Prompt Engineering Basics

Prompt engineering is the skill of crafting prompts that consistently produce high-quality outputs. Here are the fundamental techniques.

1. Be Specific and Clear

Ambiguity is the enemy of good outputs. Compare:

❌ "Make this better" ✅ "Improve this email by making it more concise, fixing grammar errors, and adding a clear call-to-action at the end"

The more specific you are, the less the AI has to guess.

2. Provide Context

AI doesn't know your situation. Give it the background it needs:

❌ "Write a response to this complaint" ✅ "You are a customer service representative for an e-commerce company. Write a response to this complaint about a delayed shipment. Our policy is to offer 10% off the next order for delays over 5 days."

3. Specify the Format

Tell the AI exactly how you want the output structured:

• "Respond in bullet points"
• "Write as a numbered list with 5 items"
• "Format as a markdown table with columns for Pros and Cons"
• "Keep your response to 3 paragraphs"

4. Use Role Prompting

Assign the AI a specific role or perspective:

• "You are an experienced Python developer reviewing code..."
• "Act as a marketing expert analyzing this campaign..."
• "Explain this concept as if you were a teacher talking to a 10-year-old..."

This shapes the tone, expertise level, and approach of the response.

5. Set Constraints

Boundaries help focus the output:

• Length: "In 100 words or less"
• Tone: "Keep it professional and formal"
• Scope: "Focus only on the technical aspects"
• Exclusions: "Don't include any code examples"

6. Ask for Reasoning

When you need thoughtful analysis, ask the AI to explain its thinking:

• "Explain your reasoning step by step"
• "Walk me through your thought process"
• "Before giving your answer, list the key factors you're considering"

This often produces more accurate and useful responses.

Quick Reference Template

[Role]: You are a [role/expert type]

[Context]: [Background information]

[Task]: [What you want done]

[Format]: [How to structure the output]

[Constraints]: [Any limitations]

Practice Makes Perfect

Good prompting is a skill that improves with practice. Experiment, observe what works, and refine your approach over time.

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