How to write a good prompt: a simple recipe
Better answers don’t come from clever wording. They come from telling the AI what you’d tell a helpful colleague. Here’s a four-part recipe that works in any assistant.
Video transcript
Ever asked AI for help and got something bland, or not quite right? The fix is usually simple. Here’s a four-part recipe for better answers.
Compare “write an email” with “write a short, polite but firm email to my landlord about a leak”. The second gives the AI what it needs to get it right first time.
Here’s the recipe. Say what you want done. Add the context: who it’s for and any background. Describe the format, such as length and tone. Then add an example, or a rule like no jargon.
With the recipe, the first draft is already close: the right person, the right tone and the facts that matter.
Don’t stop at the first answer. Treat it like a conversation. Too long? Say so. Too formal? Ask for something warmer. Each reply gets you closer.
Not sure what to include? End your request with this: before you answer, ask me up to five questions. It will ask for exactly the details it needs.
Task, context, format and an example. Copy the template from the full guide below and try it on something real today.
In 30 seconds
- Give it four things: the task, the context, the format, and an example or a rule.
- Treat the first answer as a draft, and refine it by replying, as in a conversation.
- Not sure what to include? Ask it to ask you questions first.
Sit in a hairdresser’s chair and say “just do something nice”, and you’re taking a gamble. Say “an inch off, keep the fringe, nothing I have to blow-dry” and you’ll walk out happy. Asking AI for help works the same way.
Why detail beats clever wording
A Jargon busterPrompt: What you type or say to an AI to tell it what you want. is simply what you type or say to an Jargon busterAI assistant: A chat app such as ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini that answers questions and does tasks you describe in plain language. such as ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini. You don’t need special phrases or tricks. Most disappointing answers come from missing information: the AI fills the gaps with guesses, and guesses tend to be bland.
| Vague prompt | Specific prompt |
|---|---|
| “Write an email to my landlord.” | “Write a short, polite but firm email to my landlord about the leak I reported three weeks ago.” |
| “Plan a trip to Edinburgh.” | “Plan three days in Edinburgh in October for two adults who love history and hate early starts.” |
| “Explain pensions.” | “Explain workplace pensions in plain English for someone starting their first job, in five bullet points.” |
| “Make this better.” | “Make this cover letter sound more confident. Keep it under 250 words and keep my examples.” |
The four-part recipe
- The taskSay what you want done, such as write, summarise, compare or plan, and what it’s about.
- The contextSay who it’s for and why, plus any background it can’t know, such as “my landlord has ignored two emails”.
- The formatSay how long, what shape and what tone: “under 150 words”, “three bullet points”, “friendly but firm”.
- An example or a rulePaste a sample of the style you like, or set limits: “no jargon”, “UK spelling”, “don’t mention the deposit”.
You won’t need all four every time. A quick question can stay quick. But when the answer matters, a minute spent on context saves several rounds of fixing.
Please [write / summarise / plan / explain] [what it’s about]. It’s for [who will read or use it]. Useful background: [what it should know]. Make it [length], as [bullet points or paragraphs], with a [friendly / formal / plain] tone. [An example of the style you like, or a rule such as “no jargon”.]
Then reply and refine
Your first prompt is a starting point, not a final order. Read the answer, then reply as you would to a person. There’s no need to start again.
- “Shorter, and less formal.”
- “Good, but the second paragraph is wrong: the leak is in the bathroom.”
- “Give me three different versions to choose from.”
Let it ask the questions
Not sure what to include? Flip it round. Describe your goal and ask the AI to interview you first. It will ask for the details it needs, so you don’t have to guess.
I need help with [your task]. Before you answer, ask me up to five questions so you understand exactly what I need. Then wait for my replies.
Prompting is a skill you pick up by doing. Try the recipe on a real job today, then explore five things to try with AI. And keep checking facts, because even a great prompt can’t stop AI making things up.
Check yourself
3 quick questions nothing is savedTools in this guide
Spotted a mistake? Tell us and an editor will check it.
