Prompt-writing cheat sheet
Everything you need to write useful prompts, on one page.
The five parts of a good prompt
| Part | What to include | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Task | Start with a verb. One main task per prompt. | Rewrite my work experience as achievement-focused CV bullet points. |
| Context | Who it's for, background, facts, constraints. | I'm applying for a junior data analyst role at a bank in Lagos. |
| Examples | Show what good looks like. | Here's a bullet I like: “Cut report time by 40% by automating…” |
| Format | Length, structure, tone, language variety. | 4–6 bullets per role, British English, no clichés. |
| Check | Ask it to flag assumptions and gaps. | Use [add number] where a figure would help; don't invent numbers. |
Reusable template
Task: [what you want — use a clear verb: write, summarise, compare, explain] Context: [who it's for, the situation, facts to include, what you've tried] Example: [paste an example of what good looks like, if you have one] Format: [length, structure, tone, English variety] Check: Mark any assumptions. If anything is unclear, ask me before answering.
Fix a weak answer
- Too generic
- Add specific details about audience, location and purpose. Paste examples.
- Too long
- Give a word limit and the format you want.
- Wrong tone
- Describe the tone and give a sample sentence.
- Made-up facts
- Provide the facts yourself; say “only use the information I gave you”.
- Missed the point
- Restate the goal: “The purpose of this is to…”
- Hard to use
- Ask for a table, checklist or step-by-step list.
Useful follow-ups
- “Give me three versions with different tones.”
- “What information would make this better? Ask me.”
- “Explain your reasoning step by step.”
- “Make it 30% shorter without losing facts.”
- “Turn this into a table.”
- “What are the weaknesses of this answer?”
Always: check facts that matter, and never paste passwords or other people's personal data.