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<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div> Andrey Rudakov\/Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n ChatGPT is the generative artificial intelligence<\/a> (AI) tool that’s taken the world by storm. While there’s always the possibility it will simply make stuff up<\/a>, there’s a lot you can do when crafting prompts to ensure the best possible outcome. That’s what we’ll be exploring in this how-to.<\/p>\n In this article, I’ll show you how to write prompts that encourage the large language model (LLM) that powers\u00a0ChatGPT<\/a> to provide the best possible answers.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/div>\n One of the more interesting things I had to get used to when working with ChatGPT is that you don’t program it; you talk to it. As a formally trained programmer, I’ve had to abandon many habits when engaging with AI. Talking to it (and with it) requires a mindset shift.<\/p>\n When I say talk to it like a person, I mean talk to it like you would a coworker or team member. If that’s hard to do, give it a name. Alexa is taken, so maybe think of it as Bob. This naming helps because when you talk to Bob, you might include conversational details and anecdotes that give your story texture.<\/p>\n Also:<\/strong>\u00a0How to use ChatGPT to write code<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n When you’re talking to a person, it would be natural for them to miss your point initially and require clarification or veer away from the topic at hand and need to be wrangled back. You might need to fill in the backstory for them or restate complex questions based on the answers they give you.\u00a0<\/p>\n This is called interactive prompting. Don’t be afraid to ask ChatGPT multi-step questions: ask, get a response, and based on that response, ask another question. I’ve done this myself, sometimes 10 or 20 times in a row, and gotten very powerful results. Think of this as having a conversation with ChatGPT.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n Writing a ChatGPT prompt is more than just asking a one-sentence question. It often involves providing relevant background information to set the context of the query.<\/p>\n Let’s say that you want to prepare for a marathon (for the record, I do not run, dance, or jump — this is merely an example). You could ask ChatGPT:<\/p>\n How can I prepare for a marathon?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n However, you’ll get a far more nuanced answer if you add that you’re training for your first marathon. Try this instead:\u00a0<\/p>\n I am a beginner runner and have never run a marathon before, but I want to complete one in six months. How can I prepare for a marathon?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n By giving the AI more information, you’re helping it return a more focused answer.\u00a0 <\/div>\n I am planning to travel to Spain in a few months and would like to learn some basic Spanish to help me communicate with local residents. I am looking for online resources that are suitable for beginners and provide a structured and comprehensive approach to learning the language. Can you recommend some online resources for learning Spanish as a beginner? \t \t<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/div>\n Also: The most popular programming languages in 2024 (and what that even means)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The story takes place in 2339, in Boston. The entire story takes place inside a Victorian-style bookstore that wouldn’t be out of place in Diagon Alley. Inside the store are the following characters, all human: \t \t<\/p>\n The proprietor: make this person interesting and a bit unusual, give them a name and at least one skill or characteristic that influences their backstory and possibly influences the entire short story. \t \t<\/p>\n Another customer is Evangeline, a regular customer in the store, in her mid-40s. Yet another customer is Archibald, a man who could be anywhere from 40 to 70 years old. He has a mysterious air about himself and seems both somewhat grandiose and secretive. There is something about Archibald that makes the others uncomfortable. \t \t<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n Part of what makes ChatGPT so compelling is you can ask it almost anything. That said, keep in mind that it’s designed to provide written answers. If you want a list of websites, you’re better off talking to Google.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Also:\u00a0How to use DALL-E 3 in ChatGPT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n If you want some form of computation, talk to Wolfram Alpha<\/a>. Give ChatGPT open-ended prompts, encourage creativity, and don’t be afraid to share personal experiences or emotions. Plus, keep in mind that the AI’s knowledge ends in 2021<\/a>\u00a0for ChatGPT 3.5 and December 2023 for ChatGPT 4 in ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT 4o, which is available in both Plus and free modes.<\/p>\n If you ask ChatGPT to “explain C++ to a manager” and “explain C++ to a programmer,” you’ll see how the responses differ.<\/p>\n In the same way that you can adjust the complexity level, you can adjust the creativity level. It’s a matter of providing a prompt that guides the AI in that direction. For example, use “please include creative, open-ended responses” or “please provide factual, concise replies” in your prompts.<\/p>\n You can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly update newsletter on Substack<\/a>, and follow me on Twitter at @DavidGewirtz<\/a>, on Facebook at Facebook.com\/DavidGewirtz<\/a>, on Instagram at Instagram.com\/DavidGewirtz<\/a>, and on YouTube at YouTube.com\/DavidGewirtzTV<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n How I used ChatGPT to scan 170k lines of code in seconds and save me hours of detective work 6 ways to write better ChatGPT prompts – and get the results you want faster 6 digital twin building blocks businesses need – and how AI fits in Google’s Gems are a gentle introduction to AI prompt engineering How I used ChatGPT to scan 170k lines of code in seconds and save me hours of detective work\n
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Here are two more examples of questions that provide context:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
3. Tell the AI to assume an identity or profession<\/h2>\n
4. Keep ChatGPT on track<\/h2>\n
5. Tell the AI to re-read the prompt.<\/h2>\n
6. Don’t be afraid to play and experiment<\/h2>\n
More prompt-writing tips\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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What type of prompts work best with ChatGPT?\u00a0 <\/h2>\n
How can I adjust the creativity level of ChatGPT’s responses?<\/h2>\n
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