How to write a great AI prompt
The five parts of a prompt that works, with before and after examples.
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Get better answers from AI
22 short guides in plain words. No jargon, no fluff. Read one in less time than it takes to make coffee.
Prompt basics
How to ask so the AI gets it right the first time.
How to give AI the right context
What to paste, what to explain and what to leave out.
Show, don't tell: put examples in your prompt
One good sample teaches AI more than a long list of rules.
Let AI ask you questions first
One line at the end of a prompt finds the gaps before AI starts guessing.
Get answers in the format you need
Lists, tables, steps, word limits and text ready to paste, on the first try.
When to tell AI who to be
When a role line helps, when it does nothing, and how to write a good one.
Make AI write like you
Teach AI your voice with real samples, so drafts sound like you wrote them.
Follow-up prompts that fix a bad answer
Copy-ready lines to send when the first answer misses.
Break big jobs into small prompts
Run a big job as a short chain of prompts, one step at a time, in one chat.
Trust and safety
Check what it says, and keep private things private.
How to check AI answers for mistakes
Spot made-up facts and check the names, numbers, dates and links that matter.
Keep your private info safe with AI
What never to paste into AI, and how to get help without sharing it.
Images and video
Describe pictures and clips the way the tools need.
How to write image prompts
Subject, style, light, color and shape: what image tools need from you.
How to write video prompts
Write one clear shot, the way a film director would.
AI at work
Emails, summaries, numbers, assistants and study.
Write better emails with AI
Clear emails and replies in less time, still in your own voice.
Summarize long things with AI
Turn long articles, reports, threads and notes into what you need to know.
AI for small business: 10 jobs to hand off
Ten everyday jobs a small business can hand to AI this week.
Use AI with spreadsheets and numbers
Formulas, clean-up, charts and plain-word answers from your numbers.
How to set up your own AI assistant
Custom GPTs, Claude Projects and Gemini Gems, explained in plain words.
Learn anything faster with AI
Use AI as a patient tutor that explains, quizzes and plans with you.
Reference
Which tool to use, the cheat sheet and the words.
Pick the right AI tool for the job
Chat, image, video and AI search tools: what each is good and bad at.
The prompt cheat sheet
One printable page: prompt parts, power phrases, follow-ups and checklists.
AI words, in plain English
Prompt, token, context window and 97 more, explained simply.
The short version
Four habits that fix most prompts
- Say who the AI should be. "You are a friendly math tutor" gets a different answer than no role at all.
- Give it the context. Who is it for, what is it for, what do you already have? The AI only knows what you tell it.
- Ask for a format. A list, a table, 3 options, under 100 words. Say what the answer should look like.
- Keep the chat going. The first answer is a draft. Ask for changes until it is right.