# How to write a good AI prompt

> Use a simple 4 part recipe for better AI answers. Who it is for, what you have, what you want back, and the rules. With examples.

By Corey Leon. First posted 2026-10-28. Updated 2026-10-28. Source: https://www.simpleai.community/blog/how-to-write-a-good-prompt/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Credit Simple AI with a link.

Question: How do I write a good AI prompt?

A good AI prompt has four parts: who it is for, what you have, what you want back, and the rules. Tell the AI who will read the answer, paste in the facts or notes it needs, say exactly what format and length you want, and add one or two rules like "plain words" or "do not make up numbers." That simple recipe works in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot and Grok.

## Steps

1. **Say who it is for.** Who will read this, and who are you writing as? "Writing as a sales rep at a lumber yard, to a contractor who buys from us every month" sets the tone right away.
2. **Give what you have.** Paste the notes, the email you are replying to, the numbers, the product details. The AI only knows what you give it.
3. **Say what you want back.** Be exact. "An email under 80 words with a subject line" is better than "an email". "A list of 5" is better than "some ideas".
4. **Add the rules.** One or two things to do or not do. "Plain words." "No exclamation marks." "Only use facts I gave you." "Ask me if something is missing."
5. **Read the answer and reply to fix it.** If it is off, say what is wrong in plain words. "Too long." "Sounds like a robot." "You got the date wrong, it is Thursday."

## Prompts you can copy

### The 4 part recipe, blank

```prompt
Who it is for: [who will read this, and who I am writing as].
What I have: [paste notes, facts, the message I am replying to].
What I want back: [format, length, for example an email under 80 words with a subject line].
Rules: [1 or 2 rules, for example plain words, only use my facts, end with one question].
```

### The recipe, filled in

```prompt
Who it is for: I am an account manager at a packaging supplier, writing to Lisa, the buyer at a food company we have sold to for 3 years.
What I have: Box prices go up 6 percent on [date] because our paper cost went up. Orders placed before [date] keep the old price.
What I want back: An email under 90 words with a subject line.
Rules: Plain words, no corporate phrases. Mention the order deadline clearly. End by asking if she wants to place an order before the price change.
```

### Ask the AI to fix a weak prompt

```prompt
Here is a prompt I wrote: [paste your prompt].
Rewrite it using these 4 parts: who it is for, what I have, what I want back, and the rules.
If you need facts I did not give, list them as questions at the end. Do not make them up.
```

## Example

This is a made-up example. A weak prompt: "Write a follow up email."

The AI does not know to whom, about what, or how long. You get a vague email full of filler.

The same task with the recipe:

Who it is for: a plant manager I quoted last week. What I have: quote 2207 for 12 safety cabinets, $8,400, valid until the 30th. What I want back: an email under 70 words. Rules: no pressure, one question at the end.

Now the answer names the quote, the price and the date, and ends with one clear question. You can send it after a quick read.

## Tips

- You do not need all four parts every time. For a quick question, one line is fine. Use the recipe when the answer matters.
- "What I want back" is the part most people skip. It is also the part that saves the most time.
- Give an example of what good looks like. "Make it sound like this email I wrote last month: [paste]" works very well.
- Save your best prompts. A good prompt you reuse is worth more than a clever one you forget.

## What not to do

- Do not write a vague prompt and then blame the AI. Missing facts lead to made-up facts.
- Do not stack ten tasks in one prompt. Do one job, check it, then do the next.
- Do not paste private data you are not allowed to share. Check your company rules first.

New to this? Start with [what is a prompt](/blog/what-is-a-prompt/). Then grab ready prompts from the [prompt library](/prompts/) or the [hub](/hub/).

## FAQ

### How long should a prompt be?

As long as it needs to be to give the facts and the rules. Most good work prompts are 3 to 8 lines. Longer is fine if every line helps.

### Should I tell the AI to act as an expert?

It can help to say who you are and who the reader is. The facts you give matter more than the title you give the AI.

### What if the answer is still bad?

Tell it what is wrong in plain words and ask again. If it keeps missing, start a new chat and write a clearer prompt with more facts.

### Do I need to say please?

No, but it does not hurt. Clear facts and a clear ask matter much more than manners here.