Tips4 min read
Five habits for writing better prompts
Small changes to how you ask make a big difference to what you get back. Five habits that work with every model.
You don't need special tricks to get good answers from AI. Clear prompts work across every model. These five habits will improve almost any conversation.
1. Give context
Say who the answer is for and why you need it. "Explain recursion" and "Explain recursion to a first-year student before an exam" get very different answers.
2. Say what format you want
A list, a table, three short options, a single paragraph — asking for the shape of the answer saves a round of edits.
3. Share an example
If you want a specific tone or structure, paste a short example. Models are very good at following a pattern.
4. Ask for one thing at a time
Big multi-part requests tend to get shallow answers. Break the work into steps and build on each reply.
5. Keep the conversation going
The first answer is a draft. Ask for changes — shorter, more formal, with sources, without jargon. Follow-ups are where the best results come from.