Prompting· 2 min
Prompting 101
Great prompts specify role, task, constraints, format and examples — in that order.
Key idea
LLMs are pattern completers. Give them the exact pattern you want output to follow, plus context and constraints.
Example
Instead of 'write an email', try: 'Act as a founder writing a friendly follow-up email in under 120 words to a busy VC…'
What to remember
- Ask for structured output (JSON, headings) when you can
- Show 1-2 examples for tricky formats (few-shot)
- Iterate — treat prompting like design, not spellwork