How to Write Better AI Prompts: A Simple Framework

Prompting isn't about magic phrases. It's about giving the AI what a capable person would need to do the job well. This framework works across ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and most other assistants.

The framework: Task, Context, Examples, Format, Check

1. Task – say exactly what you want

Use a clear verb: write, summarise, compare, explain, list, rewrite, critique. "Help me with my CV" is vague; "Rewrite my work experience as achievement-focused bullet points" is clear.

2. Context – give the background

• Who is it for?
• What's the situation?
• What facts must be included?
• What do you already know or have tried?

The AI can't read your mind or your files unless you provide them.

3. Examples – show what good looks like

If you have a previous email, a style you like or a sample output, include it. Examples communicate tone and format more precisely than descriptions.

4. Format – describe the output

Length, structure (bullets, table, headings), tone, language variety ("British English", "Nigerian English") and reading level.

5. Check – ask it to flag problems

"If anything is unclear, ask me before answering." "Mark any assumption you make." "Don't add facts I haven't given you."

Before and after

Before: "Write a post about our new menu."

After: "Write an Instagram caption announcing our new lunch menu at Mama's Kitchen in Kumasi. New dishes: jollof with grilled tilapia, red red with plantain, and a vegetarian groundnut soup. Available Monday–Saturday, 11am–3pm. Tone: warm and lively, not salesy. Under 80 words, with one question to encourage comments and up to 4 hashtags."

Techniques worth knowing

• Ask for options: "Give me three versions with different tones."
• Break it down: outline first, then draft each section.
• Role framing: "Act as an experienced editor" can help set expectations, but details matter more than the role.
• Step-by-step reasoning: for analysis or maths, ask it to show its reasoning so you can check it.
• Iterate: respond to drafts with specific feedback.

Reusable prompt templates

Save prompts that work. Our prompt library has templates with [brackets] to fill in, and our prompt optimiser restructures a rough prompt into this framework.

What prompting can't fix

Better prompts reduce errors, but no prompt guarantees accuracy. Always check facts that matter.