ChatGPT: Crafting Good Prompts

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July 23, 2024

Crafting Good Prompts: A 500-Word Primer

Writing effective prompts for conversational AIs is a skill that can significantly improve the quality of responses you receive. Good prompts are clear, specific, and contextual—ensuring the AI understands your query and delivers relevant, accurate information. This guide outlines six essential elements for crafting better prompts.

1. Provide Context

Context is the foundation of a well-crafted prompt. Include background information, your purpose, relevant details, and any constraints. Context helps the AI tailor responses to your needs.

Without Context: “What are the latest trends in marketing?”
With Context: “I am preparing a presentation for a marketing conference. What are the latest trends in marketing I should highlight?”

2. Be Specific

Vague questions lead to vague answers. Clearly state what you need so the AI can focus on the right information.

Vague: “Help me with my report.”
Specific: “I need information on the impact of remote work on employee productivity for a report I’m writing.”

3. Use Clear and Simple Language

Avoid unnecessary jargon or overly complex phrasing. If specialized terms are needed, define them for clarity.

Complex: “Elucidate the ramifications of telecommuting on workforce efficiency.”
Simple: “Explain how working from home affects employee productivity.”

4. Ask One Question at a Time

Breaking multi-part queries into separate questions allows the AI to give more thorough, focused answers.

Multiple Questions: “What are the benefits and challenges of remote work, and how does it affect productivity?”
Single Questions: “What are the benefits of remote work?”
“What are the challenges of remote work?”
“How does remote work affect productivity?”

5. Specify the Format

If you need a list, table, summary, or detailed explanation, include that in your prompt. It helps the AI deliver usable results.

General: “Tell me about the benefits of exercise.”
Specific Format: “List the top five benefits of regular exercise.”

6. Provide Examples

When requesting creative or complex outputs, give examples to clarify style and expectations.

Without Example: “Write a product description.”
With Example: “Write a product description for a new smartwatch, similar to this one: ‘The new XYZ Smartwatch offers health monitoring, GPS tracking, and seamless connec
  • Last Updated Aug 15, 2025
  • Views 29
  • Answered By Peter Z McKay

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