ChatGPT Prompts – Engineering Best Practices
Effective ChatGPT prompts provide context, assign a role, specify the desired output format (like a table, checklist, or simple English), and include constraints, helping you get specific, useful answers for tasks from brainstorming ideas (e.g., “Act as a [role], give me 10 ideas for [topic] grouped by theme”) to simplifying complex topics (e.g., “Explain [topic] like I’m 5 years old”) or planning trips (“Plan a [trip type] to [destination], including itinerary, budget, and local tips”).
I. General Prompting Techniques
1. Assign a Role: “Act as a [financial adviser/creative writer/historian]”.
2. Provide Context: Explain your Goal and the audience for the output.
3. Be Specific: Instead of “ideas,” ask for “5 video title ideas under 50 characters”.
4. Set Format: “Output as a checklist/table/JSON/email”.
5. Define Tone: “Write in a friendly/professional/humorous tone”.
6. Use Constraints: Specify length, style, or budget.
7. Iterate: Refine your prompt based on the AI’s initial response.
II. Example Prompts by Category
1. Learning/Simplification:
– “Explain [topic] in simple terms like I’m 5 years old.”
– “Summarise this article into key bullet points for a busy manager (TLDR).”
2. Planning/Organisation:
– “Plan a 3-day solo trip to Kyoto: budget, itinerary, and local food tips.”
– “Create a 7-day email welcome sequence for new subscribers, including subject lines and content outlines.”
3. Creativity/Brainstorming:
– “Give me 10 unique blog post ideas about sustainable living, categorised by beginner/advanced.”
– “Suggest a personal story or metaphor to make the concept of compound interest more understandable.”
4. Self-Improvement/Reflection:
– “What are my blind spots in relationships based on my communication style? [Describe style]”
– “Help me design a morning routine that incorporates gratitude and visualisation.”
5. Writing/Content Creation:
– “Write a professional email to my team proposing a new project, keeping it concise and action-oriented.”
– “Turn these notes into a script for a 5-minute YouTube video about [topic].”
