Your first prompts

A request that works

Say what you want made and who it is for. Then add the length, and the facts only you know.

Write [what you want] for [who will read it].
Make it about [length], as [a list or an email].
What you need to know: [the facts only you have].
If anything is unclear, ask me before you answer.

Example. Write a short note for my neighbor asking to borrow their ladder on Saturday morning. Keep it under 60 words and friendly. We have not met yet.

Steer the next answer

The first answer is a draft. Tell it what to change, in the same chat:

• Shorter. Cut it to 100 words.
• Simpler. Explain it as you would to someone new to this.
• Questions first. Before you answer, ask me what you need to know, one question at a time.
• Keep my details. Keep the dates and names exactly as I gave them.
• Choose. Give me two options and say which you would pick, and why.

Two rules that keep you safe

1. Leave out what is private. Passwords, card numbers, account numbers and other people’s details stay out of the chat. Use a placeholder such as [NAME] instead.
2. Check what matters. It writes likely words, not looked-up facts, so it can be wrong and sound sure. Look up any number, date, name or source before you rely on it.

Good first jobs

• Draft a message you have been putting off.
• Explain a word or an idea you do not understand.
• Plan a week of meals or a trip.
• Summarize a long text you paste in.
• Suggest names or ideas to choose from.

For health, money, legal and safety questions, use what it says to prepare, and ask a person whose job it is to know.

Where to go next

The Prompt Builder asks a few plain questions and writes the request for you: thinkhard.si/prompt-builder/. The guide to your first 20 minutes is at thinkhard.si/guides/chatgpt-for-beginners/.