ChatGPT helped me write out all of the below with beautiful formatting; I want to be able to do the same as I prompt! The message editing experience of this very forum would be a great starting place 
Feature Request: Structured Prompt Editor + Keyboard Mapping for Power Users
Summary
As a user who composes detailed, structured prompts to get better results from ChatGPT, Iām requesting enhancements to the prompt input experience that would allow for:
- Document-style formatting as I type (headings, paragraphs, nesting lists, tables, code blocks, quote blocks, emoji, etc.)
- Keyboard behavior similar to collaborative tools like Slack and Notion
A more readable, controllable interface for prompt construction
These changes will significantly improve usability, reduce accidental submissions, and elevate prompt qualityāespecially for technical, strategic, and creative tasks.
Why It Matters
When writing prompts that include:
- Multi-step instructions or multi-part explanations (best communicated with headings, paragraphs, and bulleted / numbered lists)
- Scenarios / parameters / configurations (best communicated with tables)
- Code snippets
ā¦it becomes essential to treat the prompt like a structured document, not a single-line chat message. The current interface makes this difficult due to limited formatting, no live preview, and a default Enter = Send behavior that interrupts flow and causes frequent errors.
The Problem
- Pressing Enter sends the message immediately, leading to accidental submissions mid-prompt
- Thereās no visual structure while composingāeverything appears in one flat, unformatted block
- Lack of formatting support (e.g., tables, headings, nested lists, code blocks, blockquotes) makes it hard to communicate complex thoughts clearly
Feature Requests
1. Customizable Keyboard Behavior
Let users toggle:
- Enter = Newline
- Shift+Enter or Ctrl+Enter = Send
- Just like Slack, Notion, or Google Docs
| Key Combo | Current Behavior | Suggested Behavior (Optional) |
|---|---|---|
| Enter | Send | Newline (toggleable in settings) |
| Shift+Enter | Newline | Send (if Enter = newline) |
| Ctrl+Enter | Send (redundant) | Send (if Enter = newline) |
2. Live Markdown or Rich Text Formatting in Prompt Input
- Headings (
# H1,## H2, etc.) - Bold (
**bold**or Ctrl+B) and italics (*italic*or Ctrl+I) - Bullet and numbered lists with auto-indentation
- Tables (rendered in-place or via markdown)
- Code blocks (
``language fenced syntax) - Blockquotes (
> quoted line) - Paragraphs with real spacing (vertical gap, not just line break)
- Links (
[link](https://chatgpt.com)) - Emoji (
:smiley:)
3. Optional Rich Text Input Mode
- Toggle between classic āchatā mode and āstructured editorā mode
- Structured mode offers formatting toolbar or Markdown live preview
- Could support collapsible sections for long prompts
User Value
This empowers power users, professionals, and prompt engineers to:
- Think more clearly
- Communicate more precisely
- Avoid mistakes
- Reuse prompts
- Write more readable instructionsāfor both themselves and ChatGPT
āThe more I can structure my prompt to make sense to me as a human reader before I submit it, the better I feel ChatGPT will understand my intentāand the better the actual responses tend to be.ā
Closing Thought
This is a low-friction enhancement with high impact. Structured prompts are becoming the normānot the exceptionāfor advanced use. Supporting users in writing like they think will make ChatGPT feel smarter, more intuitive, and more helpful.