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Ever feel like you’re not getting the best responses from AI tools like ChatGPT? It’s probably because of the way you’re asking. Prompt engineering—the art of crafting effective AI questions—is your secret weapon. Here are 100 practical and creative techniques, each with a simple example you can use immediately, no tech experience required. Ideal for writers, students, marketers, professionals, and anyone who loves exploring the power of AI!
The Ultimate Prompt Engineering Cheat Sheet:
1. Clear Instructions:
“Write a 3-paragraph summary of the French Revolution.”
2. Set a Role:
“Act as a financial advisor and explain compound interest.”
3. Define Output Format:
“List 5 dog breeds in a table with size and lifespan.”
4. Limit Word Count:
“Describe photosynthesis in under 50 words.”
5. Request Step-by-Step Reasoning:
“Solve step-by-step: 15 × (3 + 2).”
6. Add Few-Shot Examples:
“Translate: ‘Hello’ → ‘Hola’, ‘Goodbye’ → ‘Adiós’. Now translate ‘Thank you’.”
7. Use Delimiters:
“Summarize text within triple quotes: “””Your text here”””.”
8. Ask for a Summary:
“Summarize this news article in 5 bullet points.”
9. Specify a Tone:
“Write a friendly, upbeat invitation to a birthday party.”
10. Set Perspective:
“Write a short story in the second person.”
11. Provide Context or Background:
“Assume no prior knowledge; simply explain blockchain.”
12. Ask for a Comparison:
“Compare electric and gasoline cars in terms of costs and maintenance.”
13. Use Constraints:
“Explain relativity without scientific jargon.”
14. Request a Table:
“Make a table comparing iOS and Android features.”
15. Ask for Examples:
“Give 3 literary metaphors.”
16. Use Analogies:
“Explain machine learning using a cooking analogy.”
17. Target Audience:
“Explain taxes to a high school student.”
18. Use a Template:
“Fill in: ‘My name is [Name], and I am a [Profession].’”
19. List of Questions:
“Create 10 beginner-level Python course questions.”
20. Include Keywords:
“Blog post about SEO using ‘traffic’, ‘backlinks’, ‘Google ranking’.”
21. Avoid Certain Words:
“Explain Newton’s laws without saying ‘force’.”
22. Roleplay or Scene:
“Act as an interviewer asking 5 technical questions.”
23. Specify Format Style:
“Write a LinkedIn-style professional bio.”
24. Time Travel:
“Describe a smartphone from the perspective of someone from 1800.”
25. Multiple Variations:
“Suggest 3 alternative productivity blog titles.”
26. Request Checklist:
“Create a wedding planning checklist.”
27. Facts Only:
“List differences between alligators and crocodiles.”
28. Highlight Key Ideas:
“Summarize and bold main ideas of this article.”
29. Counterarguments:
“Give counterarguments against universal basic income.”
30. Fill-in-the-Blank:
“Complete: ‘Photosynthesis is the process by which ____.’”
31. FAQs:
“Write 5 FAQs about online learning.”
32. Simplified Language:
“Explain blockchain simply for a 10-year-old.”
33. Reading Level:
“Write a news article at a 6th-grade reading level.”
34. Explain Like I’m 5 (ELI5):
“ELI5: How does Wi-Fi work?”
35. Myths vs Facts:
“3 myths and facts about caffeine.”
36. Pros, Cons, Verdict:
“List pros/cons of remote work and your recommendation.”
37. How-To Guide:
“Guide to creating a budget spreadsheet.”
38. Do’s and Don’ts:
“List do’s and don’ts for presentations.”
39. Tips or Tricks:
“5 tips for staying focused while studying.”
40. Best Practices:
“Best practices for writing clean code.”
41. Domain Expertise:
“From a legal perspective, explain contract implications.”
42. Storytelling:
“Short story about a time traveler in the 1800s.”
43. Humor or Sarcasm:
“Sarcastically explain office politics.”
44. Similes/Metaphors:
“Explain anxiety using a metaphor.”
45. Summary at End:
“Write a blog post with a summary at the end.”
46. Dialogue:
“Conversation between a barista and customer.”
47. Character Bio:
“Profile for a detective character.”
48. Cause and Effect:
“Explain how pollution causes climate change.”
49. Timeline:
“Timeline of major WWII events.”
50. Flowchart in Text:
*”Troubleshoot Wi-Fi issue in flowchart form.”
Conclusion:
Asking the right questions makes all the difference when using AI tools. With these 100 prompt engineering techniques, you’re ready to explore deeper, communicate clearer, and unlock powerful insights from ChatGPT and beyond. Start experimenting today—your creativity and productivity will thank you!
