What are the "best practices for creating effective ChatGPT Prompts"?
Well, why don't you just ask ChatGPT?
Below, content by ChatGPT-4o and tweaked by Antonio Feijao UK.
Best Practices for Creating Effective ChatGPT Prompts¶
1. Clarity and Specificity¶
- Be Clear: Clearly state what you need help with.
- Be Specific: Include all relevant details to avoid ambiguity.
Example:
- Less effective: "Tell me about history."
- More effective: "Can you provide a brief overview of the causes of World War I?"
2. Context Provision¶
- Provide Context: If your question is about a specific situation, give some background information.
- Assume No Prior Knowledge: Don’t assume the model knows your specific context unless you’ve previously provided it.
Example:
- Less effective: "Why did it fail?"
- More effective: "Why did the software update on my iPhone fail, especially considering the latest iOS version?"
3. Ask Direct Questions¶
- Be Direct: Ask clear and direct questions to get straightforward answers.
- Avoid Vagueness: Vague questions can lead to broad or unrelated answers.
Example:
- Less effective: "What about climate?"
- More effective: "What are the main factors contributing to climate change?"
4. Break Down Complex Queries¶
- Divide and Conquer: Break complex questions into smaller, manageable parts.
- Sequential Questions: Ask sequential questions to build upon previous answers.
Example:
- Less effective: "Explain quantum mechanics."
- More effective: "Can you explain the basic principles of quantum mechanics? What is wave-particle duality?"
5. Use Examples¶
- Provide Examples: Use examples to illustrate what you mean or to show the format of the answer you expect.
- Reference Formats: Mention if you need the answer in a specific format (e.g., list, summary, comparison).
Example:
- Less effective: "Tell me about artificial intelligence."
- More effective: "Can you explain the differences between supervised and unsupervised learning in artificial intelligence?"
6. Be Polite and Professional¶
- Politeness Matters: Use polite language as it can often result in more constructive and positive interactions.
- Stay Professional: Maintain professionalism in your queries, especially for work or academic-related questions.
Example:
- Less effective: "What's the point of your response?"
- More effective: "Could you clarify the main point of your previous response?"
7. Iterate and Refine¶
- Refine Prompts: If the response isn’t what you expected, refine your prompt and ask again.
- Feedback Loop: Use the information from previous answers to ask more informed follow-up questions.
Example:
- Initial: "What is photosynthesis?"
- Refined: "Can you describe the process of photosynthesis in plants, specifically how sunlight is converted into energy?"
8. Limit the Scope¶
- Focused Questions: Keep questions focused to avoid overly broad answers.
- Manageable Scope: Limit the scope to what can be reasonably answered in a few paragraphs.
Example:
- Less effective: "Tell me everything about Python programming."
- More effective: "Can you explain the main differences between Python 2 and Python 3?"
9. Use Proper Grammar and Spelling¶
- Check Grammar: Ensure your prompts are grammatically correct to avoid misinterpretation.
- Spell Check: Correct spelling mistakes to ensure clarity.
Example:
- Less effective: "wat r the benfits of exrcise?"
- More effective: "What are the benefits of exercise?"