ChatGPT not quite getting you? Try these 3 simple symbols

By Donya · 12 October 2026

You ask ChatGPT to write a customer reply. It comes back far too formal. You ask for a plan for your week. It fills the time you need for the school run.

Sound familiar? Try putting the job, the details and your preferences on separate lines. Three familiar keyboard symbols can help you do that: #, * and [ ].

1 Use # to separate the job from the details

Think of # as a label. Put it before a heading, with a space between the symbol and the words. Underneath, explain that part of your request.

For example, a dog groomer replying to an enquiry could type:

# What I need
Write a friendly reply to a customer asking
about a full groom.

# The details
A full groom costs £45.
I have an appointment on Thursday at 2pm.
Ask if they would like to book it.

Now the request includes the information needed to write a useful reply. The headings help keep the job and the details organised. Change the example price, service and appointment to your own.

2 Use * to list what matters to you

An asterisk followed by a space can start a bullet point. Put one requirement on each line. For that customer reply, you could add:

* Keep it under 80 words.
* Make it sound friendly and natural.
* Do not add any offers or services.

The same idea works for everyday jobs. Asking for dinner ideas? Add “* Use what I already have” and “* Each meal must take under 30 minutes”, then list your ingredients.

3 Use [ ] to save a request you can use again

Square brackets mark the details you need to change each time. This is useful for jobs you repeat, such as appointment reminders or customer follow-ups.

Write a friendly appointment reminder for
[customer name], booked for [service] on
[date] at [time]. Keep it under 50 words.

Save that message. Next time, replace each bracketed part with the actual details, then send it to ChatGPT. You have a reusable starting point.

Copy this for your next customer enquiry

This brings the three ideas together. Replace everything in square brackets before sending the message to ChatGPT.

# What I need
Write a reply to this customer enquiry.

# The customer asked
[Paste their message here]

# My business details
[Add the relevant service, price and availability]

# How I want it written
* Friendly and natural.
* Under 100 words.
* Use only the business details I have given you.
* If you need more information, ask me first.

# End by asking
[The question you want the customer to answer]

Check the reply before sending it. Save your request to use for the next enquiry.

Try it for a busy week too

You can use the same approach outside work. Give ChatGPT the jobs you need to do and the times that are already taken.

Help me make a realistic plan for this week.

# Jobs to fit in
[List your jobs and any deadlines]

# Times I am already busy
[Add work, appointments, school runs or other plans]

# What matters
* Leave space for meals and breaks.
* Do not put jobs in the times I am already busy.
* If everything will not fit, help me prioritise.
* Show the plan day by day.

Start with one job you need help with today. Explain what you need and add the relevant details. Ordinary sentences work too; the symbols simply help you organise your request.

Further reading: OpenAI’s prompting guidance explains how headings and lists can help organise a request.