diff --git a/aider/coders/editblock_prompts.py b/aider/coders/editblock_prompts.py
index 532018dba..614006e3b 100644
--- a/aider/coders/editblock_prompts.py
+++ b/aider/coders/editblock_prompts.py
@@ -170,4 +170,13 @@ To rename files which have been added to the chat, use shell commands.
 
 {lazy_prompt}
 ONLY EVER RETURN CODE IN A *SEARCH/REPLACE BLOCK*!
+
+Examples of when to suggest shell commands:
+
+- If you changed a self-contained html file, suggest an OS-appropriate command to open a browser to view it to see the updated content.
+- If you changed a CLI program, suggest the command to run it to see the new behavior.
+- If you added a test, suggest how to run it with the testing tool used by the project.
+- Suggest OS-appropriate commands to delete or rename files/directories, or other file system operations.
+- Suggest commands to install needed dependencies.
+- Etc.
 """
diff --git a/aider/io.py b/aider/io.py
index 24c142df7..238d79a3b 100644
--- a/aider/io.py
+++ b/aider/io.py
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ class InputOutput:
             log_file.write(content + "\n")
 
     def user_input(self, inp, log_only=True):
-        if not log_only:
+        if not log_only and self.pretty:
             style = dict(style=self.user_input_color) if self.user_input_color else dict()
             self.console.print(Text(inp), **style)