1. For Generating Information or Explanations
- Explain: Use this to request a comprehensive breakdown of a concept, process, or topic. It’s ideal for learning or teaching scenarios where you need clarity and depth. Specify the audience or complexity level for tailored responses (e.g., beginner, expert).
- When to Use: When you’re curious about how something works or need to understand a complex idea.
- Example: “Explain how blockchain technology works for a beginner, including key terms like ‘ledger’ and ‘mining’.”
- Tips: Add constraints like “in 200 words” or “with analogies” to refine the output. Follow up with “clarify” if parts are unclear.
- Variations: “Elaborate,” “Break down,” “Walk me through.”
- Describe: Requests a detailed portrayal, often vivid or sensory, of an object, place, or concept. Perfect for creative writing, visualization, or when you need a mental picture.
- When to Use: When you want a narrative or evocative depiction, such as for storytelling or design inspiration.
- Example: “Describe a bustling marketplace in a fantasy city at dusk, focusing on sights, sounds, and smells.”
- Tips: Specify tone (e.g., “poetic,” “realistic”) or perspective (e.g., “from a visitor’s view”). Use for physical or abstract subjects (e.g., “Describe hope”).
- Variations: “Illustrate,” “Depict,” “Paint a picture of.”
- Summarize: Asks for a concise overview of a topic, text, or event, distilling key points without unnecessary details. Great for quick insights or when you’re short on time.
- When to Use: When you need the essence of something lengthy, like a book, article, or historical event.
- Example: “Summarize the main arguments in Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari in 100 words.”
- Tips: Specify format (e.g., “in bullet points”) or scope (e.g., “focus on economic impacts”). Use “expand” to dive deeper later.
- Variations: “Condense,” “Recap,” “Give an overview.”
- Define: Requests a precise definition of a term or concept, often with context or examples. Ideal for technical or academic purposes.
- When to Use: When you need a clear, dictionary-style explanation or want to understand jargon.
- Example: “Define ‘machine learning’ and provide a real-world example.”
- Tips: Ask for differentiation (e.g., “Define ‘deep learning’ versus ‘machine learning’”) or context (e.g., “in the context of finance”).
- Variations: “What is,” “Clarify the meaning of,” “Give a definition for.”
- Clarify: Seeks to resolve confusion or simplify a vague or complex response. Use this to refine previous answers or focus on specific aspects.
- When to Use: When an explanation is too technical, ambiguous, or misses the mark.
- Example: “Clarify the difference between HTTP and HTTPS in simple terms.”
- Tips: Pinpoint the issue (e.g., “the part about encryption was unclear”). Pair with “simplify” for broader accessibility.
- Variations: “Make clear,” “Simplify,” “Explain further.”
2. For Analysis or Reasoning
- Analyze: Requests a detailed examination of components, structure, or intent. Use for dissecting texts, data, or scenarios to uncover insights.
- When to Use: When you need a critical breakdown, such as in literature, business, or research.
- Example: “Analyze the persuasive techniques in Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.”
- Tips: Specify focus (e.g., “focus on rhetorical devices”) or output (e.g., “in a table”). Use for qualitative or quantitative analysis.
- Variations: “Examine,” “Dissect,” “Break down.”
- Compare: Asks for a side-by-side evaluation of two or more items, highlighting similarities and differences. Great for decision-making or study.
- When to Use: When choosing between options or understanding distinctions (e.g., products, theories).
- Example: “Compare the environmental impact of electric cars versus gas-powered cars in a bullet-point list.”
- Tips: Specify criteria (e.g., “based on cost and efficiency”) or format (e.g., “in a table”). Use “evaluate” for deeper judgment.
- Variations: “Contrast,” “Differentiate,” “Weigh.”
- Evaluate: Requests an assessment of value, effectiveness, or quality, often with reasoning. Use for reviews, critiques, or strategic decisions.
- When to Use: When you need a judgment call, like assessing a policy or product.
- Example: “Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of working from home for employees and employers.”
- Tips: Define scope (e.g., “from an economic perspective”) or criteria (e.g., “based on productivity”). Pair with “justify” for evidence.
- Variations: “Assess,” “Critique,” “Appraise.”
- Interpret: Seeks the meaning, significance, or implications of something, often subjective. Ideal for art, data, or ambiguous texts.
- When to Use: When you want insight into symbolism, trends, or hidden meanings.
- Example: “Interpret the ending of Inception and its implications for reality versus dreams.”
- Tips: Specify lens (e.g., “from a psychological perspective”) or context (e.g., “in the director’s style”). Use for creative or analytical tasks.
- Variations: “Explain the meaning of,” “Analyze the significance of,” “Decode.”
- Justify: Requests reasoning or evidence to support a claim, decision, or stance. Use for debates, proposals, or critical thinking.
- When to Use: When you need a defended argument or rationale.
- Example: “Justify why investing in solar energy is better than fossil fuels, citing data.”
- Tips: Ask for sources (e.g., “use recent studies”) or structure (e.g., “in three points”). Pair with “evaluate” for broader context.
- Variations: “Defend,” “Support,” “Argue for.”
3. For Creative Tasks
- Write: Requests original written content, from stories to essays. Use for creative or professional outputs requiring narrative or structure.
- When to Use: When you need a complete piece, like a letter or fiction.
- Example: “Write a 500-word short story about a robot discovering emotions.”
- Tips: Specify tone (e.g., “somber”), audience (e.g., “for teens”), or constraints (e.g., “no dialogue”). Use “refine” for edits.
- Variations: “Draft,” “Produce,” “Compose.”
- Create: Asks for something new, often tangible or structured, like a recipe, plan, or concept. Broadly applicable to creative or practical tasks.
- When to Use: When you need a novel output, from art to strategies.
- Example: “Create a 7-day meal plan for a vegetarian on a budget.”
- Tips: Define parameters (e.g., “under $50”) or format (e.g., “in a table”). Use for physical or abstract creations.
- Variations: “Develop,” “Generate,” “Invent.”
- Imagine: Requests exploration of hypothetical or speculative scenarios, often for brainstorming or storytelling.
- When to Use: When you want to explore “what if” ideas or futuristic concepts.
- Example: “Imagine a society where AI governs all decisions—describe daily life.”
- Tips: Specify scope (e.g., “focus on education”) or tone (e.g., “dystopian”). Pair with “describe” for vividness.
- Variations: “Envision,” “Suppose,” “Fantasize.”
- Design: Asks for a structured, purposeful creation, often with functionality in mind, like a plan or template.
- When to Use: When you need a blueprint or system, such as for projects or aesthetics.
- Example: “Design a 4-week fitness program for a beginner, including rest days.”
- Tips: Specify goals (e.g., “weight loss”) or constraints (e.g., “no gym equipment”). Use for practical or visual designs.
- Variations: “Plan,” “Structure,” “Formulate.”
- Compose: Requests artistic or expressive content, like poetry, music, or speeches, with a focus on creativity.
- When to Use: When you want something lyrical or performative.
- Example: “Compose a haiku about a forest at dawn.”
- Tips: Specify form (e.g., “sonnet”) or mood (e.g., “melancholic”). Use “refine” to polish the output.
- Variations: “Craft,” “Write,” “Create.”
4. For Problem-Solving or Advice
- Solve: Requests a direct solution to a problem, often mathematical, logical, or technical. Use for clear, actionable answers.
- When to Use: When you have a specific problem with a definitive answer.
- Example: “Solve the equation 3x² – 12x + 9 = 0 using the quadratic formula.”
- Tips: Provide all relevant details (e.g., “show steps”). Use for puzzles, coding bugs, or equations.
- Variations: “Resolve,” “Calculate,” “Work out.”
- Suggest: Asks for ideas or options, often open-ended, for brainstorming or inspiration.
- When to Use: When you need creative or practical recommendations.
- Example: “Suggest 5 eco-friendly habits for reducing household waste.”
- Tips: Specify quantity (e.g., “3 ideas”) or context (e.g., “for small apartments”). Pair with “explain” for details.
- Variations: “Propose,” “Recommend,” “Offer.”
- Recommend: Requests specific, curated advice or choices, often for products, media, or actions.
- When to Use: When you need expert-like guidance or vetted options.
- Example: “Recommend 3 sci-fi novels for readers new to the genre, with brief summaries.”
- Tips: Define preferences (e.g., “under 300 pages”) or criteria (e.g., “highly rated”). Use for personalized advice.
- Variations: “Advise,” “Suggest,” “Pick.”
- Troubleshoot: Requests help diagnosing and fixing a problem, often technical or practical.
- When to Use: When something isn’t working, like software or hardware.
- Example: “Troubleshoot why my Wi-Fi keeps dropping on my laptop.”
- Tips: Provide details (e.g., “Windows 10, error code 123”). Ask for “step-by-step” instructions.
- Variations: “Fix,” “Diagnose,” “Resolve.”
- Plan: Asks for a structured approach or schedule to achieve a goal. Use for logistics or strategy.
- When to Use: When you need a roadmap, like for travel or projects.
- Example: “Plan a 5-day hiking trip in Yosemite, including trails and camping spots.”
- Tips: Specify constraints (e.g., “budget of $500”) or format (e.g., “daily itinerary”). Use for short- or long-term plans.
- Variations: “Organize,” “Schedule,” “Map out.”
5. For Structuring or Formatting
- List: Requests information in a bulleted or numbered format for clarity and scannability.
- When to Use: When you want quick, organized points, like tips or features.
- Example: “List 10 benefits of drinking water, with one sentence per benefit.”
- Tips: Specify number (e.g., “5 items”) or detail level (e.g., “with examples”). Use for summaries or brainstorming.
- Variations: “Enumerate,” “Bullet,” “Itemise.”
- Outline: Asks for a hierarchical or structured overview, often for planning or study.
- When to Use: When you need a framework, like for essays or projects.
- Example: “Outline the key steps to launch a startup, with subpoints for each stage.”
- Tips: Specify depth (e.g., “main points only”) or format (e.g., “in Roman numerals”). Use “expand” to flesh out later.
- Variations: “Structure,” “Map,” “Sketch.”
- Format: Requests output in a specific style or layout, like tables, charts, or templates.
- When to Use: When you need visually organized data or a specific presentation.
- Example: “Format the pros and cons of remote learning as a two-column table.”
- Tips: Be explicit about the format (e.g., “CSV,” “bullet points”). Use for reports or comparisons.
- Variations: “Present,” “Arrange,” “Style.”
- Organize: Asks for information to be sorted or prioritized, often for clarity or actionability.
- When to Use: When you have chaotic data or tasks needing order.
- Example: “Organize these 10 tasks by urgency and category: [task list].”
- Tips: Specify criteria (e.g., “by deadline”) or output (e.g., “in a table”). Use for planning or decluttering.
- Variations: “Sort,” “Prioritize,” “Group.”
- Categorize: Requests items to be grouped by shared traits or themes.
- When to Use: When you need to classify or make sense of diverse data.
- Example: “Categorize these 15 animals by habitat: forest, desert, ocean.”
- Tips: Provide the items or ask for examples (e.g., “include 5 animals per category”). Use for analysis or study.
- Variations: “Classify,” “Group,” “Divide.”
6. For Interactive or Iterative Prompts
- Ask: Requests the AI to generate questions for you, often to spark ideas or guide thinking.
- When to Use: When you want to explore a topic interactively or need prompts.
- Example: “Ask me 5 questions to help me brainstorm a new app idea.”
- Tips: Specify goal (e.g., “for career planning”) or question type (e.g., “open-ended”). Use for reflection or interviews.
- Variations: “Pose,” “Generate questions,” “Quiz.”
- Refine: Asks for improvements to existing content, like text or ideas, to enhance quality.
- When to Use: When you have a draft needing polish or clarity.
- Example: “Refine this cover letter to sound more confident and concise: [text].”
- Tips: Specify changes (e.g., “remove jargon”) or tone (e.g., “formal”). Use for writing or plans.
- Variations: “Improve,” “Polish,” “Enhance.”
- Expand: Requests more detail or elaboration on a topic or previous response.
- When to Use: When an answer is too brief or you want deeper exploration.
- Example: “Expand on the economic benefits of recycling, adding two more points.”
- Tips: Specify scope (e.g., “add 200 words”) or focus (e.g., “on job creation”). Use to build on ideas.
- Variations: “Elaborate,” “Add to,” “Extend.”
- Simplify: Asks for a complex idea to be made easier to understand, often for broader audiences.
- When to Use: When a topic is too technical or jargon-heavy.
- Example: “Simplify the concept of neural networks for a middle school student.”
- Tips: Specify audience (e.g., “for kids”) or method (e.g., “use analogies”). Pair with “clarify” for precision.
- Variations: “Break down,” “Make simple,” “Explain plainly.”
- Continue: Requests the AI to pick up where a previous response left off, often for narratives or lists.
- When to Use: When you want to extend a story, argument, or sequence.
- Example: “Continue the story about the astronaut stranded on Mars from this point: [text].”
- Tips: Provide context or the last point clearly. Specify direction (e.g., “focus on rescue”). Use for creative or analytical tasks.
- Variations: “Proceed,” “Keep going,” “Follow up.”
Tips for Maximizing Prompt Effectiveness
- Combine Commands: Use multiple verbs for complex tasks (e.g., “Analyze and compare the features of iOS and Android”).
- Add Context: Include background (e.g., “I’m a beginner coder”) to tailor responses.
- Specify Constraints: Set limits like word count, format, or tone (e.g., “Explain in 50 words, casually”).
- Iterate: Use “refine,” “expand,” or “clarify” to perfect responses over multiple prompts.
- Experiment: Try synonyms or rephrase commands if results aren’t ideal (e.g., “describe” vs. “illustrate”).
These expanded command words and strategies should help you craft precise, effective prompts for any task. If you want examples tailored to a specific goal (e.g., coding, writing, research), let me know!