Last updated
Anatomy of a Great Prompt
Definition: A strong prompt usually contains up to four parts: an instruction (what to do), context (background), input (the material to work on), and an output format (how the answer should look).
The four building blocks
- Instruction — the task: "Summarise", "Rewrite", "Translate", "Generate"
- Context — who it is for, the goal, any constraints
- Input — the text, data, or topic to act on
- Output format — length, structure, tone, language
Putting them together
Summarise the text below for a busy manager who has 30 seconds. (context) Use 3 bullet points, plain English, no jargon. (format)
Text: """[paste the report here]""" (input)
Notice how each part does a job. The instruction says what; the context says for whom; the format says how; the input is the raw material.
You do not always need all four
A quick question may only need an instruction. But whenever you are unhappy with an answer, ask: which building block did I leave out? Usually adding context or a format fixes it.
💡 Mental checklist: Instruction → Context → Input → Format. Run through it before you hit send.