Building Complex Prompts
Embedded Files
As you gain confidence, you can start constructing more complex prompts that involve multiple steps or detailed scenarios.
Use detailed instructions
Clear and specific instructions are critical in ChatGPT to ensure accurate, relevant, and efficient responses aligned precisely with user intent.
Chain Instructions
Combine multiple related instructions in a single prompt.
Example: "Draft an email to a client about our new service, then summarize the key points in a bullet list."
Use Conditionals
Introduce conditions (e.g., if/then statement) to tailor the response to specific scenarios.
Example: "If the customer is dissatisfied, then offer a discount; otherwise, thank them for their feedback."
Incorporate Follow-ups
Anticipate follow-up questions or actions and include them in the initial prompt.
Example: "Explain the new software features and prepare a list of potential FAQs."
Iterative Refinement
Use feedback from initial responses to refine your prompts. If the first response isn’t what you expected, adjust your prompt to be more specific or to include additional context.
Try markdown to format your output
Clear and specific instructions are critical in ChatGPT to ensure accurate, relevant, and efficient responses aligned precisely with user intent. ChatGPT can also take a set of instructions and turn it into Markdown format.
Formatting: Bold & Italic
Formatting: Bold & Italic
Utilize asterisks (*) to bold, italicize, or both.
Italics
Input = *text*
Output = text
Bold
Input = **text**
Output = text
Bold + Italics
Input = ***text***
Output = text
Add Distinct Headings
Add Distinct Headings
Utilize # to create a header
Example
# Context
Important context [...]
# Instructions
Instructional text [...]
List in Order
List in Order
Order a list by listing items numerically
Example
item one
item two
item three
List unordered
List unordered
Hyphen or bulletize the list.
Example
"I want you to factor in the following"
- Time to value
- Internal Rate of Return
Separate Text
Separate Text
Blocks of text can be separated by triple quotations (""")
Example
"""
The fox jumps over the pond
"""
Utilize coding
Utilize coding
Blocks of code can be separated by triple apostrophes (''')
Example
'''
import(library)
X = hello world
print(X)
'''
Iterate, iterate, iterate
The best way to use ChatGPT is to work with it iteratively. Rather than trying to craft a single, perfect prompt, work to provide ChatGPT with feedback on what you want in a conversation. Experiment and find what works best for you and your context.
Evolving process with smarter AI
As AI technology advances, ChatGPT is becoming increasingly intuitive and capable of understanding your needs with less precise prompting.
While crafting specific and detailed instructions—known as prompt engineering—can enhance your interactions, the growing power of ChatGPT means you can achieve great results even with more natural, conversational prompts.
What This Means for You
Simpler Interactions: You won’t always need to fine-tune your prompts to get the information you need. Just ask your questions in a way that feels natural to you.
Enhanced Understanding: With each update, ChatGPT becomes better at grasping context and intent, making your conversations smoother and more effective.
Focus on Goals: Instead of worrying about the exact wording, you can concentrate more on what you want to achieve and let ChatGPT handle the rest.
Visit our platform guide to prompt engineering for a wealth of tips and tricks to help you write more effective prompts.
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