See the Difference
Same request. Same AI. One includes details.
Sure! I'd be happy to help you write an email. What would you like the email to be about? Who is the recipient? What tone are you going for?
AI doesn't know what you need. You'll go back and forth.
Subject: Friendly Reminder: Invoice #1234
Hi [Client name], I hope you're doing well. I wanted to reach out regarding invoice #1234, which was due on [date]. It looks like the payment is now 15 days overdue...
AI has what it needs. You get something useful immediately.
Why This Works
AI can't read your mind. When you leave out details, it either guesses or asks follow-up questions. Either way, you waste time.
When you include the details upfront—who it's for, how long, what tone, what format—you get something usable on the first try.
Details That Help
- Audience: "Write this for small business owners" or "Explain this to a 10-year-old"
- Length: "Keep it to 2 paragraphs" or "Make it under 100 words"
- Tone: "Professional but warm" or "Casual and funny"
- Format: "Give me a bulleted list" or "Write it as a table"
- Context: "I run a bakery" or "This is for a job interview"
Keep It Direct
- Skip the filler: Instead of "Could you please kindly help me with..." just say "Write a..."
- State what you need: "Summarize this in 3 bullets" beats "I was wondering if you might be able to..."
- Brevity is clarity: Short, direct prompts work just as well as elaborate ones
- Don't overthink wording: What you include matters more than how you phrase it
The Technique
Before you send a prompt, ask yourself: Who is this for? How long should it be? What tone? What format? Include those details, state them directly, and watch the results improve. You're not being rude—you're being clear.
When to Use This
- • Writing emails, posts, or any content
- • Asking for explanations or summaries
- • Getting advice or recommendations
- • Creating lists, outlines, or plans
- • Any time AI gives you something too generic