How to Write Better Prompts for ChatGPT

Alexander Morfesis
4 min readApr 11, 2023

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Asking better questions produces better results.
Source: http://www.akornilo.com

ChatGPT, the cutting-edge AI language model, has quickly gained widespread recognition for its ability to put boundless creativity in the hands of writers. With its ability to generate computer code, rhyming poetry, and thoughtful essays in an instant, ChatGPT is revolutionizing the writing process.

Its limitless potential can spark your imagination and take your writing to new heights. However, unlocking the full power of ChatGPT requires mastering the art of prompt writing, as default responses may fall short and can be somewhat lackluster without the right prompts.

The growing demand for ‘prompt engineers’ reflects the need for skilled experts who can train AI to generate improved responses.

As the demand for skilled prompt engineers rises, here are some invaluable tips to enhance your ChatGPT experience and transform your writing. Get ready to unleash ChatGPT’s potential with these simple tweaks to your prompt writing!

Ask for Specifics

Original Prompt: “What is the theme of The Great Gatsby?”

Improved Prompt: “Can you provide a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby that best exemplifies the theme of the corrupting influence of wealth and materialism? Explain how the quote embodies this theme.”

One way to make your writing more engaging is by incorporating vivid and relevant details.

For instance, incorporating quotes from primary sources can lend authenticity and precision to the response, making it more credible and accurate.

Including figures and statistics can provide a solid foundation for the information shared, substantiating claims and adding credibility.

Real-world examples can make the response more relatable and understandable, allowing the reader to connect with the content on a personal level.

Specify the Reading and Expertise Level for the Response

Original Prompt: “Explain the intricacies of quantum mechanics and its relationship with wave-particle duality and superposition.”

Improved Prompt: “Can you provide a simple and easy-to-understand explanation of quantum mechanics for a general audience with no prior knowledge of quantum physics? Make the response simple so a 5th grader could understand it.”

When seeking a response from ChatGPT, it’s essential to specify the desired reading and expertise level to ensure an appropriate and accurate response.

Women having a conversation in a professional setting.
Source: https://www.betterhelp.com

For instance, if you’re looking for a layman’s explanation, you could specify that you want a response in simple and accessible language, avoiding technical jargon.

Conversely, if you need a more in-depth and technical analysis, you could specify that you want a response with expert-level language and references to scholarly sources.

Cut and Paste Outside Sources & Ask for Responses

Summarize: “Can you provide a concise summary of the main ideas and key points from this article on climate change?”

Refute: “Based on this source that argues against the effectiveness of a vegan diet for athletes, can you provide counterarguments or evidence from other sources that support the benefits of a plant-based diet for athletic performance?”

Fact-check: “I came across a statistic that claims 80% of people prefer online shopping over in-person shopping. Can you verify the accuracy of this statistic by checking reputable sources?”

ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for leveraging outside sources to enhance your responses. One effective approach is to use ChatGPT to summarize lengthy or complex texts, such as articles or research papers, into concise and digestible summaries. This can help you extract the main ideas and key points from a source, saving time and effort.

Additionally, ChatGPT can be used to refute or challenge claims made in external sources by providing counterarguments or pointing out potential biases or limitations. ChatGPT can also be utilized to fact-check information from outside sources, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the content.

Furthermore, ChatGPT can help you generate original content by combining information from multiple sources into a coherent and well-organized response. Just make sure you cite your sources!

Set Limits to the Responses

Original Prompt: “Tell me everything about climate change.”

Improved Prompt: “Please provide a concise overview of the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to climate change. Limit your response to 500 words or less to ensure a concise and informative summary.”

Setting limits on the responses from ChatGPT can enhance its performance. By specifying restrictions such as word count or number of paragraphs, you can tailor the output to your needs.

For instance, you can ask ChatGPT to condense lengthy information or provide answers with short words for simplicity. If the responses are not on track, you can correct them and ChatGPT will attempt to improve accordingly.

Young man raising his hand to ask a question.
Source: https://www.betterup.com/

Vary the Genre and Writing Style of Responses

Original Prompt: “Give me directions on how to bake a chocolate cake.”

Improved Prompt: “With Jane Austen’s signature wit, eloquence, and attention to detail, compose a set of instructions for baking a luscious chocolate cake that would delight the palates and imaginations of readers.”

One of the remarkable abilities of ChatGPT is its versatility in crafting responses in different styles and genres. Like a chameleon, ChatGPT can seamlessly adapt its tone, language, and style to mimic literary authors, create captivating radio commercials, and more.

With a simple prompt, you can transport ChatGPT to the realms of Shakespearean eloquence, where it can spin sonnets with poetic flair. Or you can set the stage for a snappy radio commercial, and watch as ChatGPT pitches products with catchy jingles and persuasive sales pitches.

With these few tweaks to your prompt writing, you’re now set to take your ChatGPT & AI experience to a new level!

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