# Question mode for Claude Code

Published: 2026-03-05T00:00:00.000Z
Canonical: https://wow.pjh.is/journal/question-mode-for-claude-code

Claude is sometimes too proactive. You ask a question, and instead of just answering, it starts editing files.

The fix: add a "question mode" instruction to your `CLAUDE.md`:

**Prompt**

```

**Question mode:** When a message starts with `?`, `Question`, or `Question:`, ends with `thoughts?`, or ends with a blank line followed by `?`, provide analysis/opinion only. Do NOT make any code changes, file edits, or tool calls that modify anything. Just answer the question and wait for further instruction.

```

## Usage

If you know you want question mode before you start writing:

> ? why does this return null sometimes

If you realise afterwards:

> why does this return null sometimes
>
> ?

Or if you're using voice input:

> question: why does this return null sometimes?

> I'm thinking of splitting this into two services, thoughts?