One card to remember the universal prompt structure-beginners stop staring blankly at the dialog box.
The Universal Prompt Formula
Role + Task + Format + Constraint = a usable prompt
- Role: Who the AI plays ("You are a senior copy editor")-decides perspective and expertise
- Task: What to do ("Rewrite this passage to be conversational")-verb must be specific
- Format: What the output looks like ("under 200 words / table / bullet points")-saves rework
- Constraint: Where the boundaries are ("don't change facts / don't embellish")-prevents drift
Cheat Sheet Download
Print it, stick it by your screen, glance at it when writing prompts.
Three Common Faceplants
- Task without role: AI answers in "generic support tone"-mediocre and pointless
- No format: AI wings it, you have to re-organize
- No constraint: AI easily overreaches, adding things you never said