How to Write Better AI Prompts: 12 Rules That Work
July 26, 2026 · 8 min read
Most bad AI output comes from vague input. These rules apply across ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and every wrapper built on top of them.
Give the model a role and an audience
"You are a technical editor writing for senior engineers" narrows vocabulary, depth, and tone in one sentence.
Show, don't just tell
Two or three examples of the output you want outperform a paragraph describing it.
Constrain the format
Ask for a table, a JSON object, or exactly 150 words. Format constraints reduce rambling dramatically.
Iterate in place
Instead of restarting, critique the last answer and ask for a revision. Models improve fast when given specific feedback.