How to write a good prompt

The 4 pillars that turn a vague request into an answer you can use right away, with before-and-after examples.

A prompt is a request. To answer well, the AI needs to know what you want, in what situation, in what shape and with what care. A generic answer almost always comes from a request that left that information out.

Think about how you would ask a favor of a capable person who just joined your company. They are smart, but they do not know your client, your deadline or your taste. A good prompt gives them exactly that information, organized in 4 pillars.

1. Goal: what you want back

Start with the task and a clear verb: write, summarize, compare, review, list, explain. Skip hedging such as “could you maybe help me with…”. Being polite is fine, but the task should come first.

2. Context: the situation and who it is for

Say why you need it and where you will use it. One sentence is enough:

I am presenting this to the board tomorrow, and they are not technical.

That sentence changes the vocabulary, the level of detail and the tone of the answer.

Also say who will read it. The same topic leads to very different texts for a 10-year-old, an upset customer or an expert. For example: “for beginners”, “for my high school students”, “for investors”.

3. Format: what shape and how long

If you do not say, the AI decides on its own, and it usually goes for a long text full of headings. Be specific:

  • as a list of 5 items;
  • as a table with columns for price, pros and cons;
  • as an email under 120 words;
  • in one short paragraph.

4. Limits: what to follow and what to avoid

This is where tone, things to leave out and quality criteria go. It is also where you swap vague words for something concrete. “Make it good” says nothing, because everyone reads “good” differently. Try this instead:

  • instead of interesting, ask for “a surprising fact in the first sentence”;
  • instead of professional, ask for “no slang and no emojis”;
  • instead of better, ask for “shorter and more direct”.

One very useful limit is “do not make up data or sources”. It lowers the chance that the AI fills gaps with false information.

Before and after

Before:

Help me with a post about our sale.

After:

I run an online kids' clothing store and we are offering 30% off this
weekend. Write 3 Instagram caption options for parents of young
children. Light tone, at most 2 sentences each, ending with an invitation
to tap the link in bio.

The second request has a goal, context, format and limits. The first answer is ready to use.

What if the answer still is not right?

Do not start over. Reply with what to change, for example “too formal, make it lighter” or “option 2 is the best, give me 3 more like it”. Adjusting in the conversation is usually faster than trying to write the perfect prompt on the first try.

The 4 pillars at a glance

  1. Goal: the task, with a verb.
  2. Context: the situation and the audience.
  3. Format: the shape and length of the answer.
  4. Limits: tone, things to avoid and concrete criteria.

Want to build yours now? The prompt builder asks one question per pillar and the AI writes the full prompt for you.

Build your prompt

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