes holes in your plan. The feedback you need that nobody around you wants to give.

Try It
Play devil's advocate. Here's my plan to [launch a new product line / change jobs / raise prices]: [details]. Argue against it as hard as you can. Give me the 5 biggest ways this fails, how likely each one is, and what I'd see early if it's starting to happen.

07

“Think step by step”

The newest Claude models already think before every answer, so this phrase matters less than it used to. Where it still helps is getting the steps laid out in the answer, so you can check the logic on money, hiring or comparison decisions.

Try It
Think step by step. Should I hire a full-time employee or a contractor for [role]? My budget is [$X], I need [hours/week], and the work is [ongoing / project-based]. Lay out the key factors as a short numbered list, compare the true cost of each option, then give me your recommendation in one sentence.

08

“ELI5”

Explain Like I’m 5. It breaks anything complex into the simplest terms. Use it on leases, medical results, tax forms, financial statements, anything that feels overwhelming.

Try It
ELI5. What does this clause in my lease actually mean? [Paste clause.] Explain it in plain words, give me a real-life example of when it would matter, and tell me what question I should ask my landlord. If it's the kind of thing a lawyer should look at, say so.

09

“Roast this”

Like be brutal, but for creative work. Claude tears it apart so you can see what’s weak and fix it fast.

Try It
Roast this. [Paste my landing page copy, email or LinkedIn post.] Be funny but specific: quote the worst lines and say why they don't work. Then rewrite the opening line 3 ways that would actually stop someone scrolling.

10

“One paragraph only”

Claude drops the lists, headers and sections and gives you one tight paragraph. Use it when you need a fast answer, not an essay.

Try It
One paragraph only. Explain what a cap table is and why it matters for an early-stage startup founder. Use one simple example with real-looking numbers.
The Full Cheat Sheet

All 10 in one block. Copy it into your notes or a Claude Project’s instructions so you always have it.

All 10 Secret Words
"No preamble": skip the intro, just answer. "Ultrathink": deeper reasoning in Claude Code. In the Claude app, raise Effort instead. "No yapping": zero filler. Only the answer. "Be brutal": real, honest feedback. No sugarcoating. "Steelman this": build the strongest possible version of this argument. "Devil's advocate": argue against me. Find every weakness. "Think step by step": lay out the key steps so I can check the logic. "ELI5": explain this like I'm 5. Simplest terms possible. "Roast this": tear this apart so I can improve it. "One paragraph only": no lists, no headers. One tight paragraph.

Stack Them

They work even better together. This one gives you a sharp critique in a few sentences.

Stacked Prompt
No preamble. Be brutal. One paragraph only. Here's an email I'm about to send to [who]: [paste email]. What's wrong with it? Name the single biggest problem first, then the fix, then rewrite the first sentence.