# Role prompting

> Assigning the model a role — editor, tutor, auditor — together with the criteria that role should apply, to set tone and expectations.

Source: Promptea — https://www.promptea.me/en/glossary/role-prompting · Language: English · Last updated: 2026-11-09

## What it means

- Definition: you tell the model who it is for this task ('You are a code reviewer') so it adopts that role's vocabulary, priorities and level of rigor.
- Why it matters: a role steers tone and focus cheaply. It is most useful when it carries criteria — what that person checks, what they ignore, how they report.
- How to apply it: pair the role with rules and an output format. 'You are a code reviewer. Check correctness and security first; report each issue with file, line and a fix' works; 'You are a world-class expert' does not.
- Common mistake: expecting a role to add knowledge the model does not have. It changes how the answer is framed, not what the model knows.

## Example

```text
Role: You are a strict copy reviewer for a B2B website.
Criteria: clarity first, then specificity (no vague claims), then tone (plain, no hype).
Output: a table with columns Issue | Where | Fix, then a rewritten version.

Review this text:
"""[paste]"""
```

[Open in Promptea](https://www.promptea.me/en/analyzer?prompt=Role%3A+You+are+a+strict+copy+reviewer+for+a+B2B+website.%0ACriteria%3A+clarity+first%2C+then+specificity+%28no+vague+claims%29%2C+then+tone+%28plain%2C+no+hype%29.%0AOutput%3A+a+table+with+columns+Issue+%7C+Where+%7C+Fix%2C+then+a+rewritten+version.%0A%0AReview+this+text%3A%0A%22%22%22%5Bpaste%5D%22%22%22&purpose=text&target=claude)

## Frequently asked questions

### Does 'act as an expert' improve results?

Rarely on its own. Name the specific role and the criteria it applies; the criteria do the work.

### Where should the role go?

First, before the task. In an API, put it in the system prompt together with the stable rules.

## Related

- [Role prompting: how to assign personas for better AI outputs](https://www.promptea.me/en/guides/role-prompting)
- [System prompts: how to set persistent instructions for ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini](https://www.promptea.me/en/guides/system-prompts)
- [Prompt checklist (copy-paste) to get better outputs](https://www.promptea.me/en/guides/prompt-checklist)
- [System prompt](https://www.promptea.me/en/glossary/system-prompt)
- [Constraints](https://www.promptea.me/en/glossary/constraints)