10 rules for writing effective prompts – how to talk to AI so it understands you?

Precision is the foundation of effective communication with AI. The more precisely you describe what you need, the greater the chance you’ll receive an answer that hits the heart of your question. Artificial intelligence works best when it knows what is expected of it – it doesn’t guess, it analyzes the input. Therefore, avoid generalities and focus on specifics – those are your greatest allies.

❌ Instead: "What is Blender?"
✔️ Write: "What is the 3D graphics software Blender and what is it used for?"

Define the audience

Every text can sound different depending on who the audience is. Are you writing for beginners or experts? For children, pupils, students, or perhaps specialists in a specific industry? AI can adjust the language, difficulty level and style – provided you clearly specify who the message is intended for. This way you avoid answers that are too complicated (or too simplified).

❌ Instead: "Explain how an internal combustion engine works."
✔️ Write: "Explain how an internal combustion engine works in simple words understandable to a 10-year-old."

Specify the response format

The form matters. Sometimes you need a quick bullet list, other times a comparison table, an essay, a summary or an infographic. AI can adapt to any of these formats – as long as you clearly state the desired result. This is especially useful when you want to quickly convey data, compare product features or organize information in a clear way.

❌ Instead: "Compare GPT and DeepSeek."
✔️ Write: "Compare GPT and DeepSeek – respond in a table format with a brief commentary."

Define the style and tone

The style of the message can build trust, emphasize professionalism or introduce lightness. Do you want to sound like an expert? A friendly advisor? Or perhaps you want a humorous tone that relaxes the atmosphere? AI can take on different roles – but only if you name them. It's a great way to create consistent brand communication.

❌ Instead: "Prepare a product description."
✔️ Write: "Prepare a product description in a humorous, friendly style that will entertain the reader."

Set limitations and scope

If you have specific guidelines – be sure to provide them. It might be about text length, number of suggestions, limited topic scope, the language in which the answer should be written, or level of detail. This information significantly helps AI hit the mark and eliminates the need to revise the results.

❌ Instead: "Suggest a title for an article."
✔️ Write: "Suggest 20 catchy titles for an article about the application of artificial intelligence in interior design."

Provide an example

One example can say more than ten descriptions. If you care about a specific style, tone, format or length – show how it should look. You can paste a template, a link, or write a sentence that shows the direction. AI will quickly grasp the convention and create something similar but tailored to your needs.

❌ Instead: "Respond in capital letters."
✔️ Write: "Respond in capital letters. Example: SAMPLE SENTENCE."

Avoid ambiguity and vagueness

Remember – AI does not read minds. If your question can be understood in several ways, there is a risk that you will get something different from what you really meant. That’s why it is always worth clarifying the intention and narrowing the topic. Instead of saying generally "Improve this text", it’s better to specifically state what kind of improvement you want: grammar, style, length, coherence, or maybe keywords.

❌ Instead: "Improve this text."
✔️ Write: "Check the spelling of this text, correct stylistic errors and remove repetitions."

Indicate the AI’s role

AI can take on any role – mentor, expert, consultant, teacher, designer or marketer. If you define which perspective it should answer from, you will get a response perfectly tailored to the situation. This is especially useful when you need industry expertise or want the message to have a specific character.

❌ Instead: "Come up with a headline."
✔️ Write: "You are an experienced copywriter. Help me create a catchy headline for an AI course ad."

Iterate – refine, test, try differently

Writing effective prompts is a process. The first version will not always be perfect – and that’s completely normal. Experiment with form, add details, change the angle of the topic. Each iteration brings you closer to the result that truly satisfies you. Treat it as collaboration – flexible and creative.

Need help with a prompt? Ask AI!

All you need is to describe in two sentences what you want to achieve, and language models like GPT, Gemini or DeepSeek will help you formulate an effective command. You don’t have to start from scratch – use AI as your creative assistant.

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