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ChatGPT is the world's most popular generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool. While there's always the possibility it will simply make stuff up, there's a lot you can do when crafting prompts to ensure the best possible outcome. That's what we'll be exploring in this how-to.
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In this article, I'll show you how to write prompts that encourage the large language model (LLM) that powers ChatGPT to provide the best possible answers.
How to write effective ChatGPT prompts
1. Talk to the AI like you would a person One of the more interesting things I had to get used to when working with ChatGPT is that you don't program it; you talk to it. As a formally trained programmer, I've had to abandon many habits when engaging with AI. Talking to it (and with it) requires a mindset shift. When I say talk to it like a person, I mean talk to it like you would a coworker or team member. If that's hard to do, give it a name. Alexa is taken, so maybe think of it as Bob. This naming helps because when you talk to Bob, you might include conversational details and anecdotes that give your story texture. Also: How to use ChatGPT to write code When you're talking to a person, it would be natural for them to miss your point initially and require clarification or veer away from the topic at hand and need to be wrangled back. You might need to fill in the backstory for them or restate complex questions based on the answers they give you. This is called interactive prompting. Don't be afraid to ask ChatGPT multi-step questions: ask, get a response, and based on that response, ask another question. I've done this myself, sometimes 10 or 20 times in a row, and gotten very powerful results. Think of this as having a conversation with ChatGPT. Show more
2. Set the stage and provide context Writing a ChatGPT prompt is more than just asking a one-sentence question. It often involves providing relevant background information to set the context of the query. Also: How to turn ChatGPT into your AI coding power tool - and double your output Let's say that you want to prepare for a marathon (for the record, I do not run, dance, or jump -- this is merely an example). You could ask ChatGPT: How can I prepare for a marathon? However, you'll get a far more nuanced answer if you add that you're training for your first marathon. Try this instead: I am a beginner runner and have never run a marathon before, but I want to complete one in six months. How can I prepare for a marathon? By giving the AI more information, you're helping it return a more focused answer.
Here are two more examples of questions that provide context: Show more
I am planning to travel to Spain in a few months and would like to learn some basic Spanish to help me communicate with local residents. I am looking for online resources that are suitable for beginners and provide a structured and comprehensive approach to learning the language. Can you recommend some online resources for learning Spanish as a beginner?
In this case, rather than just asking about learning resources, the context helps focus the AI on learning how to communicate on the ground with local residents. Here's another example:
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