Why Most of Your Prompts Fail

Since the release of ChatGPT in 2022, people have started using the tool for various purposes. For many, it has even replaced Google. But it is not a magic answer box; you still need clear questions, context, and a quick fact check. Ask better, get better. Treat it like a smart intern, not an oracle.

The output quality depends on your prompt. Vague in, vague out - And this is where we are all doing it wrong. Add goals, constraints, examples, and the audience, and you will get a more optimized output.

That is the real skill. And if you are one of those people who constantly follow updates on AI and Tech, you must already be aware that OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has recently released its cookbook on how to craft effective prompts for ChatGPT (which is also applicable to other AI tools) along with the prompt optimizer tool.

Let me break it down for you.

Why the most of your prompts fail

Most of our prompts fail, not because the model is problematic, but because we are prompting the models in an incorrect way. For example, a vague request like, "Summarize this," can leave the AI guessing about context or desired length. Instead, a well-crafted prompt such as, "Summarize this article in three bullet points focusing on the key arguments," gives the model clear instructions. By being specific and intentional in our prompts, we dramatically improve the quality and usefulness of the AI’s responses.

Here are some common mistakes people often make when prompting the AI models:

• Using vague or overly broad prompts (e.g., "Write a summary" without additional context)
• Failing to specify the desired format or length of the response
• Ignoring the importance of context or background information for the task
• Assuming the model can infer implicit intentions without explicit instructions
• Giving conflicting or ambiguous instructions within the same prompt
• Overloading a single prompt with multiple, unrelated requests
• Using negative phrasing or unclear constraints (e.g., "Don’t make it too long" instead of "Limit the summary to 100 words")
• Neglecting to provide examples when requesting content in a specific style or tone

Now, as you know why your prompts fail, let's consider ways to improve your prompts to get a better response to your prompts.

Concepts in prompting the LLM

Before jumping into the prompt templates, let's first understand different components, that will help you to optimize your prompts for real world use cases.

Prompt & Prompting

A prompt is simply the instruction you give an AI model so it knows what you want. Think of it as the input, the question, or the task description that sets the direction for the output.

And, prompting is how you ask the model to do work. Clear goal, audience, format, and limits reduce guesswork. At its core:

• A prompt can be as short as a word ("summary") or as detailed as a page-long instruction with examples.
• The clarity and detail of your prompt directly shape the quality of the response.
• A good prompt usually includes a goal, context, audience, and any limits (like word count or format).

Example:

• Weak prompt: "Explain GST."
• Strong prompt: "Explain GST to a 12th grade commerce student in India in 120 words. Use a restaurant bill example. Keep it simple, no jargon. End with one tip for consumers."

Context

Context is the background information that helps AI to understand all the background story to avoid any kind of guesswork. Without it, the AI has to guess, and the answer often comes out too generic or irrelevant.

For example, let's say you want to prompt the AI to help you with travel planning. You open ChatGPT and write "Create a travel plan for me." Now, the AI only knows you know a travel plan, but it doesn't know details like where you are planning to travel, timing of the travel, duration, whether you are traveling alone or with someone else, and there are many more information, which can help the AI to optimize the answer to fit your requirements. That's where the context comes into picture.

Instead of the short prompt, you can write something like "Make a 3-day travel plan for a couple with a baby in Mumbai. Budget ₹12,000 per day. Include kid-friendly spots, afternoon naps, and taxi-only travel."

How to add Context

• Mention who it's for (student, CEO, beginner, expert).
• Add where/when if it matters (India, 2025, festival season).
• Share goals/constraints (budget limit, word count, tone).
• Provide examples (show the style you want).

Goal

Goal is simply what you expect from the AI as an output. Do you want a short summary, a full blog post, or just an idea list? Without a clear goal, the response becomes too broad and often misses your expectations.

Audience

Audience is simply who the response is for. When I write this blog, I am not writing for myself. I am writing for you. That means I keep your needs and pain points in mind so the content feels useful and engaging.

AI works the same way. If you tell it who the audience is, the output shifts to match what that audience expects. It could be a beginner looking for simple explanations or an expert who wants depth and precision. That is why audience is a key part of any good prompt.

Constraints

Constraints are the rules you give the model that tell it when to stop or what limits to follow. For example, you can set a word limit, ask for a response in a list format, or tell the model not to include certain topics. Clear constraints guide the model and help you get answers that fit your needs.

Examples:

• Limit the answer to 100 words.
• Respond in bullet points.
• Do not mention specific topics.
• Give exactly three suggestions.

Tone & style

This tells the model exactly how you want it to respond. Whether you want your answer to sound formal, friendly, casual, or match a certain voice. For example, you can request a professional summary that matches your brand voice.

Some examples are as follows:

• "Write the response in a friendly and conversational tone."
• "Use formal language, as if writing an email to a manager."
• "Explain this concept as you would to a beginner."
• "Make the message sound encouraging and positive."

All these in action

Now, we know various parts that affect the output of the prompt, let's combine all of them together to draft an optimized prompt.

Define the role

We will start with a Defining a "Role" section. This tells the AI model who the assistant is and its purpose. You can write some thing similar to this:

Role: You are a helpful assistant who writes in Simple Indian English

Define the task

Next, you will define the exact objective. While defining the objectives, you can use a simple task, which is called implicit task definition, for example:

Task: Take the provided text as input and summarize in bullet points

You can also outline specific steps or give a clear task definition, so the model knows exactly what actions to take before completing the task. For example:

Task: 
1. Take the provided text as input and summarize in bullet points
2. Use the search tool, and do more research on the context, if the content feels vague. Look at only verified research papers.
3. Summarize the key pointers in the format provided below.
4. While giving the output, provide the reasoning steps as 

Define your audience

Now, after defining the task, you will need to define the audience for the result. If this is for Indian leaders, you can mention something like this:

Audience: Busy Indian business leaders who want quick insights.

This statement will try to mold your output in such a way that it can target the desired target audience.

Great, let’s take it forward and finish the prompt structure. We have Role, Task, and Audience. Next pieces lock the output.

Define the inputs

Tell the model what it will read. Paste the source text, links, data, and any helpful context. Add key facts or assumptions it should hold true. For example, you can follow below format:

Inputs:
- Text: <paste the article or notes>
- Context: India market, 2024 data
- Assumptions: Reader knows basic EV terms

Specify the output format

Lay out the exact structure. Count of bullets, headings, word limits. This removes guesswork.

Output format:
- 3 key points, each under 18 words
- 3 practical takeaways, each under 18 words
- One caveat under 20 words

Set style rules

Tone guides the writing. Keep it short and human. Ban what you do not want.

Style rules:
- Simple Indian English. No jargon. No em dashes.
- Short sentences. Active voice.
- Neutral, factual tone. No hype.

Add constraints

Protect quality and ethics. Mention tools only if you want them used. Guard against made-up facts. If sources are used, ask for inline links.

Constraints:
- Do not invent data. If unsure, say what is missing.
- If you cite, add one inline link per source.
- If the text is vague, search only trusted sources like government data or peer-reviewed papers, else flag the gap.

Many models avoid sharing full step-by-step thoughts. Better ask for assumptions, checks, or a short rationale. This keeps transparency without private chain of thought.

Preferred alternative

Add a brief rationale: 2 bullets on how you formed the summary.

Define a quality check

Ask it to list assumptions and risks. This forces a second look before final output.

Quality check:
- List 3 assumptions you made
- List 2 risks or gaps

State the deliverable

Be explicit about what to return and what not to include.

Deliverable:
- Return only the final output in the exact format above.

Put it all together

Role: You are a helpful assistant who writes in Simple Indian English.

Task: Summarise the provided text for quick decision making.

Audience: Busy Indian business leaders who want quick insights.

Inputs:
- Text: <paste article or notes>
- Context: India market, latest year available
- Assumptions: Reader knows basic terms

Output format:
- 3 key points, each under 18 words
- 3 practical takeaways, each under 18 words
- One caveat under 20 words

Style rules:
- Simple Indian English. No jargon. No em dashes.
- Short sentences. Active voice.
- Neutral, factual tone.

Constraints:
- Do not invent data. If unsure, flag it.
- If sources are used, add inline links.
- If the text is vague, search only trusted reports. If not possible, say so.

Quality check:
- List 3 assumptions you made.
- List 2 risks or gaps.
- Add a brief rationale in 2 bullets.

Deliverable:
- Return only the final output in the format above.

Quick checklist before sending your prompt

• One clear task, not many.
• Inputs pasted, not implied.
• Output format is measurable and short.
• Style rules match your brand.
• Constraints block guesses and fluff.
• Quality check demands assumptions and risks.
• Deliverable says exactly what to return.

That covers the essentials!

A strong prompt is a checklist, not a clever line.

Set the role. Define one task. Name the audience. Paste real inputs. Fix the output format. Add simple style rules. Add constraints to stop guesses. Ask for assumptions and risks. State the deliverable.

Keep it measurable. If the result misses, change one section and rerun.

Use the mini prompt when speed matters. Use the full template when accuracy matters.

Process beats poetry. Copy, fill, ship.