Tips for Getting Better Responses from LLMs

1. Be Clear and Specific

Provide enough detail so the AI can focus on exactly what you’re asking. Well-defined prompts lead to more focused answers.

❌ Bad Prompt
“Explain marketing.”

Issues: This is too broad and can lead to a long, unfocused response.

✅ Good Prompt
“Explain the key differences between digital marketing and traditional marketing, particularly in terms of cost, audience reach, and measurable ROI.”

Why it’s better: It’s specific about what aspect of marketing you want explained and highlights particular points of comparison.

2. Keep It Concise

If you have multiple questions, break them into separate prompts. Short, direct queries are easier for the AI to handle.

❌ Bad Prompt
“Explain how to make a perfect cup of coffee and then give me a list of coffee-producing countries and their export volumes and then also tell me the history of coffee in each country.”

Issues: Three distinct requests are jammed into one prompt, making the response cumbersome and potentially incomplete.

✅ Good Prompt
Prompt 1: “Explain how to make a perfect cup of coffee, including tips for brewing methods and coffee bean selection.”
Prompt 2: “List the top 10 coffee-producing countries and their average export volumes.”
Prompt 3: “Give a brief history of coffee in each of these 10 countries.”

Why it’s better: Separating the questions makes each prompt simpler and more focused, resulting in clearer answers.

3. Provide Context

When your question relates to a specific topic, include relevant background information. This helps the AI understand your needs and deliver more accurate answers.

❌ Bad Prompt
“What’s the best exercise for me?”

Issues: Lacks context about the person’s fitness level, goals, or any health concerns.

✅ Good Prompt
“I’m a 35-year-old with mild lower back pain and limited time for workouts. Which low-impact exercises can I safely do at home to strengthen my core and improve my posture?”

Why it’s better: The prompt specifies age, health concerns (mild lower back pain), and desired outcome (core strength, improved posture). It also clarifies the workout setting (at home) and time constraints, guiding the AI to provide more targeted advice.

4. Use Relevant Keywords

Incorporate important terms related to your topic. Clear, focused keywords guide the AI toward the right information.

❌ Bad Prompt
“Tell me about famous paintings.”

Issues: Lacks keywords that might narrow down the type of paintings or the era. The AI could go in any direction.

✅ Good Prompt
“Tell me about famous Impressionist paintings, particularly those by Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.”

Why it’s better: The keywords “Impressionist,” “Claude Monet,” and “Pierre-Auguste Renoir” direct the AI to provide more targeted information.

5. Use Proper Grammar

Write in complete sentences and check your spelling. Correct grammar helps the AI interpret your query more accurately.

❌ Bad Prompt
“plz tell me abt history 2 world war?”

Issues: Misspelled words, unclear structure, and colloquial abbreviations may confuse the AI.

✅ Good Prompt
“Could you please provide an overview of the events leading to World War II, focusing on the political tensions in Europe?”

Why it’s better: Proper grammar and clear language make it easier for the AI to understand your request.

6. Proofread Before Submitting

Review your prompt for errors or ambiguity. A quick check can significantly improve the AI’s response.

❌ Bad Prompt
“Porvide a sumary of the latet reseach on mmRNA vacciens.”

Issues: Typos in words like “Provide,” “summary,” “latest,” and “mRNA vaccines” may lead to the AI misinterpreting your request.

✅ Good Prompt
“Provide a summary of the latest research on mRNA vaccines, including recent advancements and clinical trial results.”

Why it’s better: Corrected typos and clearer phrasing ensure the AI can accurately address the question.

7. Specify Desired Format or Style

If you need the answer in a particular structure (e.g., bullet points, step-by-step instructions) or tone, mention it in your prompt.

❌ Bad Prompt
“Write about employee onboarding.”

Issues: Vague request that doesn’t specify the style or format you want.

✅ Good Prompt
“Write a step-by-step guide for employee onboarding in bullet-point form, focusing on remote teams.”

Why it’s better: Clearly states the desired format (bullet points) and context (remote teams).

8. Iterate and Refine

Sometimes your first attempt won’t give you the perfect answer. By adjusting or adding detail to your prompt, you can guide the AI toward more precise and useful responses.

Initial Prompt
“Give me a healthy meal plan.”

Potential Issue: This is too broad. The AI might provide a generic or incomplete response since it doesn’t know your dietary preferences, calorie goals, or any other criteria.

Second Prompt
“I’m a vegetarian looking to lose weight slowly while maintaining muscle mass. Could you suggest a 2,000 calorie meal plan with a grocery list?”

Refinement: You’ve added specific information (vegetarian, calorie target, goal of weight loss + muscle maintenance) to get a more targeted answer.

Third Prompt
“Focus on recipes that are easy to cook using mostly whole foods and minimal processed ingredients. Also, ensure each meal has at least 20g of protein.”

Further Refinement: You’ve included additional details about cooking difficulty, food choices, and protein requirements. This prompts the AI to refine its suggestions even more.

By iterating and refining your prompts—adding context, clarifying the goal, and specifying the desired output—you can steer the AI toward responses that better address your questions or needs.

9. Acknowledge Limitations

Keep in mind that language models have knowledge cutoffs and may sometimes provide inaccurate or incomplete information. Verify critical facts with reliable sources.

❌ Bad Prompt
“Give me an indisputable fact about the stock market that is guaranteed to be correct forever.”

Issues: The AI can’t predict the future with certainty; stock market facts and trends change over time.

✅ Good Prompt
“Based on current data, what are some common indicators analysts use to evaluate stock market trends, and what are their limitations?”

Why it’s better: This acknowledges the changing nature of the market and focuses on well-established indicators, prompting the AI to discuss their relative strengths and weaknesses.