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Prompt checklist (copy-paste) to get better outputs

A practical checklist you can paste into any prompt to reduce ambiguity and improve structure.

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What to include
  • Goal: what success looks like (1 sentence).
  • Context: what the model must know (data, constraints, definitions).
  • Output format: bullets / JSON / table / steps.
  • Edge cases + what to do when info is missing.
  • Quality bar: what to avoid + acceptance criteria.
Common mistakes
  • Asking for 'the best' without criteria (the model guesses).
  • No examples of the output format (inconsistent structure).
  • Mixing goals (e.g., 'be concise' + 'be exhaustive').
Templates
Universal prompt skeleton
Task: [what you want]

Goal (success looks like):
- [1 sentence]

Context:
- Audience: [who]
- Constraints: [time/budget/stack/forbidden things]
- Inputs: [paste data or describe]
- Definitions: [terms]

Output format:
- [exact format: bullets / JSON schema / table columns]

Quality bar:
- Must include: [items]
- Must avoid: [items]
If missing info, ask up to 3 questions before answering.
Opens on home with the prompt prefilled.
Open in Promptea
FAQ
Do I need long prompts?
No. The goal is clarity, not length. Add only the context that changes the answer.
How do I get consistent formatting?
Specify the exact format and include a tiny example if needed.