The formula: Role + Context + Task + Format + Limits
- Role - who the AI should act as ("You are a maths teacher").
- Context - who you are and what you already know.
- Task - the exact job, with an action word (explain, list, compare, rewrite).
- Format - table, bullet points, email, steps, code.
- Limits - length, tone, language, what to avoid.
Weak vs strong
Weak: "Write about AI." The AI has to guess everything, so you get a long, generic essay.
Strong:
You are a school teacher. Write a 120-word introduction to AI for Class 8 students in India.
Use one everyday example (like Google Maps). Simple English. End with one question for the class.10 templates to copy
- Explain: "Explain [topic] in simple words, with one real-life example, in under 100 words."
- Summarise: "Summarise this in 5 bullet points, then give one line on why it matters: [paste text]"
- Rewrite: "Rewrite this to sound polite and professional. Keep my meaning: [paste text]"
- Compare: "Compare [A] and [B] in a table: cost, pros, cons, best for."
- Plan: "Make a 4-week study plan for [exam], 1 hour a day, with weekly goals."
- Quiz me: "Ask me 5 questions on [topic], one at a time, and tell me if I am right."
- Brainstorm: "Give 10 ideas for [goal]. Then pick the best 3 and explain why."
- Check my work: "Find mistakes in this and explain each fix: [paste text]"
- Step by step: "Solve this step by step and explain each step: [problem]"
- Role-play: "Act as an interviewer for a [job] role. Ask me one question at a time and give feedback."
Three common mistakes
- Being vague: say exactly what you want and for whom.
- Asking five things at once: split big jobs into steps.
- Not giving the text: paste the email or notes you want improved.
Lesson learned
The AI is only as clear as your request. Give it a role, context, task, format and limits, then refine.
Frequently asked questions
What is prompt engineering?
Writing and improving instructions for an AI so it gives useful, accurate results. For everyday use, the five-part formula covers most of it.
Do prompts work the same in every AI tool?
Mostly yes. Clear, specific prompts help in ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot and image tools alike.