AI Tools Field GuidePrompting that works
There is no magic wording. Every improvement on this page states a choice the model would otherwise make for you: who reads this, what good looks like, what shape, and from what source. What you leave out, it guesses.
The four things to include
- Who reads it"This goes to the N3 as a one-page decision brief; she will approve or redirect."
- An example of good"Match the tone and structure of this memo: …" Paste one from your office.
- Length and format"Under 250 words, three headed paragraphs, no bullets."
- The source"Use only the attached instruction. If something isn't in it, say so."
Then, at the end: "List the assumptions you made." One line turns the model's guesses into a checklist you can read.
Before and after
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Write a memo about the new leave policy. | Draft a memo announcing the attached leave-request changes. |
| Reader: E-3 to O-4, skimming on a phone. | |
| Example: Match this good memo's tone and structure. | |
| Format: Under 250 words: what changed, what to do, who to ask. | |
| Source: Use only the attachment; mark missing details [CONFIRM]. List assumptions. |
The "before" produces a plausible memo about a leave policy the model invented. The "after" produces a memo about yours, in your shape, with the gaps marked. Same model, one minute apart.
Two more that help
| Pattern | Say |
|---|---|
| Role | "Act as a protocol officer checking this seating plan against the attached rules." |
| Context | "This is the third draft; the first two were rejected for length. Cut, do not add." |
| Constraint | "Do not add any step, name or date that is not in the attachments." |
| Uncertainty | "If the attachment does not settle a point, say so rather than choosing." |
Iteration is the method
- Ask
- Read the draft
- Correct one thing
- Ask what it assumed
- Keep or start fresh
Three focused turns beat one enormous prompt, because after each turn you can see what it misunderstood.