The AI Prompt Playbook: A Formula That Works

When an AI gives you a vague, generic, or off-target answer, the instinct is to blame the model. Almost always the real problem is the prompt: it did not say who the AI should be, what exactly you want, what it needs to know, or what good looks like. The model filled the gaps with guesses. Close the gaps and the same model gives you dramatically better work.

• Role - tell the AI what perspective to take. 'Act as a hiring manager reviewing this resume.' This shapes tone and priorities in one line.
• Task - say exactly what you want done, as a clear verb. 'Rewrite', 'summarize', 'find the three weakest points', 'draft'. Vague tasks get vague answers.
• Context - give it the facts it cannot guess: who it is for, what you have tried, the background. This is where most prompts are too thin.
• Format - describe the shape of the output you want. 'A five-bullet list.' 'A table with two columns.' 'Under 150 words.' If you do not say, you get whatever it defaults to.
• Constraints - the rules and limits. 'No jargon.' 'Keep it to one paragraph.' 'Only use the information I gave you.' Constraints are how you steer quality.

1. 1Being polite instead of clear. 'Could you maybe help me with something about my email?' wastes words and says nothing. State the task directly.
2. 2Leaving out the context. The AI does not know your situation unless you tell it. A prompt with no background is a prompt that guesses.
3. 3Asking for everything at once. A single prompt that wants research, a draft, and edits all together produces mush. Break it into steps and build on each answer.
4. 4Not saying what good looks like. If you do not describe the format and constraints, you cannot be surprised when the shape is wrong. Show it the target.

Fill in the brackets. These cover the requests people make most often - adapt them, then save the ones that work for you.

• Rewrite: 'Act as a [role]. Rewrite the text below to be [goal - clearer / shorter / friendlier]. Keep it under [length]. Do not add new facts. Text: [paste].'
• Explain: 'Explain [topic] to me like I am completely new to it. Use a plain-language analogy, then give one concrete example. Keep it under 200 words.'
• Plan: 'I want to [goal]. My situation: [context]. Give me a step-by-step plan with no more than [number] steps, ordered by what to do first.'
• Critique: 'Act as a tough but fair [role]. Here is my [thing]. Find the three weakest points and, for each, tell me exactly how to fix it. Be specific.'
• Decide: 'Help me choose between [option A] and [option B] for [goal]. List the real tradeoff, then give me your single recommendation and why.'