A prompt is just the message you type to an AI. The difference between a useless answer and a useful one is almost always in how much the AI knows about what you need.
Tell it who you are or who the answer is for, what you want done, the details that matter (length, tone, facts), and the format you want back. You do not need all four every time, but the more you give, the less you have to fix.
Write a friendly, short email to my landlord asking to fix the dripping kitchen tap. I have asked once before, two weeks ago. Keep it polite but firm, under 100 words.
I cook for two, we do not eat pork, and I have 30 minutes on weekday evenings. Give me a five-day dinner plan and one combined shopping list.
Summarise the text below in five bullet points for someone who has never heard of the topic. Then list any numbers it mentions. [paste the text]
Explain how a mortgage works as if I am 15. Use one everyday comparison, then check my understanding with three questions.
Here is my paragraph. Give me three ways to say it more simply and tell me which one you would choose and why.
Ask again. If the first answer is not right, say what is wrong with it: too long, too formal, missing the point. The second answer is usually much better than the first.
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