> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.stenox.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# System Prompts

> Customize how AI enhances your text

"og:title": "Stenox Docs"

## What are System Prompts?

System prompts tell the AI enhancement provider how to process your transcribed text. They control grammar correction, formatting, tone, and structure.

<Tip>
  Each profile can have its own system prompt — use professional tone for work emails and casual tone for personal notes.
</Tip>

## Default Enhancement

Both Stenox Cloud and local providers come with fine-tuned enhancements that we continue to refine. No configuration needed — Stenox works great out of the box.

<Note>
  Custom prompts are optional for general use. However, **profiles with custom prompts** are powerful for users who want specific behavior per app — like professional tone in email clients or technical formatting in code editors.
</Note>

## Customizing Your Prompt

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Profile Settings">
    Settings → **Profiles** tab → Select your profile → Click **Edit**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable LLM Enhancement">
    Toggle on **Enable LLM Enhancement** in the Post-Processing (LLM) section
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find System Prompt">
    Scroll to the **System Prompt** field — labeled "Instructions for the AI on how to format text"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit Prompt">
    Enter your custom instructions in the text box
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save Profile">
    Click **Save Profile** to apply changes
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Example Prompts

### Professional Email

```
Fix grammar and punctuation.
Rewrite in a professional, polished tone.
Keep the message concise and clear.
Format as a professional email.
```

### Casual Notes

```
Fix obvious grammar errors only.
Keep the casual, conversational tone.
Change as little as possible.
```

### Technical Documentation

```
Fix grammar and punctuation.
Use clear, technical language.
Format code terms in backticks.
Structure with headers if appropriate.
```

### Meeting Notes

```
Fix grammar and punctuation.
Format as bullet points.
Highlight action items with "ACTION:" prefix.
Keep it concise and scannable.
```

### Creative Writing

```
Fix spelling and grammar.
Preserve the creative voice and style.
Keep metaphors and expressive language.
Don't make it sound corporate.
```

### Medical/Legal (Minimal)

```
Fix only clear grammar errors.
Do not change medical/legal terminology.
Preserve exact phrasing when possible.
Format professionally.
```

## Prompt Tips

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Be specific about tone" icon="palette">
    Instead of just "improve this", specify the tone you want:

    * "professional and formal"
    * "friendly and conversational"
    * "technical and precise"
    * "casual and relaxed"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Specify what NOT to change" icon="ban">
    Tell the AI what to preserve:

    * "Keep technical terms as-is"
    * "Don't change proper nouns"
    * "Preserve my original phrasing when possible"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Include formatting instructions" icon="list">
    Request specific formatting:

    * "Format as bullet points"
    * "Add paragraph breaks"
    * "Use markdown headers"
    * "Keep as a single paragraph"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Set boundaries" icon="scale-balanced">
    Control how much the AI changes:

    * "Make minimal changes" — Light touch
    * "Polish and improve" — Moderate editing
    * "Significantly rewrite for clarity" — Heavy editing
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Prompt Patterns

### Minimal Editing

```
Fix only obvious spelling and grammar errors.
Change as little as possible.
Keep my original voice and phrasing.
```

### Moderate Editing

```
Fix grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Improve sentence flow.
Keep the original meaning and tone.
```

### Heavy Editing

```
Rewrite for maximum clarity and professionalism.
Restructure sentences if needed.
Improve word choice.
Make it polished and publication-ready.
```

## Per-Profile Prompts

Different contexts need different prompts:

| Profile           | Prompt Style           | Example Use          |
| ----------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------- |
| **Work Email**    | Professional, polished | Client communication |
| **Slack**         | Casual, brief          | Team chat            |
| **Documentation** | Technical, clear       | Docs and guides      |
| **Notes**         | Minimal changes        | Personal capture     |
| **Creative**      | Preserve voice         | Blog posts, writing  |

[Learn about creating profiles →](/profiles/creating-profiles)

## Provider Differences

Different AI providers interpret prompts differently:

| Provider          | Behavior                                   |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| **OpenAI GPT-4o** | Follows complex instructions well, nuanced |
| **Google Gemini** | Good at formatting, fast responses         |
| **Groq LLMs**     | Fast, good for simpler prompts             |
| **MLX (Local)**   | Works best with simple, direct prompts     |

<Note>
  **For local MLX models:** Keep prompts simple and direct. Complex multi-step instructions may not work as well as with larger cloud models.
</Note>

## Testing Your Prompts

After changing a prompt:

1. **Test with typical input** — Dictate something you'd normally say
2. **Check the output** — Does it match your expectations?
3. **Iterate** — Refine the prompt until it works consistently
4. **Edge cases** — Test with unusual input to catch issues

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="AI changes too much" icon="pen-nib">
    Add constraints:

    ```
    Fix only grammar errors.
    Keep my exact wording when possible.
    Make minimal changes.
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="AI doesn't change enough" icon="circle-xmark">
    Be more directive:

    ```
    Actively improve sentence structure.
    Fix all errors including style issues.
    Polish the text for professional use.
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Wrong formatting" icon="align-left">
    Be explicit about format:

    ```
    Output as a single paragraph with no bullet points.
    ```

    Or:

    ```
    Format as bullet points, one idea per line.
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Prompt works with one provider but not another" icon="shuffle">
    Different models have different capabilities. Simplify prompts for local MLX models, or create separate profiles for different providers.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Create Profiles" icon="sliders" href="/profiles/creating-profiles">
    Set up different prompts for different contexts.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Choose Provider" icon="sparkles" href="/providers/overview#ai-enhancement-providers">
    Pick the right AI provider for your needs.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>