Asking an AI Well: 5 Rules and Examples

Is your AI answering off topic, or giving vague results? The problem often comes from the request itself. A “prompt” is simply the request you write to the AI. Here is how to make it clearer.

Write as if to a colleague

Write your request as if you were giving it to a colleague. Be clear and direct.

Try this test: show your request to someone who doesn’t know your topic. If they would be lost reading it, the AI will be too.

Apply the 5 rules

The guides from the publishers (Microsoft, Google, Anthropic, OpenAI) repeat the same ideas. Here are the five points to remember.

1. The goal: what you want to get. This is the essential element.
2. The context: why you are asking, for whom, and with which information.
3. The format: a list, a table, a length, a number of points.
4. The tone: polite, formal, friendly, simple.
5. An example: showing what the result you want looks like.

You don’t need all five every time. A clear goal is enough to start. Then add the other elements if the result doesn’t suit you.

Compare before and after

Here are five requests that are too vague, followed by improved versions.

Email. Before: “Reply to this customer.”

Example request Here is an email from an unhappy customer. Write a polite reply that acknowledges the delivery delay and offers a small gesture. Warm but professional tone, 5 sentences maximum. Replace names with [brackets]. Here is the email: [paste the anonymized email]

The full guide: reply to an email.

Letter. Before: “Write a cancellation letter.”

Example request Write a letter to cancel my car insurance contract, addressed to my insurer. Formal and polite tone. Leave [brackets] for my name, my address, my contract number and the date.

The full guide: write a letter in Word.

Excel. Before: “Give me a formula.”

Example request I use Excel in French. Column A contains the dates, column B the seller’s name, column C the amount. Give me the formula that adds up the amounts for [seller’s name] for the month of [month]. Explain it in plain words.

The full guide: an Excel formula.

PDF summary. Before: “Summarize this document.”

Example request Read this document and summarize it in five clear points, to prepare for [Monday’s meeting]. End with the important dates. If some information is missing, say so instead of making it up.

The full guide: summarize a PDF.

Meeting minutes. Before: “Write the minutes.”

Example request Here are my rough notes. Write minutes in four parts: decisions, actions, owners, deadlines. If some information is missing, write [to be completed]. Notes: [paste your anonymized notes]

The full guide: prepare a meeting.

Ask follow-up questions

An AI doesn’t always get it right on the first try. A conversation helps you refine the result. You can write, for example:

• “Shorter.”
• “Simpler.”
• “Change the tone, make it warmer.”
• “Give me three versions.”
• “Keep the same idea, but add an example.”

Sending the same request again often gives a different answer. It is better to rephrase your request, adding what was missing.

Protect your data

The CNIL advises avoiding, as far as possible, entering personal data into an AI. Never share confidential information.

So do not give your name, your address, or a contract number. Ask the AI to leave [brackets] in their place instead. You then fill them in yourself.

In your request, you can write for example: “Replace names with [brackets].”

Reread and check

An AI can make mistakes. It can also invent an answer that sounds true. Reread every result before using it: check that it is clear, relevant and accurate.

For important questions, verify the figures, dates and names with a reliable source.

The right habits

• Always check the answers before using them.
• Protect your data: replace personal information with [brackets].
• Reread the result, then ask for an improved version if needed.
• Rephrase instead of sending the same request again.
• Start with a clear goal, and add the rest if necessary.