diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index f47f538..b285def 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 */
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h> //remove if alt to `malloc` + clone found
+#include "tmp_help.h"
 
 unsigned long int hash(){
     //implement a hashing function
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ char **argv;
 // ! use minimal # of functions to reduce stacks ! //
 
 void print_usage(){
-    printf("HELP MENU PRINTED");
+    tmp_help();
     /*TODO:
     //print hex array included at ln1
     // `stdouterr_1` is the *likely* name of the variable holding the hex
diff --git a/src/tmp_help.h b/src/tmp_help.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b9438ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tmp_help.h
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/* a temporary help prompt function
+ * that i do not like
+ * at all
+ */
+#define BOLD "\33[1m"
+#define RESET "\33[0m"
+#define embolden(str) BOLD str RESET
+
+void tmp_help(){
+    printf("\n%s\n", embolden("stdouterr"));
+    printf("%s\n", embolden("Usage"));
+    printf("    %s\n", "stdouterr [ -o output_string | -t ] [ -e error_string | -r ]");
+    printf("\n%s\n", embolden("Options"));
+    printf("\
+	-o output_string\n\
+	    Print output_string to stdout\n\
+	-e error_string\n\
+	    Print error_string to stderr\n\
+	-t\n\
+	    Don\'t print output\n\
+	-r\n\
+	    Don\'t print error");
+}