How to Write Good AI Prompts

Treat it like briefing a smart new colleague

An AI assistant knows a lot about the world but nothing about your situation unless you tell it. The single biggest improvement most people can make is to add context. Instead of write an email to my landlord, try: write a polite, firm email to my landlord asking when the broken heater will be fixed. I reported it ten days ago. Keep it under 120 words.

A useful pattern is context, task, constraints, format. Who is this for, what do you need, what must it avoid, and how should the answer look?

A simple prompt recipe

Role or context: explain the situation and audience, for example I teach a class of 12-year-olds. Task: say exactly what you want produced. Constraints: length, reading level, tone, things to include or leave out. Format: a table, bullet list, numbered steps or a short paragraph. Examples: paste one sample of the style you like, which often works better than describing it.

For complex jobs, ask the model to work in stages: first list the key points, then draft, then check the draft against your requirements. Asking it to explain its reasoning or list its assumptions can also expose misunderstandings early.

Iterate instead of starting over

Your first prompt rarely produces the perfect answer, and that is normal. Treat the reply as a draft and steer it. Make it warmer. Cut the second paragraph. Use simpler words. Give me three alternatives for the headline. Follow-up requests keep the earlier context, so small corrections are faster than rewriting everything.

If the assistant keeps missing the point, step back and add the context it lacks, or paste in the actual material you want it to use, such as notes, a document or data. Models do much better summarizing what you give them than recalling details from memory.

Habits that save trouble

Ask for sources or quotes from your pasted material when facts matter, then check them. Say so if you want the model to admit uncertainty rather than guess. Keep reusable prompts in a notes file for tasks you repeat. Do not paste passwords, financial details or other people's private information. And remember that a polished answer is not the same as a correct one, so read before you send.

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