TL;DR: Write Better Prompts

The formula: Role + Task + Style Role: Tell ChatGPT what expert to act like Task: Say exactly what you need Style:Describe the tone and format Time: 30 seconds to write a good prompt

Most people write prompts that are too short.

"Write an email" doesn't give ChatGPT enough to work with. You get generic garbage.

Add three pieces of information and results get way better. Here's how.

The 3-Part Formula

Part 1: Give ChatGPT a Role

Tell it what kind of expert to be.

Without role: "Write product description"

With role: "You are an e-commerce copywriter. Write product description"

Why this works: ChatGPT knows millions of product descriptions. The role tells it which style to use - e-commerce vs technical vs luxury vs budget.

Common roles that work:

• "You are a [job title]" - teacher, manager, editor, analyst

• "You are an expert in [field]" - marketing, coding, design

• "You are a [type] writer" - technical writer, copywriter, journalist

Part 2: Say Exactly What You Need

Be specific about the output.

Too vague: "Write something about productivity"

Specific: "Write 5 productivity tips for remote workers. Each tip should be 2-3 sentences with one actionable step."

What to specify:

• Format: list, paragraph, table, email, script

• Length: word count, number of items, time limit

• What to include: specific points to cover

• What to leave out: things you don't need

Part 3: Describe the Style

Tell ChatGPT how to write it.

Without style: "Write email to customer"

With style: "Write email to customer. Professional but friendly tone, like talking to a regular customer not a stranger. Keep it under 150 words."

Style things to mention:

• Tone: formal, casual, friendly, direct, enthusiastic

• Audience: who's reading this

• Length: word count or time to read

• What to avoid: jargon, corporate speak, being too casual

Real Examples You Can Use

Example 1: Work Email

Prompt:

Why this works: Role (project manager), specific task (deadline update), tone (direct), length limit.

Example 2: Explain Something

Prompt:

Why this works: Role (teacher to beginners), specific topic, what to include, format and length.

Example 3: Social Media Post

Prompt:

Why this works: Role, specific angle, structure (hook/main/CTA), tone, format details.

Example 4: List of Ideas

Prompt:

Why this works: Role, specific number and topic, format for each item, content direction.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Prompt Too Short

Doesn't work: "Write blog post"

Problem: ChatGPT doesn't know what topic, what length, what style, who it's for.

Fix: Add role, specific topic, target length, audience, tone.

Mistake 2: No Length Limit

Doesn't work: "Explain blockchain"

Problem: ChatGPT writes forever or way too short. You wanted 200 words, got 800 or 50.

Fix: Always say how long. "Explain in 200 words" or "3 short paragraphs" or "under 5 minutes to read."

Mistake 3: Vague Style

Doesn't work: "Make it professional"

Problem: Professional means different things. Corporate memo professional vs email to client professional vs LinkedIn post professional.

Fix: Describe the actual tone. "Professional but conversational" or "formal business tone" or "professional like expert giving advice to peer."

Mistake 4: No Examples

Doesn't work: "Write in my style"

Problem: ChatGPT doesn't know your style.

Fix: Paste example of your writing or describe it. "Like this: [paste sample]" or "Casual and direct, short sentences, no corporate speak."

Testing If Your Prompt Is Good

Ask yourself:

1. Did I tell ChatGPT what role or expert to be?

2. Is it clear exactly what output I want?

3. Did I mention length or format?

4. Will ChatGPT know what tone/style I need?

If you answered no to any: Add that information.

Quick test: Could someone else read your prompt and know what you're asking for? If you're confused by your own prompt, ChatGPT will be too.

When to Keep It Simple

You don't need the full formula for:

• Quick factual questions: "What year did X happen?"

• Simple definitions: "Define [term]"

• Basic math: "Calculate X"

• Quick translations: "Translate [text] to Spanish"

Use the full formula for:

• Writing anything (emails, posts, articles)

• Creating lists or ideas

• Explaining concepts

• Getting advice or analysis

• Anything where tone or style matters

Making ChatGPT Sound Like You

The problem: ChatGPT has a default voice. It's fine but generic.

The fix: Show it your style.

Add to any prompt:

Write this matching my style.

My style example: [paste 2-3 sentences you wrote]

Notice: [point out what makes it yours - sentence length, tone, word choice]

Or describe your style:

My writing style:
- Short sentences mixed with longer ones
- Casual but not sloppy
- I use [words you use often]
- I never use [words you hate]

Improving Results

If the first result isn't great:

Option 1: Be more specific "That's close but [what's wrong]. Try again with [specific change]."

Option 2: Show don't tell "More like this: [example of what you want]"

Option 3: Ask for variations "Give me 3 different versions of that"

Usually takes 1-2 tries to get it right.

ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini

Do prompts work the same?

Mostly yes. The 3-part formula works for all of them.

Small differences:

• ChatGPT: Best at following format instructions

• Claude: Better at understanding nuance in tone

• Gemini: Faster but sometimes needs more specific instructions

Start with ChatGPT. It's what most people use and these prompts work well for it.

Next Steps

Getting started:

1. Pick a task you do regularly

2. Write prompt using role + task + style

3. See what you get

4. Adjust and try again

5. Save the prompt that works

Building up:

• Start simple (emails, lists, explanations)

• Get comfortable with the formula

• Add more detail as you learn what works

• Save your best prompts to reuse

The point: You don't need to be a prompt engineer. You just need those three parts and some practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a good prompt be?

Usually 3-5 sentences. Long enough to be clear, short enough to write fast. Don't overthink it.

Can I use the same prompt multiple times?

Yes. Save prompts that work. Change just the specific details each time.

What if I don't know what role to use?

Think about who would do this task in real life. That's your role. Or use "You are an expert in [topic]."

Do I always need all three parts?

For good results on anything important, yes. For quick questions, just ask the question.

How do I know if my prompt is good enough?

If you get results close to what you wanted, it's good enough. Perfect is the enemy of done.

What about those long complicated prompts I see online?

Those are for advanced use. Start simple. Add complexity only if you need it.

Should I take a course on prompt engineering?

No. Just use ChatGPT. You'll learn faster by doing than by studying.

What's the biggest mistake beginners make?

Writing prompts that are way too short. "Help me with X" doesn't give ChatGPT enough information.

Related Reading

More Examples:

• Best AI Prompts for ChatGPT, Claude & Gemini in 2026: Templates, Examples & Scorecard

Specific Use Cases:

• AI Prompts for Students 2026: ChatGPT & Claude for Homework, Essays & Research

• AI Prompts for Email 2026: Write Better Emails 10x Faster with ChatGPT & Claude

Tool Comparison:

• ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini vs Perplexity 2026: Which AI Tool Is Best for You?

www.topfreeprompts.com

Access 80,000+ ready-to-use prompts for ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Every prompt shows you the role, task, and style so you can learn by example.