Write a clear first prompt

Content checked against the listed guidance on November 5, 2026.

Name the task before adding detail.

Include only context that is safe and useful.

Ask for a specific format and refine one thing at a time.

Start with the job

Say what you want done in a direct sentence: explain, summarize, compare, rewrite, brainstorm or plan. “Help me with work” leaves many possible interpretations; “turn these public meeting notes into a short action list” gives the assistant a task.

Then add only the context that changes the answer. This might be the audience, the purpose, a length limit or information the assistant must keep unchanged. Use general examples instead of private details.

Describe the result you want

Tell the assistant how to shape the output. Ask for a short email, a numbered checklist, a table with named columns or a plain-language explanation. If tone matters, use ordinary words such as “warm but professional” or “calm and direct.”

Google’s prompt guidance recommends clear, specific instructions; Anthropic also emphasizes defining the goal and testing the result. These are useful starting points, not guarantees that one formula works for every service.

Goal: what should the assistant do?
Context: what safe-to-share details matter?
Audience: who will read or use the result?
Format: how should the answer be organized?

Try a small example, then improve it

Read the answer before adding more instructions. If it is too long, ask for a shorter version. If it sounds too formal, name the tone you want. If it added information you did not give it, say to use only your facts.

Change one thing at a time so you can tell whether the new instruction helped. For a task you repeat, save the prompt template with placeholders and replace them each time.

Try this prompt

Turn the notes below into a 5-item checklist for a new volunteer. Use plain language, keep each item under 15 words, and do not add facts that are not in the notes.

Notes:
[ADD NON-CONFIDENTIAL NOTES]

Concrete example

Sample input

Goal: turn public library event notes into a short reminder. Audience: first-time visitors. Format: three bullets. Facts: Saturday, 10 a.m., bring a notebook.

Illustrative output

• Join us Saturday at 10 a.m. • This event is designed for first-time visitors. • Please bring a notebook.

Limitations to keep in mind

A clear prompt improves the starting instructions but cannot ensure an accurate answer. Different services may respond differently, and the assistant may still misunderstand or invent details.