Quotes or Asterisks When Chatting to AI? 'This' vs *This* Explained
Should you type *'this'*, '*this*', "this" or *this* when chatting to ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot? Quotes mean exact words, asterisks mean stress. Plain examples you can copy.
Quick answer: When chatting to AI, type quotes ('this' or "this") when you mean an exact word or phrase, like "replace the word 'soon' with 'by Friday'". Type asterisks (*this*) when you just want to stress a word. Mixing them, like *'this'* or '*this*', works too, but one mark is enough. ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot and Claude understand all of these. You can also skip the symbols and say it plainly: "The most important part is the date." That works just as well.
You do not need special codes to talk to AI. It reads your message the way a person would. Still, a little punctuation can help it understand which words you care about. Here is what each mark does.
Quotes: "this exact text"
Quotes tell the AI: these exact words, not something like them.
Good times to use quotes:
- Pointing at a word in its answer: Change "utilize" to "use".
- Giving text that must stay the same: Keep the line "Thank you for your patience" exactly as written.
- Searching inside something you pasted: Find every sentence that mentions "late fee".
Single quotes ('this') and double quotes ("this") work the same way. Pick whichever is easier on your keyboard.
In the email above, keep the sentence "I would like a refund by Friday" exactly as written. Make everything else shorter and friendlier.
Asterisks: *this* means "stress this"
Asterisks are an old texting habit for leaning on a word, like underlining it in a letter. The AI picks up on it.
- One asterisk on each side, *this*, means "pay attention to this word".
- Two on each side, **this**, is how many apps write bold text.
That is also why AI answers often show bold words and slanted words: the AI writes with asterisks behind the scenes, and the app turns them into bold or italic for you. If you ever copy an answer and see stray ** marks, that is all they are. You can delete them.
Write a short note to my neighbor about the fence. The tone must be \*friendly\*, not annoyed.
*'this'* or '*this*'? You do not need both
Some people type a mix, like *'this'* or '*this*', to be extra clear. It will not confuse the AI, but it does not help either. One mark is enough:
| You want to... | Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Point at exact words | Quotes | Replace "ASAP" with "this week" |
| Stress a word | Asterisks | Keep it *short* |
| Be extra sure | Plain words | The most important thing is the deadline |
Even easier: just say it
If symbols feel fussy, write what you mean in plain English. These all work well:
- "The key word here is budget."
- "Most important: do not change the dates."
- "Please focus on the second paragraph only."
Capital letters (IMPORTANT) also work, but they can read as shouting if you reuse the text in an email, so use them sparingly.
Whatever formatting you use, the same rule applies: do not paste passwords, full card numbers or Social Security numbers into an AI chat. See what never to paste into AI.
Try it now
Copy this, fill in the brackets, and paste it into ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot:
Here is a message I wrote: [paste your message]. Make it clearer and kinder. Do \*not\* change the part that says "[a phrase you want kept]".
Want more ready-made prompts? Start with your first 5 copy-paste prompts.
Frequently asked questions
Should I type *'this'* or '*this*' when chatting to AI?
Either works, but you don't need both marks. When chatting to AI, use quotes ('this' or "this") for exact words you want found, kept or replaced, and asterisks (*this*) to stress a word. Mixing them, like *'this'* or '*this*', won't confuse ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or Claude. It just doesn't add anything.
Should I use quotes or asterisks when chatting with AI?
Use quotes for exact words or phrases you want the AI to find, keep or replace. Use asterisks to stress a word. Both are understood by ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot and Claude.
What does *this* mean in an AI chat?
A word between single asterisks means emphasis, like saying it a little louder. In AI answers, the app usually shows it in italics. Two asterisks on each side usually show as bold.
Why do AI answers have asterisks or bold words?
AI tools write formatting with asterisks behind the scenes, and the chat app turns them into bold or italic text. If you copy an answer somewhere that does not support formatting, you may see the asterisks. You can simply delete them.
Do I need special symbols for AI to understand me?
No. Plain sentences work fine. Symbols are a shortcut, not a requirement. Saying "the most important part is..." works just as well.
Are single quotes and double quotes different to AI?
Not in everyday use. 'This' and "this" both tell the AI you mean those exact words.