The prompt
Score 10 of 10, Excellent
Use it when You have a table of numbers and one point to make in a slide or report, and you want the chart type, its setup and a title that states the takeaway.
- {{data}}
- {{message}}
- {{audience_and_place}}
- {{tool}}
Full prompt and why it works
Prompt
<data> {{data}} </data> <context> Point the reader should take away: {{message}} Audience and where the chart will appear: {{audience_and_place}} Tool I will build it in: {{tool}} </context> <constraints> - Recommend one chart and say why it suits this data and this point better than the obvious alternative. - Use only the data above. Do not add trend lines, forecasts or values that are not in the data. - Start bar and column axes at zero. Avoid pie charts with more than 4 slices, 3D effects and dual axes, because they distort comparisons. - If the data does not support the point, say so plainly and suggest the point it does support. </constraints> <format> 1. Chart type and the reason, in up to 3 sentences. 2. Setup: what goes on each axis, the series, the sort order, and which single bar, line or point to highlight in color. 3. A title that states the takeaway as a sentence, for example "Returns fell in every region after the new size guide", and a subtitle with the metric, unit and date range. 4. Numbered steps to build it in {{tool}}, up to 8 steps. 5. One alternative chart, in one sentence, for a different audience or format. </format> <task> Based on the data and context above, describe how to chart this. The chart should be readable in five seconds by someone who has not seen the data before. </task>
Variables
- {{data}}
- The table to chart, with headers and units, copied from your sheet.
- {{message}}
- The one point the chart should make, in a sentence.
- {{audience_and_place}}
- For example "the board pack, printed in black and white" or "a team slide shown on screen".
- {{tool}}
- For example Excel, Google Sheets, PowerPoint or Tableau.
Why it works
- Who it's for. Starting from the one point the reader should take away decides the chart type, the sort order and which bar gets the color.
- What to avoid. It rules out the choices that distort comparisons (truncated axes, crowded pies, 3D and dual axes) and says why.
- If unsure. If the data does not support your point, it says so and offers the point it does support, rather than charting a claim the numbers do not make.