So, how do you make sure the AI understands exactly what you want? Here are some key ingredients for a fantastic prompt:
This is the most important rule! Don't be vague. The more detail you give, the better the AI can understand.
Bad Prompt: "Write about dogs." (Too general! What kind of dogs? What about them?)
Good Prompt: "Write a short, exciting story about a brave golden retriever who saves a lost kitten during a thunderstorm. The story should be aimed at 8-year-olds." (Much better! We know the dog, the action, and the audience.)
Give the AI background information it needs. What's the situation? What's the purpose of the text?
Prompt without Context: "What is the capital of France?" (Easy, but what if it's part of a bigger task?)
Prompt with Context: "I'm planning a trip to Europe and need to know the capital cities. For my itinerary, please tell me: What is the capital of France?" (Now the AI knows why you're asking.)
Sometimes, it helps to tell the AI who it should pretend to be. This helps it adopt the right tone and style.
Prompt without Role: "Explain photosynthesis."
Prompt with Role: "You are a friendly science teacher explaining photosynthesis to a Year 9 class. Use simple language and give an example." (The AI will now sound like a teacher and simplify the explanation.)
Tell the AI exactly how you want the answer structured. Do you want a list? A paragraph? A poem? A table?
Prompt without Format: "Tell me about the planets."
Prompt with Format: "List the planets in our solar system, starting from the closest to the Sun. For each planet, include its name and one interesting fact, presented as a bulleted list." (This ensures you get a list, not just a paragraph.)
These are like rules or boundaries. What should the AI not do? What are the limits?
Prompt with Constraint: "Write a short poem about friendship. It must have four lines and rhyme AABB. Do not mention any specific names." (This limits the length, rhyme scheme, and content.)