How to Write a Good AI Prompt (With Examples)
A prompt is simply what you type to the AI. The secret to good answers is not clever tricks. It is giving the AI the same details you would give a person helping you. Here is a simple pattern that works almost every time.
Step by step
- Say who you are and what you need. Start with a sentence of context. For example, I am retired and planning a trip, or I am writing to my landlord.
- Say what you want back. A short email, a list, a table, three options, a step-by-step plan. If you do not say, you get whatever the AI picks.
- Add the details that matter. Dates, budget, tone, who it is for, what you already tried. More detail means a more useful answer.
- Ask for the style you like. Try plain words, short sentences, friendly but professional, or no jargon.
- Follow up instead of starting over. If the answer is close, say make it shorter, make it warmer, or explain step two again. The AI remembers the conversation.
A prompt you can copy
Type this into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini
I am a retired teacher writing to my neighbor about a fence that crosses our property line. Write a polite, firm letter of about 150 words. Keep it friendly and suggest we talk this week.
Good to know. If you are stuck, ask the AI itself: What else do you need to know to help me with this?
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Reserve a free seatCommon questions
Do I need to say please?
It does not matter to the AI, so use whatever feels natural.
How long should a prompt be?
As long as it takes to include the details that matter. Three or four sentences is common.