how-to-talk-to-claude/src/content/docs/how-to/match-tone-style.md

---
title: "How to Get Claude to Match Your Tone and Style"
description: "Making AI responses sound like you, not like a corporate manual"
---





## The Problem

Claude's given you some great content, but it sounds like it was written by a very polite, very professional robot. The ideas are solid, but the voice is all wrong. You need something that sounds like you - whether that's casual and conversational, professional but warm, sarcastic and witty, or whatever your natural style is.

Maybe you're working on:
- An email that needs to sound professional but not stuffy
- Social media content that should match your usual voice  
- A blog post that feels authentically yours
- A proposal that reflects your communication style
- Any writing where voice matters as much as content

The problem isn't that Claude can't match different styles - it's that it doesn't know *your* style unless you show it what you want.

## Solution 1: Show, Don't Just Tell

The most effective way to get Claude to match your style is to show examples of your actual writing alongside what you want.

### Pattern: "Here's how I usually write, now help me with [new thing]"

**Try this:**
"I'm working on [type of content] and I want it to match my usual style. Here are a couple examples of how I normally write [similar content]:

[Paste 2-3 examples of your actual writing]

Now can you help me write [specific thing] in a similar tone and style?"

**Real example:**
"I'm working on an email to a client and I want it to match my usual style. Here are a couple examples of how I normally write client emails:

[Example 1: Your actual email]
[Example 2: Another actual email]

Now can you help me write an email about [specific topic] in a similar tone and style?"

### Pattern: "Here's my voice, here's the generic version, now match my voice"

**Try this:**
"I need help rewriting this to sound more like me. Here's the current version:

[Paste the generic/formal version]

And here's how I usually write about similar topics:

[Paste your example]

Can you rewrite the first one to match the style of the second?"

## Solution 2: Give Claude Your Style Guidelines

Sometimes examples aren't enough - you need to explicitly describe your voice.

### Pattern: "My writing style is [specific characteristics]"

**Be specific about:**
- **Formality level**: "conversational but professional" vs "casual and friendly" vs "formal but approachable"
- **Sentence structure**: "I use short sentences" vs "I like longer, flowing sentences" vs "I mix short and long for rhythm"  
- **Word choice**: "I avoid jargon" vs "I use industry terms" vs "I explain technical stuff in simple terms"
- **Personality**: "slightly sarcastic" vs "enthusiastic and positive" vs "thoughtful and measured"

**Example:**
"My writing style is conversational and direct. I use short paragraphs, avoid corporate buzzwords, and I'm not afraid to start sentences with 'And' or 'But.' I like to use specific examples rather than abstract concepts, and I tend to be slightly irreverent but not unprofessional. Can you rewrite this email to match that style?"
## Solution 3: Use Iterative Feedback

Getting your style right usually takes a few back-and-forth exchanges. Don't expect perfection on the first try.

### Pattern: "That's closer, but adjust [specific thing]"

**After Claude's first attempt, try:**
- "That's much better! Can you make it a bit more [specific adjustment]?"
- "Good direction, but I would never say [specific phrase]. Can you try [alternative approach]?"
- "Perfect tone, but can you make the sentences shorter/longer?"
- "I love the content, but it needs to be more casual/formal/conversational"

**Example conversation:**
You: "Can you rewrite this to be more conversational?"
Claude: [Rewrites it]
You: "That's better, but I'd never use the phrase 'best practices.' I'd probably say something like 'what actually works' instead. Also, can you break up that long paragraph?"
Claude: [Adjusts it]
You: "Perfect! That sounds exactly like me."

### Pattern: "Here's what I'd change about this version"

**Try this:**
"This is really close to my style. The only things I'd change are:
- [Specific change 1]  
- [Specific change 2]
- [Specific change 3]

Can you adjust those while keeping everything else the same?"

## Solution 4: Style Guidelines for Different Content Types

Your voice might shift depending on what you're writing. Be explicit about context.

### For professional emails:
"I want this to sound professional but warm. I usually start emails with something personal, use conversational language but avoid slang, and I always end with something that invites response rather than just 'let me know if you have questions.'"

### For social media:
"I want this to sound like my usual social media voice: casual, sometimes funny, but not trying too hard. I use contractions, sometimes incomplete sentences for emphasis, and I like to end with questions to start conversations."

### For blog posts or articles:
"I want this to match my usual blog style: conversational but informative, like I'm talking to a smart friend. I use 'you' a lot, include personal examples, and I'm not afraid to have opinions."

### For presentations or formal writing:
"I want this to sound authoritative but not stiff. I use clear, direct language, avoid corporate buzzwords, and I like to include specific examples rather than abstract concepts."

## Solution 5: Common Style Adjustments

Here are quick fixes for the most common style mismatches:

### "Make it less formal"
"Can you rewrite this to be more conversational? Use contractions, shorter sentences, and make it sound like I'm talking to a friend rather than giving a presentation."

### "Make it more professional without being stuffy"  
"Can you adjust the tone to be more professional but still approachable? Keep it conversational but avoid slang and casual phrases."

### "Make it sound more confident"
"Can you rewrite this to sound more decisive? Less 'I think maybe' and more 'here's what I recommend.'"

### "Make it warmer/more personal"
"Can you add some personality to this? Maybe include a brief personal example or make it sound less like a manual and more like advice from someone who's been there."

### "Make it shorter and punchier"
"Can you tighten this up? Shorter sentences, fewer words, more direct."

## Advanced: Training Claude on Your Voice Over Time

Once you start working with Claude regularly on writing, you can reference previous conversations:

**Try:** "Remember how we worked on my email style yesterday? Can you write this new email in that same voice?"

Or: "You nailed my blog voice in that post we worked on about [topic]. Can you use that same style for this new post?"

## Quick Reference: Style-Matching Conversation Starters

**For showing examples:**
"Here's how I usually write [type of content]: [examples]. Now help me write [new thing] in the same style."

**For describing your voice:**
"My writing style is [specific characteristics]. Can you [write/rewrite] this to match?"

**For iterative refinement:**
"That's closer, but can you make it more [specific adjustment]?"
"Good direction, but I'd never say [phrase]. Try [alternative] instead."

**For different content types:**
"I want this to sound like my usual [email/social media/blog] voice: [description]"

**For common adjustments:**
"Make it less formal/more professional/more confident/warmer/shorter"

Remember: Getting your voice right is usually a conversation, not a single request. Don't be afraid to give specific feedback and ask for adjustments until it sounds like you.

---

## What's Next?

**If this helped:** Try [How to Maintain Your Voice in Collaborative Writing](/how-to/maintain-voice-writing/) for keeping authenticity in longer collaborations.

**If you're still getting robotic responses:** Check [How to Fix It When Claude Completely Misses the Point](/how-to/fix-misunderstandings/) for conversation recovery techniques.

**For advanced tone control:** [How to Use Persona Prompts for Focused Perspectives](/how-to/persona-prompts/) lets you request specialized voices and perspectives.

**See also:** 
- [Tutorial 1: From Awkward Small Talk to AI Collaboration](/tutorials/first-conversation/) - Experience tone matching in practice
- [Why Conversations Work Better Than Commands](/explanations/conversations-vs-commands/) - Understand why this collaborative approach works

**◀ Previous:** [How to Ask When You Don't Know What You Want](05-howto-ask-when-uncertain.md) | **[Table of Contents](/)** | **Next:** [How to Fix It When Claude Completely Misses the Point](07-howto-fix-misunderstandings.md) ▶