How do I write a good AI prompt?
Give the model a role, a goal, the constraints, and an example. The single biggest upgrade is to ask the model to list its assumptions before answering.
A good prompt is a short, specific brief. Four elements get you most of the way there:
1. Role. Tell the model who to be. "You are a careful editor" or "You are a senior backend engineer." This narrows its style and standards instantly.
2. Goal. State the outcome, not the steps. "Cut this draft by 30% without losing facts" beats "edit this for me."
3. Constraints. Word count, tone, format, must-have or must-avoid points. Constraints are gifts to the model.
4. Example. Even one example of what good looks like changes the output dramatically.
The single biggest upgrade is this line: "Before you answer, list three assumptions you are making about what I am asking. If any are wrong, ask me before continuing." It costs you one turn and saves you ten.
If the answer is wrong, do not blame the model. Inspect your prompt. Was the goal clear? Were the constraints explicit? Did you give an example? Better prompts produce better outputs, almost always.