📝 Guide
How to write AI prompts
Most weak AI answers come from vague prompts. This simple formula fixes that - here's how to write prompts that get great results every time.
To write a good AI prompt, give it four things: a role (who the AI should act as), a task (exactly what you want), context (the background it needs), and an output format (the shape of the answer). Be specific about these and the quality jumps.
The role-task-context-format formula
Strong prompts almost always include four parts:
- Role - “You are a senior financial analyst.”
- Task - “Summarize this report and flag risks.”
- Context - “Audience: the founder. Keep it decision-ready.”
- Output format - “3 bullets, then a table of risks.”
Before and after
❌ Weakhelp me write a product description
✅ StrongYou are an e-commerce copywriter. Write a 60-word product description for [product], aimed at [audience]. Lead with the main benefit, friendly tone, end with a reason to buy now.
Step by step
- Start with the role and task in one sentence.
- Add the context the AI can't guess.
- State the exact output format.
- Run it, then refine: “shorter”, “more formal”, “add examples”.
- Save the prompt once it works.
Common mistakes
- Too vague - “write something about X”. Be specific.
- No format - you get a wall of text instead of a usable list or table.
- Too much at once - split big asks into steps.
- Not iterating - the first answer is a draft; refine it.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I write a good AI prompt?
Give the AI four things: a role (who to act as), a clear task (exactly what you want), context (the background it needs), and an output format (the shape of the answer). Being specific about these four is the biggest lever on quality.
What is the best prompt formula?
A reliable formula is role + task + context + output format. For example: 'You are a [role]. [Task]. Context: [details]. Output: [format].' Add few-shot examples or step-by-step reasoning for harder tasks.
How long should a prompt be?
As long as it needs to be clear - no longer. Short prompts work for simple asks; complex tasks need more context and constraints. Cut anything that doesn't help the AI understand what you want.
How do I get better answers from ChatGPT?
Improve the prompt, not just the question. Add a role, state the task and constraints, specify the output format, and iterate on the result. Clearer input is the fastest way to better ChatGPT answers.