Custom Instructions

Pro Feature

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Custom Instructions let you add personal rules that TalkTone follows every time it transforms your text. Think of them as a sticky note you attach to TalkTone saying "always do this" or "never do that."

Custom instructions work on top of your selected mode, style, formatting, and intensity. They are the final layer of control.

What Are Custom Instructions?

Custom instructions are short text rules you write in plain English. TalkTone reads them before every transformation and follows them alongside your other settings.

Example: If you type Always use British English spelling as a custom instruction, TalkTone will write "colour" instead of "color," "organise" instead of "organize," and so on -- regardless of which mode or style you have selected.

How to Set Custom Instructions

Click the TalkTone icon in the toolbar
Find the Custom Instructions text box
Type your instruction in plain English
Click Save
All future transformations will follow your instruction

tip

You can write multiple instructions at once. Put each rule on a new line for clarity.

10 Practical Custom Instruction Examples

Here are ready-to-use instructions you can copy and paste:

1. Language Preference

Always use British English spelling (colour, organise, centre).

What it does: Forces British spelling throughout all output.

Before: "The color of the organization's center logo..." After: "The colour of the organisation's centre logo..."

2. Name and Title

My name is Sarah Chen. Always sign emails as "Sarah Chen, Product Manager."

What it does: Adds your name and title to email sign-offs automatically.

3. Brevity Rule

Keep all output under 3 sentences. Be extremely concise.

What it does: Forces TalkTone to be brief regardless of how much you dictate.

Before (what you said): A long rambling explanation about a project update After: "The project is on track for Friday. Testing is complete. We're ready for deployment."

4. Avoid Certain Words

Never use the words "synergy," "leverage," "circle back," or "touch base."

What it does: Prevents corporate buzzwords from appearing in your output.

5. Audience Specification

My audience is non-technical executives. Avoid jargon and explain technical concepts simply.

What it does: Makes TalkTone simplify technical content for a non-technical audience.

Before: "We need to refactor the microservices architecture and implement a CI/CD pipeline." After: "We need to restructure our software systems and set up automated testing and deployment."

6. Formatting Preference

Always use bullet points instead of long paragraphs.

What it does: Forces TalkTone to structure output as bullet lists.

7. Tone Constraint

Never use exclamation marks. Keep the tone calm and measured.

What it does: Prevents overly enthusiastic output, which can happen with some styles.

8. Industry-Specific Language

I work in healthcare. Use HIPAA-compliant language. Never include specific patient names or identifiers in output.

What it does: Tailors output for healthcare professionals with compliance in mind.

9. Brand Voice

I write for a brand called "Nimbus." Our voice is playful, optimistic, and uses short sentences. Never sound corporate.

What it does: Makes all output match your brand's specific voice guidelines.

10. Meeting Notes Format

Format all output as meeting notes: start with "Attendees:" then "Key Decisions:" then "Action Items:" with checkboxes.

What it does: Structures dictation into a consistent meeting notes template.

Do's and Don'ts

✅ Do	❌ Don't
Write in plain, clear English	Use vague instructions like "make it better"
Be specific about what you want	Write contradictory rules
Keep each instruction to one rule	Write a full essay as an instruction
Test your instruction with Live Test	Assume it works without testing
Update instructions when your needs change	Leave outdated instructions active
Use examples when the rule is complex	Rely on TalkTone to guess what you mean

Examples of Good vs Bad Instructions

❌ Bad Instruction	✅ Better Instruction
"Make it professional"	"Use formal business English. No contractions. No slang."
"Sound like me"	"Use short sentences. Start some sentences with 'And' or 'But.' Keep a conversational tone."
"Be creative"	"Use metaphors and vivid imagery. Reference nature and seasons."
"Fix it"	"Fix grammar and punctuation but keep my original word choices."
"Write good emails"	"Start emails with the recipient's first name. Keep paragraphs to 2-3 sentences. End with a clear call to action."

Combining Multiple Instructions

You can write multiple rules at once. Put each on its own line:

Always use British English spelling.
Never use the Oxford comma.
Keep sentences under 20 words.
Sign all emails as "Jamie Park, Head of Design."

TalkTone will follow all of these rules simultaneously.

warning

If your instructions conflict with each other (for example, "be extremely brief" and "include detailed explanations"), TalkTone will try to balance them but the result may be unpredictable. Keep your rules consistent.