How to write better prompts: seven patterns with examples

Guides · 4 min read · Written by the Taufa team · Updated 30 October 2026

An assistant cannot see your screen, know your plans or read your mind. It sees the words you type and whatever files you attach. A prompt is just a clear message to a capable colleague who knows nothing about your situation. If you would be confused receiving it, the assistant probably is too. These seven patterns cover most of what helps.

1. Say what you are trying to achieve, not just the task

The same task can need very different answers depending on the goal.

• Before: "Write about solar panels."
• After: "I am writing a one-page note for my housing society committee, who need to decide whether to install rooftop solar. Write it in plain language and end with three questions they should ask vendors."

2. Give the context it cannot guess

Include who the reader is, what they already know, the country or rules that apply, and any constraints such as word count, budget or deadline. Attach the document instead of describing it.

• Before: "How much tax will I pay?"
• After: "I am a salaried employee in India earning ₹9 lakh a year with no other income. Explain how my income tax would be calculated under the new regime for the current financial year, step by step, and tell me which parts I should confirm on the official income tax website."

3. Specify the format you want

Say whether you want a table, a list, a paragraph, an email, code, a one-line answer or a document. Say how long. If you will paste the result into something, say so.

• Before: "Compare these two phones."
• After: "Compare these two phones in a table with rows for price, battery, camera and software updates, and then give me a two-sentence recommendation for someone who mostly uses maps and video calls."

4. Show an example of what good looks like

One example does more than a paragraph of description. Paste a sample of your own writing, a past report, or a format you like, and ask for the same style.

5. Break big jobs into steps

A long, complex request in one message often produces a shallow result. Ask for an outline first, agree on it, then fill in one part at a time. Each step is easier to check, and you can change direction early.

1. Ask for three possible outlines.
2. Choose one and adjust it.
3. Ask for section one only. Revise.
4. Continue section by section, then ask for a final read-through for consistency.

6. Ask it to ask you questions

When you are not sure what to include, let the assistant interview you first. This surfaces the details you did not think to mention.

7. Review and iterate

The first answer is a draft. Say what is wrong in specific terms and the next one improves quickly. "Make it better" gives little to work with. "Shorter, more direct, and remove the second paragraph because the reader already knows that" gives a lot.

• "The second point is too general. Give a concrete example from a small business."
• "This sounds formal. Rewrite it as if I were speaking to a friend, but keep the three facts."
• "You added a statistic I did not give you. Remove anything that is not in my notes."

Common mistakes

• Asking several unrelated questions in one message, so some get ignored.
• Leaving out a key limit, such as a word count or a legal jurisdiction.
• Trusting a confident answer without checking facts that matter. Our guide on checking AI answers covers this.
• Pasting sensitive information you would not want stored or shared. Remove names, ID numbers and financial details you do not need to include.

You do not need clever phrases or secret formulas. Clear writing that says the goal, the context, the format and an example is what works, with any assistant.

Related guides

• How to check an AI answer before you rely on it
• Write a cover letter and fix your resume with AI
• How to study for exams with AI without fooling yourself

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