Prompting Basics¶

Prompting is not about finding magic words.

It is about giving AI enough shape to do useful work:

the task
the context
the audience
the constraints
the output format
the judgement required
the point where it should ask questions

Core Principle¶

AI is not a mind reader.

If you give it a vague task, it will fill in the gaps using patterns from its training data. That can be useful for brainstorming, but it is risky for important or personal work because the AI may choose assumptions you did not intend.

Weak prompt:

Help me with my charity project.

Better prompt:

Help me turn these rough notes into a one-page update for charity trustees. Keep the tone clear and practical. Flag missing information and ask questions before inventing details.

When A Task Feels Too Big¶

If the task is too complex to prompt clearly, do not force it.

Ask AI to break the task down first. This is often called prompt decomposition.