Write Better Prompts

State the result you want

Start with a verb and a concrete deliverable: explain, compare, rewrite, summarize or draft. “Marketing” names a topic; “Draft three headlines for a beginner AI workshop” defines a task. A clear deliverable makes it easier to see whether the answer succeeded.

Give the assistant one primary job at a time. If you need an outline, article and social post, build them in stages. Review the outline before asking for the article, then use the approved article as context for the social post.

Add context and audience

Explain who will use the result and what they already know. A beginner needs different explanations from an experienced developer. Provide the source text, notes or background that the answer should rely on.

Useful context is relevant context. You do not need your entire project history to rewrite one paragraph. For a workshop headline, describe the audience, topic and practical benefit. If your instructions refer to a file, confirm that the tool actually has access to it.

Set constraints that matter

Specify length, tone, language and boundaries. You might ask for plain English, a friendly tone, three alternatives and no promises about earnings. Explain any facts that must remain unchanged.

Avoid a long list of conflicting requirements. “Explain fully in one sentence” may force an unhelpful compromise. When priorities compete, state which matters most. For example: prioritize accuracy, then clarity, then brevity. Constraints should help the reader, not merely make the instruction look elaborate.

Choose a useful format

Ask for the structure you need: a table for comparisons, a checklist for a repeatable process or paragraphs for an explanation. Define the columns or headings when consistency matters.

For a comparison, request columns such as option, best use, limitation and what to verify. If the information is uncertain, ask the assistant to say so rather than filling every cell with a guess. Formatting improves usability, but a neat table still needs factual review.

Use examples and handle missing facts

A short example can show the style or level of detail you want. Identify what should be imitated: sentence length, structure or tone. Ask for an original answer rather than copying the example word for word.

Tell the assistant what to do when information is missing. It can ask a focused question, use a clearly marked placeholder or state an assumption. “Do not invent prices, dates or testimonials” is a useful instruction for business drafts. It is still your responsibility to check the output.

Revise with specific feedback

Compare the result with the task you set. If it misses the audience, explain how: “These terms are too technical for beginners. Define each in one sentence.” Specific feedback gives the next draft a clearer target than “make it better.”

Keep a small collection of instructions that worked. Before reusing one, replace the old context and inspect the constraints. A saved prompt is a starting point, not a guarantee that every task will produce a reliable answer.

Try this prompt

Adapt this example to your own task using harmless sample information.

Task: draft three headlines for a free introductory AI workshop.
Audience: adults who have never used an AI assistant.
Context: the workshop teaches email drafting and checking answers.
Constraints: plain English, under 12 words each, no income guarantees.
Format: a numbered list with one sentence explaining each headline.