What is a prompt? Get more out of ChatGPT in 5 minutes
What is a prompt? It is the question or instruction you give to an AI chatbot. With the formula role, task, context and format, you get better answers straight away.
What is a prompt, and why do some people get much better answers from ChatGPT than others? The secret almost always lies in that one sentence you type in. In this article, you will learn in five minutes how to write a good prompt, with a simple formula and examples you can use straight away.
What exactly is a prompt?
A prompt is the question or instruction you give to an AI chatbot such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or Claude. So everything you type into the text box is a prompt.
That sounds simple, and it is. Even so, the way you give that instruction makes a big difference to what you get back. The AI cannot read your mind. It only works with what you tell it.
Think of it like a new colleague. If you only say write an email, you get something generic. If you say who the email is for, what it needs to include and how long it can be, you get exactly what you need. Anthropic, the maker of Claude, gives the same advice in its guide to clear prompts: would a colleague with no background knowledge understand your instruction? If so, the AI will understand it too.
Are you completely new to this? Then start with what AI actually is or our guide to using ChatGPT as a beginner.
How do you write a good prompt?
A good prompt tells the AI who to be, what to do, what to know and what the answer should look like. With these four parts, you can almost always write a strong instruction.
In its prompt guide for Gemini, Google uses the same four parts: persona, task, context and format. You do not always need all four, but the more you fill in, the better the result usually is.
| Part | What you tell the AI | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Who the AI should be | You are a friendly customer service assistant. |
| Task | What the AI should do | Write a reminder about an unpaid invoice. |
| Context | What the AI needs to know | The customer has been loyal for years and is two weeks late. |
| Format | What the answer looks like | No more than 80 words, in an informal tone. |
What does a good prompt look like in practice?
A good prompt is often just a few sentences long and includes concrete details. The difference is easiest to see side by side.
Weak prompt: Write an email about an invoice.
Strong prompt: You are a friendly customer service assistant. Write a reminder about an unpaid invoice for 250 euros. The customer has been loyal for years and is two weeks late. Keep it friendly and short, no more than 80 words, in an informal tone.
The second prompt takes ten seconds longer to type. But afterwards you hardly need to change the answer. With the first prompt, the AI has to guess the amount, the tone and the length. With the second, it knows exactly what you want.
Which tips give you better answers?
The best tips are: give examples, ask follow-up questions and always check the facts. With these five habits, you will get much more out of any chatbot.
- Give an example. Paste in a text you like and ask for something in the same style.
- Ask follow-up questions. Is the answer not right? Say what needs to change: shorter, less formal or with three bullet points. In its tips for ChatGPT, OpenAI calls this improving step by step.
- Let the AI ask questions. End with: Ask me three questions first before you begin.
- Ask for options. With give me three versions, you have more to choose from.
- Check the facts. An AI can make things up. Always check names, numbers and dates yourself.
Also be careful about what you put in a prompt. Do not share customer details, passwords or confidential figures. In our article on using AI safely and protecting your privacy, you can read what to look out for.
How do you use the prompt formula yourself?
You use the formula by replacing the words in square brackets with your own situation. Copy the template below, fill it in and paste it into your chatbot.
An example: You are an experienced marketer. Write a short LinkedIn post for business owners in construction. Take into account that we have just opened a new branch in Utrecht. Make it no more than 100 words, enthusiastic but not over the top.
Frequently asked questions
What is a prompt in plain English?
A prompt is the question or instruction you type into an AI chatbot. The answer you get depends a great deal on how clear that instruction is.
How long should a prompt be?
There is no fixed length. For most tasks, a few sentences with a role, task, context and format work well. Too short usually means the AI has to guess.
Does this formula also work with Gemini, Copilot and Claude?
Yes. All the major chatbots work with prompts in everyday language. For Gemini, Google even recommends exactly the same four parts.
Do I have to write my prompt in a particular language?
No. You can simply write in your own language. If you want the answer in a different language, say so in your prompt.
Your next step
Try it today: pick an email or text you already had to write and use the formula above. Looking for more inspiration? Have a look at our 25 prompts for your work, which you can copy straight away.
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