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Prompts that get you a better answer

Ready-made prompts for emails, meetings, spreadsheets, planning and more, at your level. Copy one, fill in the [square brackets] with your details, and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or any AI assistant. 32 are free; the other 64 come with Pro.

96 prompts32 free to copy12 kinds of job

3 free prompts in Research and summaries

Research and summaries

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  • BeginnerFree

    Get up to speed on a topic fast

    Gives you a plain-English briefing and the questions to ask next.

    The prompt

    I need to get up to speed on [the topic] for [why you need it, such as a meeting or a decision]. What I know already: [what you know, or “nothing yet”]. Give me a plain-English briefing of under 300 words: what it is, why it matters, the main points of view, and three terms I’ll hear, each explained in a sentence. Then suggest five good questions to ask an expert. Tell me which parts are well established and which are disputed or changing fast, and say so if your information may be out of date.

    Tips and an example

    Tips for a better answer

    • For anything recent, use an assistant that can search the web, and check the date on what it finds.
    • Ask for sources, then open them: an assistant can name a real report and still get what it says wrong.

    An example, filled in

    I need to get up to speed on heat pumps for deciding whether to replace our gas boiler. What I know already: they run on electricity, and there may be grants. Give me a plain-English briefing of under 300 words: what it is, why it matters, the main points of view, and three terms I’ll hear, each explained in a sentence. Then suggest five good questions to ask an expert. Tell me which parts are well established and which are disputed or changing fast, and say so if your information may be out of date.

  • IntermediateFree

    Summarise a long report

    Turns a report into key findings, the evidence behind them and what’s missing.

    The prompt

    Summarise the report below for [who you’re summarising it for]. Give me: a three-sentence summary; the five key findings, each with the section or page it comes from; the evidence behind each finding (survey, data, case studies or opinion); and anything a reader might expect that the report doesn’t cover. Quote figures exactly as the report gives them. Write in plain, neutral English, and if the report doesn’t say something, don’t fill the gap. The report: [paste the text, or attach the file if your assistant can read files. Use public or approved documents only]

    Tips and an example

    Tips for a better answer

    • Spot-check two or three findings against the report itself before you rely on the summary.
    • Ask “what would someone who disagrees with this report say?” to find its weak points.

    An example, filled in

    Summarise the report below for my team, who will decide whether to read the full thing. Give me: a three-sentence summary; the five key findings, each with the section or page it comes from; the evidence behind each finding (survey, data, case studies or opinion); and anything a reader might expect that the report doesn’t cover. Quote figures exactly as the report gives them. Write in plain, neutral English, and if the report doesn’t say something, don’t fill the gap. The report: the full text of the council’s public consultation report on changes to local bus routes

  • AdvancedFree

    Find the weak points in an argument

    Tests an article, proposal or claim for gaps, bias and missing evidence.

    The prompt

    Act as a careful, fair critic. Read the text below and tell me: the main claim in one sentence; the evidence offered for it; any gaps, leaps in logic or cherry-picked figures; the strongest counter-argument; and what evidence would change your view. Flag any figure I should check at its source. Keep what the text says separate from your own judgement, and mark which of your points are solid and which are a matter of opinion. Be direct but even-handed. Why I’m reading it: [what you need to decide or do] The text: [paste the article, proposal or claim, leaving out anything confidential]

    Tips and an example

    Tips for a better answer

    • Try it on something you agree with, too. It’s the best way to spot your own blind spots.
    • Treat the critique as a list of things to check, not a verdict.

    An example, filled in

    Act as a careful, fair critic. Read the text below and tell me: the main claim in one sentence; the evidence offered for it; any gaps, leaps in logic or cherry-picked figures; the strongest counter-argument; and what evidence would change your view. Flag any figure I should check at its source. Keep what the text says separate from your own judgement, and mark which of your points are solid and which are a matter of opinion. Be direct but even-handed. Why I’m reading it: deciding whether to start a free trial for my team The text: An advert in my inbox: “Switch to our AI note-taker and save 10 hours a week. Our customers report 300% productivity gains. Join 50,000 happy teams.”

The prompts are AI-assisted, like everything we publish, and written to our house style. Spotted a problem with one? Tell us and an editor will check it.