6 Ways to Write Better ChatGPT Prompts — And Actually Get What You Want, Faster

There’s an art to getting ChatGPT to do your bidding — and no, I’m not talking about dark wizardry, but something almost as powerful: crafting killer prompts. The trick? It’s all about optimizing what you put in to get that sweet, sweet output. Think of it as leveling up your chat with AI.

ChatGPT might be an AI rockstar right now, but sometimes, let’s be real, it pulls a classic, “Oops, I made stuff up.” However, if you play your prompt cards right, you can guide it like Gandalf on a noble quest to get you the right answers. Let’s dive into how to do that.

But first, a quick shoutout: since the whole ChatGPT boom, I’ve tested a bunch of AI chatbots, and let’s just say I have a new fave. But enough of that, let’s get back to mastering ChatGPT.

1. Treat ChatGPT Like You’re Talking to a Human (Yes, Seriously)

First things first: You’re not *programming* ChatGPT. I know, I know, old habits die hard for us geeks, but when you’re working with this AI, you need to stop thinking like a coder and start talking like you’re texting your buddy.

Just imagine you’re chatting with your coworker Bob (or whatever you want to name it — Bob’s cool, though). You wouldn’t just bark commands at Bob like “Give me coffee” unless you wanted passive-aggressive vibes. Instead, you’d be all like, “Hey, Bob, could you grab me a coffee? Also, no sugar. Thanks, champ.”

Same vibe here. If ChatGPT goes off the rails — and trust me, it will — just reel it back in, clarify what you mean, and keep it going. Think of it as AI ping-pong. You ask, it answers, you nudge it in the right direction. Simple as that.

2. Set the Scene, Paint a Picture, Give Some Context

You know how when you ask for help, giving some backstory makes things, like, a thousand times clearer? Yeah, same for ChatGPT.

Instead of just saying, “How do I train for a marathon?” (Spoiler: You’ll probably just get generic fitness advice), level it up. Throw in some detail:

“I’m a beginner who’s never run more than to the fridge for snacks. But in six months, I want to finish a marathon without, you know, dying. Help?”

BOOM. Now you’ve got context, and ChatGPT can skip the “Here’s how to jog” and get into the nitty-gritty of marathon training for noobs.

Need another example? Fine, here’s one for you:

“I’m heading to Spain in a few months, and my Spanish is limited to ‘tacos.’ Help me find beginner-friendly language resources that won’t make me look like a complete tourist.”

Or:

“I run a business and I keep hearing about blockchain like it’s some magical unicorn. How can I use it to stop my supply chain from being a dumpster fire? Also, can you explain it like I’m five?”

The more you feed it, the more it’ll feed you back.

3. Make ChatGPT Play Pretend (It’s Actually Good at This)

One of the coolest ChatGPT tricks is making it role-play — no, not that kind of role-playing (keep it PG, folks). You can ask GPT to pretend to be a teacher, a journalist, or even a pirate if that’s your jam.

Say I wanted it to write about the Amazon Echo, I could tell it to write from the perspective of:

1. A product manager: “This Echo is, like, totally the most revolutionary thing since sliced bread.”

2. A caregiver: “This thing’s a lifesaver for setting medication reminders for my elderly mom.”

3. A journalist: “Data privacy issues surround the Echo like moths to a flame.”

Pro tip: you can even take it further with a little thought experiment. Say it’s 2012, Siri just came out, and the Amazon board is debating whether to invest in building Alexa. You could ask ChatGPT to break down the pros and cons as if you were eavesdropping at that meeting.

Seriously, try it. The geeky conversations it’ll dream up are gold.

4. Keep ChatGPT from Going Off the Rails (Because It Will)

If you’ve ever had ChatGPT start spouting random nonsense, you know exactly what I’m talking about. One minute it’s giving you decent advice, the next minute it’s inventing facts like a badly written Wikipedia article.

How do you keep it in check? Easy. Ask it to explain itself. When ChatGPT says something off, hit it with a “Why do you think that?” or “What’s your source?” It’ll either apologize (AI’s super polite like that) or try again with a clearer answer.

Another trick is to remind ChatGPT to stay on topic. It can be like that one friend who talks your ear off and then forgets what the convo was even about. In those moments, I just say, “Hey, re-read what I said.” Works like a charm. You can also drop the original question back in to reframe things if it’s really lost.

5. Sometimes, Just Tell It to Re-Read Your Question (Yes, Really)

So, ChatGPT got lost halfway through your prompt? Maybe it’s daydreaming, maybe it’s glitched out, or maybe it just forgot what you wanted. Sound familiar?

Just hit it with a “Re-read the prompt” like a teacher snapping someone back to attention in class. And, you know what? That actually works. It re-focuses and usually gets back on track without making stuff up.

6. Play Around and Experiment (This Is Where the Fun Begins)

Listen, if you want to get good at this whole prompt-writing thing, you’ve got to be willing to mess around and see what happens. ChatGPT’s basically your playground, so throw it weird prompts and see what sticks.

Want to know what it’s like to be a raindrop in a thunderstorm? ChatGPT’s got you. Feel like writing from the perspective of a toy that’s been forgotten in an attic for 30 years? Why not. Play around. The more creative your prompts, the more creative the AI gets.

And pay attention to where it messes up, too. Sometimes the fun isn’t just in the answer, but in how ChatGPT stumbles along the way. And who knows? Maybe your epic prompt-engineering skills will land you that dream job. Apparently, those pay quite well.

So here are the Six ways to up your ChatGPT game. Get frankly conversational, discuss your context, make ChatGPT pretend like an expert in the desired field.

Prompt like a pro!