To get AI to understand you, stop giving it simple commands and start giving it a clear job description. Specify its role, your goal, the steps to get there, and exactly how you want the final result to look.
Think of it like this: asking an AI "write a poem" is like telling a new employee "do marketing." It’s too vague. The better you outline the task, the better the results.
Here’s how to structure that perfect prompt, broken down into the key parts.
The Core Four: What Every Good Prompt Needs
Every effective prompt should answer these four questions for the AI. I call it the "Role-Goal-Steps-Format" framework.
A prompt combining all this would look like:
"You are a veteran high school science teacher. Your goal is to explain the concept of quantum physics to a complete beginner. Do this by:
1. First defining it in one simple sentence.
2. Then using a common analogy (like waves in the ocean).
3. Finally, list one way it applies in daily life (like in smartphone lasers). Format your response in three short paragraphs."
See the difference? The AI now has a clear roadmap to follow.
Want to know about some of the best AI coding tools to use in 2025? make sure to read this blog after:
Savy (Chief Editor) Mar 4, 2025 • 7 min read
Level Up Your Prompts: Beyond the Basics
Once you've mastered the Core Four, these advanced tactics will turn good outputs into great ones.
1. The Power of "Act As" (The Role)
Telling the AI to act as an expert forces it to pull from a different knowledge base and style.
- Instead of: "Write a tweet about our new coffee blend."
- Try: "Act as a witty and passionate barista. Write a tweet thread about our new single-origin Ethiopian coffee blend. Describe its fruity notes and the morning vibe it creates. Use emojis and hashtags #CoffeeLovers #SpecialtyCoffee."
2. Provide Examples (Few-Shot Prompting)
This is one of the most powerful techniques. You show the AI exactly what you want by giving it an example.
- Instead of: "Make this email sound professional."
- Try: "Rewrite this email to be more formal and concise. Follow the style of this example:
- Original: 'hey, can you send me the report when you get a chance? thx'
- Rewritten: 'Hello [Name], Could you please forward the Q3 report at your earliest convenience? Thank you.'
Now, rewrite this: '[Your poorly written email here]'"
3. Define the Constraints
Tell the AI what not to do. This is crucial for avoiding fluff, incorrect information, or unwanted content.
Use phrases like:
- "Do not use technical jargon."
- "Keep the summary under 300 words."
- "Avoid any marketing buzzwords."
- "List only sources from after 2020."
Before you go, here's a handy template to make writing prompts easier
To turn the Core Four framework into a habit, use this simple "Prompt Recipe Card." Copy and paste it into a document and fill in the blanks next time you have a task for an AI. Soon, you won't even need to look at it.
Your Prompt Recipe Card
(Copy and use this template for better results every time.)
1. ROLE:
- You are an expert...
[e.g., veteran financial advisor, seasoned travel blogger, supportive career coach]
2. GOAL:
- Your goal is to...
[e.g., create a weekly meal plan, debug this code, summarize this article] - The target audience is...
[e.g., busy parents, a technical audience, a 10-year-old]
3. STEPS (The "How"):
Do this by:
[Step 1: e.g., First, identify the main protein for each day.][Step 2: e.g., Then, ensure each meal can be made in under 30 minutes.][Step 3: e.g., Finally, generate a matching shopping list.]
4. FORMAT & CONSTRAINTS:
- Format the final output as...
[e.g., a markdown table, a JSON object, three bullet points]
Important Limitation:
[e.g., Do not use dairy products.][e.g., Keep the total word count under 500 words.][e.g., Write in a friendly and optimistic tone.]
FAQ
I've heard the term "prompt engineering" on LinkedIn. Is this just a hype train?
The term might be buzzy, but the skill is absolutely real and valuable. As Reddit communities like r/ChatGPT prove daily, the difference between a generic and a well-engineered prompt is staggering. It's less about being a formal "engineer" and more about learning to communicate clearly with a new kind of tool.
What's the biggest mistake in writing prompts?
Being too vague. "Write a blog post about SEO" will get you a generic, often useless, mess. "Write a 500-word introduction to SEO for bakery shop owners, focusing on local Google Search tips" gives you something you can actually use.
Do I need to learn to code?
Not at all. This is about writing clear instructions in plain English (or any language). It's a writing and critical thinking skill, not a programming one.
How do I handle it when the AI gets things wrong?
Don't just re-run the same prompt. repeat. Tell the AI what was wrong and how to fix it. For example: "That's a good start, but the analogy was too complex. Use a simpler one, like comparing it to swirling cream in coffee." This conversation is where the real magic happens. Where can I see examples of great prompts?
Many experts share free prompt libraries. A quick search on YouTube for "advanced ChatGPT prompts" will yield tons of walkthroughs.
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