---
title: "How do I write a good prompt for ChatGPT or Claude?"  
description: "How do I write a good prompt for ChatGPT or Claude?"  
author: "Magdalena Malinowska"  
published: 2026-10-31  
updated: 2026-10-31  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/119664/how-do-i-write-a-good-prompt-for-chatgpt-or-claude  
category: "Prompt Engineering"  
tags: ["prompt engineering", "chatgpt", "Claude", "how to"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# How do I write a good prompt for ChatGPT or Claude?



## Answers

### Answer by Chandra Shekhar

A good prompt is not about clever wording. It is about giving the AI enough information to do the job well, the same way you would brief a capable assistant on their first day.

A simple structure works for almost every task: role or context, task, details and format.

Here is a weak prompt: "Write a product description for my shoes."

Here is a stronger one: "I sell handmade leather sandals online from Agra. Write a product description for our men's brown kolhapuri-style sandal, priced at 1,499 rupees. The audience is men aged 25 to 45 who care about comfort and traditional craft. Mention genuine leather, a cushioned sole and free delivery across India. Keep it under 120 words, warm and simple, with a short headline and three bullet points."

The second prompt answers every question the AI would otherwise have to guess: who you are, what the product is, who the audience is, which points to include, tone, length and format.

Some further tips make prompts even more effective:

1. Put long reference material first and your question after it. When you paste a document, add your instructions at the end so they are fresh.\
2. Use clear separators. Labels such as "Background:", "Task:" and "Rules:" help the model tell instructions from content.\
3. Give an example of the output you like. Even one sample of the style you want is powerful.\
4. Explain the reason behind rules. "Use short sentences because readers are on mobile phones" works better than "use short sentences."\
5. Ask it to ask you. For complex tasks, add "Ask me any questions you need before you start."\
6. Ask for options. "Give me three different versions" lets you pick and combine.\
7. Say what to do when unsure. "If information is missing, mark it as [TO CONFIRM]" prevents invented details.

Then refine. The first answer is a draft. Reply with specific feedback, such as "the second paragraph is too salesy" or "add a line about the return policy," instead of rewriting the whole prompt.

Finally, save prompts that work. If you find a prompt that gives great results for a recurring task, keep it in a notes file, or turn it into a custom GPT, a Claude Project or a Gemini Gem, so you never have to rewrite it.


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