Prompting Basics

A well-written prompt gets you better results with any AI model. Here are the fundamentals.

Be Specific

Vague prompts produce vague results. The more context you give, the better the output.

❌ Write a summary ✅ Summarize this article in 3 bullet points for a non-technical audience

Give Context

Tell the model who you are, what you're doing, and what you need.

I'm a marketing manager writing a product launch email for B2B software buyers. Write a subject line and 3-paragraph email that emphasizes time savings and ROI.

Specify Format

Ask for the output format you actually want.

• Respond in bullet points
• Write in a professional but friendly tone
• Format as a table with columns: Model | Use Case | Cost
• Keep it under 200 words

Iterate

AI responses are a starting point. Follow up:

• Make it shorter
• Rewrite the second paragraph to be more direct
• Give me 3 alternative versions
• Now make it suitable for Twitter/X

Assign a Role

Framing the model with a role often improves output quality.

You are an experienced software architect. Review the following system design and identify potential bottlenecks.

Provide Examples

Show the model what good looks like.

Write a product description in this style: [paste example]. Now write one for: [your product].

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→ See also: Coding Tips · Writing Tips · Image Generation Tips