How to write a good prompt (the 4-part recipe)

3 min read

A prompt is just what you type to an AI tool. Most bad answers come from vague prompts. Use this four-part recipe:

Task: what you want ("write", "summarise", "compare").
Context: who it's for and the situation.
Format: bullets, table, 100 words, 3 options.
Tone: friendly, formal, simple, funny.

Example

Weak: "Write about saving money."

Strong: "Write 5 simple tips for a college student in India to save ₹2,000 a month. Use bullet points, under 100 words, friendly tone."

If the answer isn't right

Say what's wrong: "too long", "too generic", "use Indian examples".
Give an example of what you like.
Ask it to ask you questions first.

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