How to Ask Good Questions

The quality of AI's answers depends heavily on how you ask. A vague question gets a vague answer. A clear question gets a helpful answer. Let's learn how to ask questions that get you exactly what you need.

What You'll Learn

How to structure questions that get useful, specific answers from AI.

Why This Matters

Mastering this skill will save you time and frustration. Instead of going back and forth trying to clarify, you'll get great answers on the first try.

The Difference Between Good and Vague Questions

Vague Question

"Tell me about exercise"

What AI thinks: Exercise for who? What aspect? Are they a beginner? What's their goal?

Result: A generic overview that might not help you.

Good Question

"I'm a 40-year-old with a desk job. What are three simple exercises I can do at home with no equipment to improve my back pain?"

What AI thinks: Ah, I know exactly what they need!

Result: Targeted, useful advice.

The Formula for Good Questions

Good questions often include these elements:

1. Context (Who/What)

Tell AI about the situation.

• "I'm a beginner..."
• "For a work presentation..."
• "My 8-year-old wants to know..."

2. Specific Request

Be clear about what you want.

• "Explain..."
• "Give me 5 options for..."
• "Help me write..."
• "Compare..."

3. Constraints (Optional but Helpful)

Add boundaries to get better answers.

• "In 3 sentences or less..."
• "Using simple words..."
• "For under $50..."
• "That doesn't require any special equipment..."

Examples: Vague vs. Good Questions

Example 1: Cooking

• ❌ Vague: "Give me a recipe"
• ✅ Good: "Give me a healthy dinner recipe that feeds 4 people, uses chicken, takes less than 30 minutes, and doesn't require any unusual ingredients"

Example 2: Travel

• ❌ Vague: "What should I do in Paris?"
• ✅ Good: "I'm visiting Paris for 3 days in April with my teenage kids. What are the must-see attractions that would interest teenagers?"

Example 3: Work

• ❌ Vague: "Help me with my resume"
• ✅ Good: "I'm applying for a marketing manager position. Can you help me rewrite this bullet point to sound more impactful? Current version: 'Managed social media accounts'"

Example 4: Learning

• ❌ Vague: "Explain blockchain"
• ✅ Good: "Explain blockchain to me like I'm someone who understands basic computer concepts but has never heard of cryptocurrency. Use a simple analogy."

Quick Tricks for Better Questions

Add "for someone who..."

"Explain investing for someone who has never bought a stock before"

Specify the format

"Give me this as a bullet-point list" "Write this as a short paragraph" "Create a simple table comparing these options"

Set the tone

"Write this in a friendly, casual tone" "Make this sound professional" "Keep it simple and direct"

Request a specific number

"Give me 5 ideas for..." "List the top 3 reasons..." "Suggest 10 names for..."

Try It Yourself

Transform these vague questions into good ones:

Vague: "Tell me about dogs" Your improved version: (Think about: What aspect of dogs? For what purpose?)

Vague: "Write me an email" Your improved version: (Think about: To whom? About what? What tone?)

Vague: "How do I save money?" Your improved version: (Think about: What's your situation? What's your goal?)

Try rewriting the prompt above to be more specific. Add details like: who the email is to, what it's about, and what tone you want.

Pro Tip

If you're not sure what details to include, start with a basic question. When AI responds, notice what follow-up questions it asks or what assumptions it makes. Next time, include those details upfront.

Common Questions

Q: What if I don't know all the details?

A: That's okay! Share what you know and AI will often ask clarifying questions or make reasonable assumptions. You can always add more details later.

Q: Can I ask multiple questions at once?

A: Yes, but it's often better to ask one at a time. If you have several related questions, number them so AI addresses each one.

Q: My questions feel too long. Is that bad?

A: Not at all! Longer, more detailed questions usually get better answers. Don't worry about being too thorough.

Q: What if the answer still isn't what I wanted?

A: That's what the next lesson is about - following up and refining answers!

What's Next

Sometimes the first answer isn't perfect. In the next lesson, we'll learn how to follow up and guide AI to exactly what you need.