What are ChatGPT prompts?

A prompt is simply the text you give ChatGPT: your question, task or instruction. The quality of your prompt largely determines the quality of the answer you get. By prompting smarter, you can get much better results out of ChatGPT.

Think of ChatGPT as a highly capable assistant that does exactly what you ask. If you're vague, you get a vague answer. If you're specific and clear, you get exactly what you need. The good news is that anyone can learn to write better prompts. It's not rocket science!

The basics of good prompts

Before we dive into advanced techniques, let's cover the fundamentals first. These basic principles form the foundation of communicating effectively with ChatGPT.

Be specific and clear

Vagueness is the enemy of good results. Compare these two prompts:

Bad: "Write something about dogs"

Good: "Write an informative 300-word article about the three most popular dog breeds in the Netherlands, including their temperament and suitability for families with children."

The second prompt tells ChatGPT exactly what you want: the topic (dog breeds), the length (300 words), the focus (most popular in the Netherlands), and the information you're after (temperament and suitability).

Give context

ChatGPT doesn't know you, so tell it who you are and what you need the information for. Context helps the AI put together a fitting answer.

Without context: "How do I make a presentation?"

With context: "I'm an elementary school teacher and tomorrow I have to give a presentation to a fourth-grade class about the climate. How do I make an engaging presentation that suits children aged 9 to 10?"

By giving context, you get advice that actually fits your situation.

Define the format you want

Tell ChatGPT how you want to receive the answer. This can make a huge difference in how useful the result is.

Examples of format instructions:

  • "Give your answer as a numbered list"
  • "Present this in a table with two columns"
  • "Write this as a bullet point summary"
  • "Phrase this as a step-by-step guide"
  • "Give me this in no more than 100 words"

Advanced prompting techniques

Now that you know the basics, let's look at techniques that take your prompts to the next level. Professionals use these methods too.

The role technique

One of the most powerful techniques is giving ChatGPT a role. This activates specific knowledge and a matching writing style.

Example 1: "You are an experienced chef with 20 years of experience in French cuisine. Give me tips for preparing the perfect boeuf bourguignon."

Example 2: "You are a friendly family doctor who explains complex medical terms to patients. Explain what type 2 diabetes is."

Example 3: "You are a financial advisor who specializes in retirement planning. What questions should I ask myself if I want to stop working in 10 years?"

By defining a role, you get answers from that specific perspective with the expertise that goes with it.

The example technique

Show ChatGPT what you want by giving an example. This is especially useful for specific writing styles or formats.

Prompt: "Write product descriptions in this style:

Example: 'The SunGlow Sunglasses: protect your eyes in style. Our handmade frames combine Italian craftsmanship with UV400 protection. For the modern adventurer who never compromises on quality.'

Now write a similar description for a leather weekend bag."

The step-by-step technique

Ask ChatGPT to share its thought process. This gives you not just an answer, but also insight into how that answer came about.

Prompt: "I want to improve my resume. Go through my current resume step by step and give concrete improvements for each section. Explain why each improvement matters."

The constraints technique

By setting constraints, you force ChatGPT to be more creative and focused.

Prompts with constraints:

  • "Explain quantum mechanics without using jargon, as if you're telling a 10-year-old"
  • "Give me marketing ideas for a small budget of no more than 500 euros"
  • "Write a persuasive email in no more than 5 sentences"

Practical prompt examples by category

Here are ready-made prompts you can use right away or adapt for your own purposes.

Prompts for writing

Drafting an email: "Write a polite but assertive email to my landlord about a heating repair that has been postponed for three weeks. Keep the tone professional but make it clear that action is needed."

Making a summary: "Summarize the following text in no more than 5 bullet points, focusing on the key conclusions: [paste your text here]"

Editing a story: "Review the following story and suggest ways to make the dialogue livelier and build up the tension: [paste your story here]"

Prompts for learning

A topic explained: "Explain the principle of compound interest on three levels: first for a beginner, then for someone with basic knowledge, and finally with the mathematical formula for advanced learners."

Creating a study plan: "I want to learn enough Spanish in 3 months to hold a simple conversation. Create a weekly schedule with 30 minutes of daily exercises, including free resources I can use."

Complex concepts: "Compare World War I and World War II in a clear table covering these aspects: causes, main countries, duration, casualties, and consequences for Europe."

Prompts for work and productivity

Preparing for a meeting: "Tomorrow I have a meeting about our new marketing plan. Generate 10 questions I might be asked and suggest short, convincing answers for each."

Solving a problem: "My team regularly misses deadlines. Analyze possible causes and give a practical solution for each cause that I can implement as a team lead."

Giving feedback: "Help me phrase constructive feedback for an employee who does good work but struggles with showing up on time. The feedback should be motivating and include concrete points for improvement."

Prompts for creativity

Brainstorming: "Generate 15 original birthday gift ideas for my 65-year-old mother, who loves gardening, puzzles and classical music. Vary the price range from cheap to luxury."

Creative writing: "Write the opening of a mystery story set in an old hotel in Amsterdam. Introduce an intriguing main character and end the first chapter with a cliffhanger."

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even with the best intentions, people make mistakes when prompting. Here are the most common pitfalls and how to get around them.

Mistake 1: Asking for too much at once

Problem: "Write a business plan, create a marketing strategy, and give me financial projections for my new bakery."

This is too much for one prompt. The answers end up superficial.

Solution: Split large requests into smaller, focused prompts. Start with the business plan, then move on to marketing, and then ask about the finances.

Mistake 2: Assuming ChatGPT knows everything

Problem: Asking about very recent events or expecting ChatGPT to know your specific situation.

Solution: Include relevant background information in your prompt. "Given the following information about my business: [details], what would you advise?"

Mistake 3: Not asking follow-up questions

Problem: Settling for the first answer, even when it doesn't quite fit.

Solution: Use follow-up questions such as:

  • "Can you go deeper into point 3?"
  • "Give me more practical examples"
  • "Rewrite this in a more formal tone"
  • "What are the downsides of this approach?"

Mistake 4: Not specifying a format

Problem: "Tell me about healthy eating" results in a wall of text that's hard to use.

Solution: Always specify how you want to receive the information: as a list, a table, a step-by-step plan, or in a set number of words.

Tips for consistent results

To get good results time after time, these additional strategies help.

Save your best prompts

Keep a document with prompts that work well. This saves time and ensures consistent results. You can adapt them later for new situations.

Iterate and improve

See prompting as a process. Start with a basic prompt, evaluate the result, and adjust your prompt. After a few iterations you'll often have a much better result.

Don't be afraid to experiment

Try different phrasings, roles and techniques. What works for one task may not work for another. Flexibility is the key to success.

Frequently asked questions

How long can a prompt be?

There's no strict limit for everyday use. You can easily enter several paragraphs of text, including examples and context. Longer, more detailed prompts often deliver better results than short, vague questions.

Should I be polite to ChatGPT?

Technically no, but it can help. Some users find that polite prompts give better results. "Could you please..." takes little effort and can have a positive effect on the tone of the answer.

Why does ChatGPT sometimes give different answers to the same question?

ChatGPT has a built-in element of randomness to create variety. This means the same prompt can get you different, but hopefully equally good, answers. If you want consistency, be very specific in your prompt.

Can I mix English and Dutch in my prompts?

Yes, ChatGPT understands mixed prompts just fine. For example, you can use English technical terms in a Dutch question. The answer comes in the language you write in most, unless you say otherwise.

Looking for an email address? See our plans.