Quick Reference Guide

How to Write a Good AI Prompt

AI does a lot better when you tell it what you actually need. Here's a simple formula that works — and the one thing most people forget.

The Formula

Role

I am a [your role] and I am [doing what].

Context

The attached [document/file] contains [what it is and what it's for].

Task

I want you to [specific thing you need].

Constraint ★

Do not [what you don't want]. Instead, [what you actually need].

Real Example

I am a call center manager writing performance assessments for my direct reports. The attached slide contains the five criteria I'm required to cover, along with a sample assessment. I want you to review the assessment below and tell me how it aligns with the required criteria — what's covered well and what's missing. Do not rewrite it. I want a review of my work, not a replacement for it.

That last sentence is the constraint — and it's the most important part. Without it, the AI will rewrite the whole thing whether you wanted that or not. The constraint tells it to stop.

What Works vs. What Doesn't

Do this

Be specific about what you need. "Summarize the key points from this document in plain English" is much better than "summarize this."

Give it the reference material. If you have a rubric, a template, or an example — attach it. The AI can only evaluate against standards it can see.

Tell it your role. "I'm a manager writing for HR" gives it context that changes the whole tone of the output.

Say what format you want. "Bullet points, not paragraphs" or "keep it under 200 words" works well.

Not this

Vague asks like "help me with this." The AI will guess what you need and probably guess wrong.

Assuming it knows the context. It only knows what you tell it in this conversation.

Skipping the constraint. Without it, you'll get more than you asked for — a full rewrite when you wanted a review, five options when you wanted one.

Asking everything at once. One clear task at a time gets better results than a paragraph of mixed requests.

Useful Constraints by Situation

You want feedback, not a rewrite

"Do not rewrite this. Tell me what's working and what's missing."

You want one answer, not a menu

"Give me one recommendation, not a list of options."

You want it short

"Keep your response under 150 words. No preamble, just the answer."

You want plain language

"Write this for someone who doesn't know the technical terms. No jargon."

You want it to stop agreeing with everything

"Give me the honest version. If something doesn't work, say so."

You want it to ask before assuming

"Before you answer, tell me what you're assuming about my situation."