A prompt is an instruction that you give a Generative AI tool, which then produces an output (completion). Writing effective prompts (sometimes called prompt engineering) is a skill that requires practice (and a few strategies) in order for you to get the best results from the tool.
Below is an example of a prompt and output using ChatGPT 3.5:
The acronym ACCENT outlines six strategies to make your prompts more effective.
Alignment: Ensuring the model’s capabilities are in sync with your task.
Clarity: Writing clear and concise prompts.
Context: Providing relevant context so that the output content is relevant to your needs.
Examples: Using examples to demonstrate the format of response that you require.
Neutral language: Designing prompts to minimize biases (for example, to minimise assumptions about gender or race).
Trial and error: Refining prompts based on the tool's performance and feedback.
This framework for improving prompt engineering was adapted from the 26 guiding principles proposed by Sondos, M. B., Myrzakhan, A., & Shen, Z. (2024):