A useful prompt explains what you are trying to accomplish and what the answer should look like. You do not need a special formula or a long list of roles. Start with a real task and enough information to evaluate the result.
1. Start with the outcome
Replace “help with marketing” with a specific deliverable. For example: “Draft three short descriptions for a reusable water bottle product page.” Now the assistant has a concrete job, and you have something to review.
2. Add the context that changes the answer
Say who will read the result, what they already know and which facts must be preserved. For the product example, include actual capacity, materials and care instructions. Do not ask the model to invent specifications that you have not supplied.
3. Set the format and limits
Specify a length, structure or tone if it matters. “Use 60 words per version, plain English, and no unsupported environmental claims” is more useful than “make it amazing.” Include a short example of your preferred style if you have one.
4. Ask it to expose missing information
Tell the assistant what to do when details are absent. Try: “Before drafting, list essential missing information. Otherwise mark assumptions clearly.” This gives you a chance to fix the input before polishing an answer built on guesses.
5. Review one dimension at a time
Check factual accuracy first, then structure, then wording. A useful follow-up is “Keep the verified facts unchanged and simplify the second paragraph.” Targeted revisions are easier to assess than repeatedly asking for a better answer.
A prompt you can adapt
Help me create [deliverable] for [audience]. Use only these facts: [facts]. The goal is [outcome]. Return [format] in [length/tone]. Identify any missing information and do not invent it. Here is my material: [input].
Replace each bracket before sending. For more focused examples, explore the prompt library.
How to tell whether it worked
Read the answer against the original request. Does it use the correct facts, address the audience and fit the format? If not, point to the exact mismatch. The goal is a result you can explain and verify, not an impressive-looking prompt.