Clear prompts, explained simply
A prompt is the instruction you give a generative AI. The AI cannot read your mind, so a vague prompt gets a vague answer.
Clear prompts usually say who the result is for, what you want, and the limits: length, style, things to include and things to avoid. These limits are called constraints.
Prompting is a conversation. Read what comes back, notice what is missing, and refine the prompt. And always check the result, because AI can sound confident while being wrong.
Example: From vague to clear
- Vague: "Write a story."
- Clear: "Write a 5-sentence story for an 8-year-old about a shy dragon who learns to swim. Make it funny and end on a happy note."
- The clear prompt gives the audience, length, character, tone and ending.
Try this
- Turn "draw a house" into a detailed prompt with at least four constraints.
- Give a family member a vague instruction, then a clear one, and compare the results. People need clear prompts too.
- List three things you should never put in a prompt, such as your address or passwords.