I Discovered The Perfect ChatGPT Prompt Formula

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Published 2023-05-18
If you give ChatGPT the perfect prompt, you'll get a much more useful answer the very first time.

Most people use ChatGPT in beginner mode, and without knowing how to structure a prompt, it will never give you the ideal output.

Let me share 7 best practices when it comes to effective prompt engineering. Then I will give you the formula and show you real life examples.

1 - Be Specific: If you ask a vague question, you may get a vague answer. The more details you provide, the better the model can give you what you're looking for. Instead of "tell me about all dog breeds that exist,” ask "What are the different breeds of small dogs suitable for apartment living?"

2 - State Your Intent: If there's a specific purpose for your question, state it in the prompt. For example, instead of asking “explain quantum physics” you could say "I'm helping my fifth-grade son with his science homework. Could you explain quantum physics in a simple way?"

3 - Use Correct Spelling and Grammar: While the model can often interpret and correct spelling and grammar mistakes, providing clear and correct prompts helps ensure you get the best response.

4 - Direct the Output Format: If you want the answer in a specific format, state it in your question. For example, you could ask "Could you list the steps to bake a chocolate cake?" or "Could you explain the process of baking a chocolate cake in a paragraph?"

5 - Ask Follow-Up Questions: If the response wasn't what you expected or if you need more information, feel free to ask follow-up questions to clarify.

6 - Experiment with Different Phrasings: If you're not getting the response you want, try asking the question in a different way. The model might understand one phrasing better than another.

7 - Prompt for Fact-Checking: If you're looking for reliable information, you can ask the model to provide sources or to fact-check information. For example, "Can you fact-check this statement: The tallest mountain in the world is Mount Everest?"


Here is the formula for a perfect prompt.
[Context] + [Specific Information] + [Intent/Goal] + [Response Format (if needed)] = Perfect Prompt


Let me share two different examples with you and fill in the formula.

Context: "I'm a beginner cook"
Specific Information: "trying to make Italian cuisine"
Intent/Goal: "Can you provide a simple and easy to follow recipe"
Response Format (if needed): "Write it as a step by step list?"
Perfect Prompt: 
1. "I'm a beginner cook trying to make Italian cuisine. Can you provide a simple and easy to follow recipe for spaghetti carbonara? Write it as a step by step list"


Context: "I'm a software developer"
Specific Information: "working on a Python project"
Intent/Goal: "Can you explain how to implement exception handling in Python?"
Response Format (if needed): Write it in a simple paragraph or list.

Perfect Prompt: "I'm a software developer working on a Python project. Can you explain how to implement exception handling in Python? Write it in a simple paragraph or list.


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All Comments (21)
  • @SkillLeapAI
    We just launched a new platform for learning ChatGPT, Midjourney and the top 20 AI tools. You can try it for free here: bit.ly/skillleap
  • @AiVisioneers
    I added that into CHATGPT and asked it to improve your Perfect Formula here is what I got: [Engaging Context] + [Relevant Background Information] + [Clear Intent/Goal] + [Response Format and Constraints (if necessary)] + [Optional: Specific Questions or Prompts] = Enhanced Prompt
  • Thank you 'App of the day'. So, to recap: [CONTEXT] + [SPECIFIC INFORMATION] + [INTENT/DEMAND] + [RESPONSE FORMAT] = PERFECT RESPONSE
  • @Kevin_AI
    The best follow up question I found to ask GPT: "continue where you left off"
  • @RoadTo19
    SUGGESTION: start with tell telling the AIwhat persona/character/role to "act as". SYNTAX: , i.e. Acting as advanced personal trainer, create a training program to help recover from knee surgery so a 30 year old athlete can recover quickly. Create the program in daily format and suggest a meal plan to accompany it to maintain nutrition. If the intent include writing, you can tell it things like: written at a 10th grade level, in 100 words, add a pun, make it rhyme... I like the idea of responding with its response to fact check the details... will be trying that one!
  • @user-kc1ic6we9t
    Loved this. I've referred back to it several times over the months, and pointed others to it as well. Great job in a concise and practical delivery. Thanks!
  • @MrTerryRay1
    Thank you for explaining what a perfect prompt looks like and what one is, and not making it a mystery. This is clear, easy to understand, and motivates me to think "I can do this!"
  • @DasRaetsel
    Best, most concise walkthrough of this and intuitively makes a lot of sense. Thank you good sir!
  • @Dr_Tripper
    Additionally, if you don't know already, you can modify the "Summarize this video" prompt by selecting the gear icon to the right of the GPT icon. I wrote a prompt that first assessed the type of video: Educational, Entertainment and CODE. Each choice has its own set of instructions on how to handle the source text. I have a video on it, I think.
  • @ritooraj
    Thank you very much! I am new to the ChatGPT landscape and I was asking straight questions and getting simple answers. I tried your formula and it fell in line with my requirement. For fun: I asked a typical question about my profession and asked it to list 200 questions. It came back telling me that 200 Qs are too many for a chat and it will ask a few and take it forward from there. The generated questions were good. I will refine my phrasing to get better replies. But all thanks to you I am off to a great start.
  • @Nipahc
    Accurate, I agree on this formula as this is how I've seen best results too. Thanks for getting it broken down to a good explanation!
  • @SaaSLTDDeals
    Your breakdown and explanations make it so much clearer and easier to understand.
  • @ewallt
    These ideas are very good. Here’s another approach that works well. If you have an example of something already (say a recipe), say something like “This is a recipe that seems to work well. Please give me some ideas as to why it works well.” Once you get the format and information just the way you want on whatever thing your working on (a recipe is a simple example, but it could be complex things, like a certain type of article, or MidJourney prompt, or book report) give it a name (“simple step recipe” “detailed recipe”) and you can ask it things like “Give me ten simple step recipes which are fish dishes”. You can ask it “How would you restructure this recipe for desserts?” Or “Can you think of ways of improving the simple step recipes?”
  • @nadineee_12
    I tried doing the formula, and it was effective! I've finally got the answer I was looking for. Definitely one of the videos that has value! Thanks :)
  • Great video, thank you! Also the summary/information provided in the video description; exceptional
  • I already instinctually use chatgpt in this manner, thank you for breaking it down in simple terms!
  • @JustGotALife
    I provided your formula to chatgpt to improve upon it . Here's how the conversaion went. What do you think? I am learning how to write better prompts and i have came across this formula "[Context] + [Specific Information] + [Intent/Goal] + [Response Format (if needed)] = Perfect Prompt" , Could you tell me if it's a perfect prompt or something can be improved in it? Give it to me in a simple paragraph. ChatGPT The formula you mentioned for writing a perfect prompt is a useful guideline, but there is always room for improvement to ensure clarity and effectiveness. Let's break it down: Context: Setting the context provides the necessary background information to understand the topic or situation. It helps orient the reader or respondent. Specific Information: Including specific details helps narrow down the focus of the prompt and provides clear guidelines for the response. Intent/Goal: Clearly stating the intent or goal of the prompt helps the reader understand the purpose and deliver a relevant response. Response Format (if needed): If there are specific requirements or formats for the response, mentioning them ensures that the respondent knows how to structure their answer. Overall, the formula captures important elements, but it's important to ensure that each component is well-defined and concise. It's also crucial to consider the audience and tailor the prompt accordingly. By refining these aspects, you can create a more effective prompt that elicits clear and relevant responses. User Can something else be added to make it more perfect? If yes, please add it and provide the new formula ChatGPT Certainly! To further enhance the effectiveness of the prompt, you can consider incorporating the following element: Desired Outcome: Including the desired outcome explicitly communicates what the ideal response should achieve or address. It helps guide the respondent towards the intended objective. By adding the Desired Outcome component, the formula for a more comprehensive and effective prompt becomes: [Context] + [Specific Information] + [Intent/Goal] + [Desired Outcome] + [Response Format (if needed)] = Perfect Prompt This revised formula ensures that the respondent not only understands the context, specifics, intent, and format requirements but also has a clear understanding of the expected outcome. This clarity helps to align the response with the intended objective and encourages a more focused and relevant response. User Please provide an example using the new formula you provided and also break it down ChatGPT Certainly! Let's create an example prompt using the revised formula: Formula: [Context] + [Specific Information] + [Intent/Goal] + [Desired Outcome] + [Response Format (if needed)] = Perfect Prompt Example Prompt: [Context] You are a tour guide in a historic city and have just encountered a group of tourists. [Specific Information] One of the tourists asks about the significance of a particular monument. [Intent/Goal] Explain the historical importance of the monument and its cultural impact on the city. [Desired Outcome] Provide a detailed response that highlights key historical events related to the monument and elucidates its significance to the city's heritage. [Response Format (if needed)] Please organize your response into three paragraphs: Introduction, Historical Background, and Cultural Impact. Breaking down the example prompt: Context: You are a tour guide in a historic city and have just encountered a group of tourists. Specific Information: One of the tourists asks about the significance of a particular monument. Intent/Goal: Explain the historical importance of the monument and its cultural impact on the city. Desired Outcome: Provide a detailed response that highlights key historical events related to the monument and elucidates its significance to the city's heritage. Response Format (if needed): Please organize your response into three paragraphs: Introduction, Historical Background, and Cultural Impact. By including all these components, the prompt provides clear instructions to the respondent. They understand the context of the scenario, know which specific information to address, comprehend the intent and goal of the prompt, have a clear understanding of the desired outcome, and are aware of the expected response format. This comprehensive prompt enables the respondent to provide a well-structured and informative response that aligns with the intended objective.
  • @mickeyfickey1252
    I’ve built a few complex vba macro spreadsheets for my team using chat gpt and I don’t know much about vba lol. Being specific and detailed from beginning to end is key
  • @ImWORTHITINC
    CANNOT WAIT for the prompt priming!! TYSM! I APPRECIATE YOU!