How to Write Better ChatGPT Prompts (8 Rules with Examples)

The short version

Most weak ChatGPT answers come from prompts that leave out what only you know. ChatGPT doesn’t know your business, your reader or what “good” means to you. Put that in the prompt and the answers get dramatically better.

The 8 rules

1. Say who it’s for

“Explain inflation” and “Explain inflation to a 12-year-old” get very different answers. Name the reader.

2. Give the background

Who you are, what happened, what you’ve tried. Two or three sentences of context beat any clever wording.

3. State the task in one clear sentence

Start with a verb: write, summarize, compare, list, rewrite, explain, plan. If you have several tasks, number them.

4. Describe the format

Length (“under 200 words”), structure (“a table with three columns”), tone (“friendly but professional”).

5. Show an example

If you want a particular style, paste an example and say “write it like this”. Examples beat descriptions.

6. Say what to avoid

“No jargon.” “Don’t mention prices.” “Don’t invent statistics.” Limits are part of the brief.

7. Ask it to question you first

For bigger tasks, add: “Before you start, ask me the questions you need answered.” You’ll catch missing details before they turn into a weak draft.

8. Iterate in the same chat

Treat the first answer as a draft. Say exactly what to change: “Make point 2 shorter”, “Use our product name, Brightway”.

Before and after

Weak:

Write a post about our sale.

Strong:

I run a small garden center in Portland. Write a Facebook post announcing our fall bulb sale:
30% off all tulip and daffodil bulbs, October 31 to November 9.
Audience: local home gardeners. Tone: warm, a little playful. Under 80 words, one emoji at most,
and end with our address: 412 Alder St.

A template to copy

Role: You are [an experienced ... ].
Context: [who I am, the situation, what I've tried].
Task: [one sentence starting with a verb].
Format: [length, structure, tone].
Avoid: [what not to do].
Before you start, ask me any questions you need.

Mistakes to avoid

• Stacking unrelated tasks in one prompt. Split them, or number them clearly.
• Starting over instead of correcting. In the same chat, ChatGPT can fix the draft you already have.
• Asking for facts without sources. Ask “Which parts of this should I double-check?” and verify those.

When not to bother

For a quick fact or a definition, a short question is fine. Save the full template for anything you’ll send, publish or decide on.

Next: put the rules to work by writing an email or summarizing a document.