We probably all know ChatGPT? But how do we get the most accurate answer from it? It only works as well as the prompts we give it. A weak prompt will produce vague answers. A strong prompt will produce clear, useful, and usable results. Writing better tasks doesn’t mean being fancy. It’s important to be simple, straightforward, and thoughtful.
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We have prepared for you 17 most important rules that will help you write prompts that actually work.
1. Define the objective
Be clear about what you want.
Example: Instead of writing “Explain blockchain,” write “Explain blockchain for beginners” in two short paragraphs.
2. Specify the format
Decide how you want to receive the answer – with bullets, paragraphs, steps, or a table.
Example: Give me 5 bullets about healthy snacks.
3. Assign a role
Ask ChatGPT to role play.
Example: Play a teacher and explain fractions to a 10 year old children.
4. Identify the audience
Who will read this? A student, a CEO, or a novice programmer?
Example: Write a Git guide for first-year computer science students.
5. Provide context
Provide context so ChatGPT can better understand.
Example: Write a polite email to your professor apologizing for missing class due to illness.
6. Set constraints
Set limits, such as word count or number of ideas.
Example: Explain climate change in less than 100 words.
7. Use clear language
Write prompts in simple, clear words.
Example: Instead of “Explain,” say “Discuss the details in detail.”
8. Include examples
Show what you want.
Example: Write a motivational quote like: “Small steps every day lead to big results.”
9. Specify the tone
Tell ChatGPT whether you want the tone to be formal, casual, funny, or serious.
Example: Write a product description in a casual tone.
10. Ask for step-by-step explanations
For complex topics, ask for a more detailed explanation.
Example: Explain to beginners how to create a website step by step.
11. Encourage creativity
Invite new ideas.
Example: Give me 5 fun date ideas that don’t cost much.
12. Request citations
When facts matter, ask for sources.
Example: List 3 studies that show the benefits of meditation.
13. Define technical terms
Specify how much detail you need.
Example: Explain the API in simple terms, without jargon.
14. Be concise
Prompts should be short but clear. Don’t overdo it with explanations.
15. Avoid multiple questions
Please allocate one request per prompt. If there are more than one, split them.
16. Test and refine prompts
Don’t limit yourself to one attempt. If the result is incorrect, change the wording and try again.
17. Provide feedback
If the answer seems inappropriate, ask for it to be changed.
Example: That’s too formal. Rewrite it in a friendly tone.
Prompts are important
Think of prompts as instructions you give to a friend. If you tell your friend, “Cook something,” you might get anything from pasta to rice. But if you ask, “Can you make pasta with extra veggies, less oil, and a spicy sauce?” the result will be closer to what you really want. It’s the same with ChatGPT. The better your prompt, the better the response.
Characteristics of a good prompt
- Clear and concise: A good prompt should be clear and easy to understand, without any ambiguity or confusion about what is being asked.
- Specific: The prompt should be specific enough to help ChatGPT provide an accurate and appropriate response.
- Open-ended: A good question should allow for a variety of possible answers, rather than limiting ChatGPT to a single answer.
- Relevant: The prompt should be relevant to the context and topic being discussed to ensure that ChatGPT provides useful and accurate information.
- Interesting: A good prompt should be engaging and interesting to encourage ChatGPT to provide a thoughtful and informative response.
Tips for creating good prompts
- Identify a specific topic or question you want to explore, and craft a prompt that is relevant and interesting within that context.
- Use clear and concise language to avoid confusion or misunderstandings.
- Consider using open-ended questions to encourage ChatGPT to provide more detailed and thoughtful answers.
- Avoid overly broad or vague prompts, which can lead to unspecific or unhelpful responses.
- When creating tasks, be creative and think outside the box to encourage ChatGPT to provide unique and interesting insights.
A quick example
❤️ Weak prompt: Tell me about AI.
💚 Strong prompt: Act as a teacher. Explain AI to a beginner in 3 short paragraphs, using simple examples. Keep the tone casual.
Conclusion
Overall, the key to creating good ChatGPT prompts is to be clear, specific, relevant, interesting, and creative. By following these guidelines and tips, you can create prompts that elicit informative and engaging responses from the AI model.
Follow these easy tips and you will notice your ChatGPT responses become much more useful.
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