Prompting Basics

Master these fundamental techniques to get better results from AI every time.

The Core Principles

1. Be Specific

Vague prompts get vague results.

Vague	Specific
"Write code"	"Write a Python function that sorts a list of dictionaries by the 'name' key"
"Help me with marketing"	"Give me 5 subject lines for an email promoting our 20% off sale"
"Explain this"	"Explain how async/await works in JavaScript, assuming I know basic JS"

2. Provide Context

Help the AI understand your situation:

"I'm a small business owner with an online store selling handmade jewelry.
I want to improve my product descriptions. Here's my current description
for a silver bracelet: '[current text]'. Can you make it more compelling
while keeping it under 100 words?"

3. Specify the Format

Tell the AI how you want the response:

"Give me 5 blog post ideas about remote work.
Format each as:
- Title
- Hook (one sentence)
- Key points to cover (3 bullets)"

4. Use Examples

Show what you want:

"Rewrite these headlines to be more engaging.

Example:
Original: 'Our New Feature'
Improved: 'The Feature You've Been Asking For Is Here'

Now rewrite:
1. 'Company Update'
2. 'New Pricing'"

The Prompt Template

Use this structure for most requests:

[Context/Background]
[Task/What you want]
[Format/How you want it]
[Constraints/Limitations]

Example Using Template

CONTEXT: I'm writing documentation for a Node.js library.

TASK: Write a getting-started guide that helps developers
install and use the library for the first time.

FORMAT: Include these sections:
- Installation (npm command)
- Basic Usage (simple example)
- Common Patterns (3 examples)

CONSTRAINTS:
- Keep it under 500 words
- Assume developers know JavaScript
- Use ES6 syntax

Common Mistakes

Too Vague

❌ "Make it better" ✅ "Make the opening paragraph more engaging by adding a hook"

Missing Context

❌ "Why isn't this working?" ✅ "This Python code should print 'Hello' but prints nothing. Why? [code]"

No Format Specified

❌ "Give me ideas" ✅ "Give me 5 ideas, each as a bullet point with a title and one-line description"

Asking Multiple Things

❌ "Explain X and write code for Y and also tell me about Z" ✅ Break into separate, focused requests

Iteration

Don't expect perfection on the first try:

Start with a request

"Write a product description for wireless earbuds"

Review and refine

"Make it shorter and focus more on the noise cancellation"

Adjust further

"Add a call-to-action at the end"

Final tweaks

"Perfect, but change 'amazing' to 'exceptional'"

Asking for Explanations

When you need to understand something:

"Explain [concept] as if I'm a [level]:
- Beginner: new to the topic
- Intermediate: knows basics
- Expert: wants technical depth"

Example:

"Explain how GPUs accelerate machine learning, assuming
I know basic programming but not hardware details."

Asking for Help with Your Work

For Writing

"I'm writing a [type] for [audience].
Here's my draft: [text]

Please:
1. Point out any unclear parts
2. Suggest improvements for flow
3. Fix any grammar issues"

For Code

"I'm trying to [goal] in [language].
Here's my current code: [code]

It should [expected behavior] but instead [actual behavior].
Help me find and fix the issue."

For Ideas

"I need ideas for [project/task].
Context: [relevant details]
Constraints: [limitations]

Give me [number] options, each with pros and cons."

Quick Reference

Goal	Prompt Starter
Get ideas	"Give me [X] ideas for..."
Improve writing	"Make this more [quality]..."
Explain something	"Explain [topic] assuming I know [level]..."
Solve a problem	"Help me [goal]. Currently [situation]. Issue is [problem]..."
Create content	"Write a [format] about [topic] for [audience]..."
Get feedback	"Review this [item] and suggest improvements for [aspects]..."

Practice Exercise

Transform this vague prompt into a specific one:

Vague: "Help me with my resume"

Specific:

"I'm applying for a senior software engineer role at a startup.
My current resume is attached. Please:
1. Suggest improvements to make it more impactful
2. Identify any gaps for a senior role
3. Recommend better action verbs for my experience bullets
Focus especially on highlighting leadership and technical depth."