Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced prompt writers make these mistakes. Learn to spot and fix them, and your images will improve dramatically.
Mistake #1: Being Too Vague
The Problem: Generic prompts produce generic images.
Bad Prompt:
a beautiful landscape
What You Get: A random nature scene that could be anything.
Fixed Prompt:
The Fix: Replace adjectives like "beautiful," "nice," or "cool" with specific descriptive details.
Mistake #2: Contradictory Instructions
The Problem: Conflicting terms confuse the AI.
Bad Prompt:
a dark, bright, sunny, moody forest at night during the day
What You Get: Visual chaos or the AI picks one and ignores the rest.
Fixed Prompt:
The Fix: Pick one time of day, one lighting condition, one mood. Be consistent.
Mistake #3: Overloading with Keywords
The Problem: Too many terms dilute the impact of each one.
Bad Prompt:
epic fantasy warrior knight paladin hero champion legend mythical legendary divine celestial powerful mighty strong fierce brave courageous bold
What You Get: A muddled mess as the AI tries to incorporate everything.
Fixed Prompt:
The Fix: Choose 3-5 strong descriptive terms rather than 15 similar ones.
Mistake #4: Ignoring Negative Prompts
The Problem: Not telling the AI what to avoid.
Most platforms support negative prompts to exclude unwanted elements:
Midjourney: Use --no
beautiful portrait --no blurry, distorted, ugly
Stable Diffusion: Use negative prompt field
Negative: blurry, low quality, distorted, deformed
Common Negative Terms to Include:
- blurry, out of focus
- low quality, low resolution
- distorted, deformed
- watermark, signature
- cropped, cut off
Mistake #5: Wrong Word Order
The Problem: AI image models weight words differently based on position. Early words often have more impact.
Less Effective:
oil painting of a dramatic stormy sky with lightning over the ocean at sunset with a lonely sailboat
More Effective:
The Fix: Put your main subject first, then environment, then style modifiers.
Mistake #6: Forgetting Aspect Ratio
The Problem: Your image gets cropped awkwardly or doesn't fit your intended use.
| Your Need | Ratio | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram post | 1:1 | Square feed format |
| YouTube thumbnail | 16:9 | Standard video format |
| Phone wallpaper | 9:16 | Portrait orientation |
| Website banner | 3:1 | Wide horizontal strip |
The Fix: Always specify aspect ratio for your intended use.
Mistake #7: Being Literal When You Should Be Evocative
The Problem: Describing exactly what you see in your head doesn't always work.
Too Literal:
a person with happiness on their face
More Evocative:
The Fix: Describe the feeling, the moment, the story—not just the physical appearance.
Quick Checklist Before You Generate
Before hitting generate, ask yourself:
- Is my subject specific enough?
- Do I have only ONE time of day/lighting mood?
- Am I using 3-5 strong descriptors (not 15 synonyms)?
- Have I included negative prompts?
- Is my main subject early in the prompt?
- Did I specify aspect ratio?
- Am I describing a moment, not just objects?
Key Takeaway
Most bad results come from vague subjects, contradictory terms, or keyword overload. Use specific details, stay consistent with your mood and lighting, and put your subject first. When in doubt, simplify.