HverdagsAI
The good news? A few simple tricks can make a big difference.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through 6 practical tips that help you write better prompts, avoid common mistakes, and get more useful answers from ChatGPT – right from the start.
Let’s dive in!
Tip 1: 5 Core principles for writing great prompts
Prompt engineering – or just “prompting” – is the way we talk, chat, or give instructions to ChatGPT and similar tools. To get the output you want, it’s important to understand the basics of writing effective prompts:
- Use structure: It helps you get better and builds confidence
- Be specific: Give clear details about what you’re asking
- Break down big tasks: Have a conversation, not an essay in one go
- Repeat and refine: Improve your prompt based on the answers
- Use relevant keywords and terminology: Guide ChatGPT where you want it to go
These principles also show up in the prompt templates we’ll cover later.
Tip 2: Include the right elements in your prompts
A good prompt typically includes:
- Clear and simple language that avoids confusion
- A specific persona (e.g., “You are a marketing expert”)
- Relevant background info or examples (context!)
- A clear task or question
- Boundaries or preferences (e.g., “Don’t use technical jargon”)
The more of these you remember when writing prompts, the better your chances of getting a helpful response.
Tip 3: Use “modifiers” to fine-tune your prompts
Small words make a big difference. Modifiers are words that help steer ChatGPT in the right direction. Try using:
- Intensity words: “very,” “slightly,” “extremely”
- Descriptive adjectives to guide tone or mood
- Directive phrases that clarify how direct the answer should be
Remember, you’re talking to a machine – it takes your words literally. Even though it’s getting “smarter,” clarity still matters a lot.
Tip 4: Context, Context, Context!
This is where most people go wrong: they don’t give enough information. And that’s dangerous, because you’ll still get a polished-sounding response – it just might not be relevant.
Try writing 5 lines instead of 2 – you’ll often get a way better result.
Here’s another great tip: ask ChatGPT to “please ask me 2 more questions before answering.” That way, you’re forced to give more context.
The more relevant background you can provide – about the task, your audience, your goals – the more tailored and useful the response will be. It's almost always better to write too much than too little. If in doubt, add another line before hitting enter!
Tip 5: Start with simple prompts and easy-to-remember templates
If you’re new to ChatGPT, it can be tough to know where to begin. Here are a few easy starter prompts:
- "Explain [topic] to me like I’m a 5th grader."
- "Write a short poem about [person/place/thing]."
- "Give me 3 ideas for saving money in daily life."
One tip: find a go-to template you can remember and reuse across different tasks. One of our favorites is the CO-STAR method:
- Context: What’s the background or situation?
- Objective: What’s the goal?
- Style: What style or format should it follow?
- Tone: What mood or tone do you want?
- Audience: Who’s the output for?
- Response: What type of output are you expecting?
Example:
I need to give a speech at my friend’s wedding. Objective: To write a touching but also funny 5-minute speech. Style: Personal, anecdotal, with a bit of humor. Tone: Warm, loving, slightly teasing. Audience: The couple, friends, and family of all ages. Response: A full speech including pauses and emphasis.
Prompt:
“I need to give a speech at my friend’s wedding. Please write a touching but funny 5-minute speech. Make it personal, include anecdotes, and keep the tone warm, loving, and slightly teasing. The audience includes the couple, family, and friends of all ages. Please provide the full speech with pauses and emphasis included.”
By using the CO-STAR method, you make your prompts more focused and effective – leading to better results.
Tip 6: Use ChatGPT’s memory (within a aession) to your advantage
That’s a huge strength you can take advantage of. You can build on previous responses and ask it to:
- Expand or clarify something
- Rewrite in a different style or format
- Suggest alternatives or new angles
- Summarize key points
- Add specific elements like headers, images, or examples
The more you build on what it gives you, the more refined the result. That said – sometimes it’s smart to stop when you’re 80% there. If the core is good, tweak the last part yourself. But if it’s about formatting or structure, why not let ChatGPT do that before you copy/paste?
Final Thoughts
These 6 ChatGPT tips should give you a solid starting point. Even small adjustments can make a big difference.
And yes – the old saying practice makes perfect still applies. You’ve got to try things out and learn by doing. But avoiding the most common mistakes from the beginning? That’s a big win – and what this guide aims to help with.
Good luck!