AI assistants can write, explain, summarise and brainstorm — but the quality of the answer depends heavily on the question. A good prompt is like a good brief to a talented colleague: clear, specific and with enough context.
1. Say who it is for
“Explain inflation” gives a generic answer. “Explain inflation to a Class 9 student using an example with prices at a local market” gives a useful one. Audience changes everything.
2. Give context
Share the background: what you’re working on, what you already know, and what you’ve tried. The model can’t read your mind — but it uses everything you tell it.
3. Ask for a format
Tell it how you want the answer: a table, five bullet points, a 100-word email, a step-by-step list. Format requests make answers easier to use immediately.
4. Show an example
If you want a particular style, paste a short example and say “write three more like this.” Examples communicate tone better than long descriptions.
5. Break big tasks into steps
Instead of “write my business plan,” start with “list the sections a small bookshop business plan needs,” then work through each section. Step-by-step work produces better results and is easier to check.
6. Ask it to think before answering
For reasoning tasks — maths, comparisons, decisions — ask the assistant to work through the problem step by step and then give its final answer. It helps catch mistakes.
7. Iterate
Treat the first answer as a draft. Follow up: “make it shorter,” “use simpler words,” “add an example from India,” “what did you assume?” The conversation is where the quality comes from.
A reusable template
You are a [role]. I need [task] for [audience]. Context: [background]. Please give the answer as [format], in a [tone] tone. Ask me questions first if anything is unclear.
