Write a brief someone could act on
A practical prompt tells the AI service what to do, what information to use and what a useful result looks like. Start with a specific task, then add context, boundaries and the format you want back.
A before-and-after example
Starting instruction
Write something for our bakery.This does not identify a channel, an audience, a topic or an action. The service has to fill those gaps.
A more complete brief
Write an Instagram caption for a fictional neighborhood bakery promoting
a Saturday bread tasting. Speak to local customers in a warm, simple tone.
Keep it under 70 words and finish with one invitation to attend.
Use only these facts: neighborhood bakery; bread tasting; Saturday.
Do not invent prices, opening hours, an address or booking instructions.
If an essential fact is missing, ask for it before drafting.Use a four-part prompt structure
- Task: “Write an Instagram caption” defines the deliverable.
- Context: the business, audience and supplied facts explain the situation.
- Boundaries: the word limit and excluded claims limit the draft.
- Output: the tone and final invitation describe what to return.
Review with a concrete checklist
For this example, ask four questions: Is the caption under 70 words? Does it mention the Saturday tasting? Does it end with one invitation? Does every factual detail come from the brief?
These checks let you diagnose a specific failure. If the result invents an opening time, revise the fact boundary. If the tone feels too formal, supply a short example of your preferred wording. Change the part of the prompt connected to the problem.
Add source material clearly
Separate the instructions from the material to analyze. Label sections such as “Task,” “Approved facts” and “Source text” so it is clear what the service should do with each part.
For complex work, start with a small sample. Check that the result fits your requirements before running the same instructions across more material.
Find a template in our prompt directory, then replace the bracketed details with your own brief. For structured responses, see our JSON prompt guide.