If you want better results from generative AI, you have to give it better instructions. The tools—ChatGPT, Bard, Claude, Perplexity, and others—are only as good as the prompts they’re fed. This isn’t just a “nice-to-know” tip; it’s the key to getting meaningful, useful output from generative AI.
Why Prompts Matter More Than You Think
The link between a prompt and the output it generates is simple: garbage in, garbage out. These models can’t read your mind. They look for patterns based on the text you give them and respond in kind. So, if your prompt is vague or overly broad, don’t be surprised when the response is, too.
Think of AI as the smartest person you know who has read the entire internet but doesn’t know a thing about your goals. You have to spell things out—what you want and how you want it said.
Prompting Done Well
Be Specific, Always
“Write a story” is a recipe for dull output. Instead, say something like, “Write a short, spooky ghost story for 10-year-olds, no gore, light humor.” You’ll immediately get something more tailored—and more useful.
Context Is Key
Want better results? Give the AI some background. Trying to draft marketing copy? Mention the brand voice, who the author should be, the product, the target audience, and what you’re aiming for. A few example sentences can help show the tool exactly what you want.
Start with a Verb
Kick off your prompt with action words like “list,” “explain,” or “summarize.” It’s a small tweak that helps nudge the AI toward giving you cleaner, more direct answers.
Getting Even Smarter with Prompts
Iterate, Don’t Overthink
You don’t need to land the perfect prompt on your first try. Ask something basic, look at what the AI spits out, then refine it. This back-and-forth approach usually outperforms a single, huge prompt loaded with too much detail up front.
Set the Tone
Tone matters, especially if you’re writing for a specific audience. Let the AI know what you’re going for: professional, conversational, cheeky, whatever. Don’t just say “write a speech,” say “write a wedding toast that’s funny but still safe for grandma.”
How to Avoid Bland or Verbose Content
Generic and wordy AI content is a common gripe—and a marker of AI-generation. Usually, it’s the result of generic input. If you want something with edge, ask for it. Share writing samples you like, ask for a contrarian perspective, or challenge the model to surprise you. If you want it to be more concise or use natural spoken language, share those instructions as well.
Make Prompting a Habit
Layer as You Go
Don’t overwhelm your initial prompt with every detail. Start simple, then stack context, examples, and tone direction in follow-ups. Think of it like sculpting, where you shape the result incrementally.
Talk Back
If something feels off, say so. Tell the AI what worked and what didn’t, then ask for a revision. This conversational loop trains the model to align with your preferences over time.
Be Clear About the Output
Need a tweet? A three-paragraph summary? A full-blown whitepaper? Say so. Otherwise, the AI is just guessing. Setting format and length expectations helps streamline the process and reduces back-and-forth.
Looking Ahead at the Future of AI Prompt Engineering
Prompting well is a valuable skill. Although models are getting better at interpreting intent with less instruction, the basics still matter: be clear, offer context, and tweak as needed. Skip the “secret prompt formulas” as most don’t work. The real secret, like most things in life, is practice.
Master the fundamentals, and the rest will hopefully come naturally. With a bit of trial and error, you’ll start getting results that actually sound like you.
