Writing Clear Instructions
Clarity is the foundation of effective prompting. AI models are literal interpreters - they do exactly what you ask, not what you meant to ask.
The Clarity Problem
Analyze this prompt. What's wrong? The AI has no idea:
- What "it" refers to
- What "better" means to you
- How to measure improvement
Principles of Clear Writing
1. Be Explicit, Not Implicit
Unclear: "Fix the issues in my code." Clear: "Find and fix any syntax errors in the Python code below."
Unclear: "Write something professional." Clear: "Write in a formal business tone, using complete sentences and avoiding contractions."
2. Use Specific Verbs
Weak verbs leave room for interpretation. Strong verbs direct action.
| Weak Verb | Strong Alternatives |
|---|---|
| Do | Execute, implement, perform |
| Make | Create, construct, generate |
| Help | Guide, assist, explain |
| Fix | Correct, repair, resolve |
| Change | Modify, revise, transform |
3. Quantify When Possible
Vague: "Write a short summary." Quantified: "Write a summary in exactly 3 sentences."
Vague: "Give me a few examples." Quantified: "Provide 5 examples."
Exercise: Make It Clear
Avoiding Ambiguity
Ambiguous Pronouns
Ambiguous: "Compare Python and JavaScript. It is better for beginners." Clear: "Compare Python and JavaScript. Explain which language is better for beginners and why."
Ambiguous Scope
Ambiguous: "Review the report." Clear: "Review the financial projections section of the report for mathematical accuracy."
Ambiguous Success Criteria
Ambiguous: "Make the code faster." Clear: "Optimize the code to reduce execution time by at least 50%."
The SMART Framework for Prompts
Borrow from goal-setting:
- Specific - Exactly what you want
- Measurable - How to know it's done right
- Achievable - Within the AI's capabilities
- Relevant - Includes necessary context
- Time-bound - Has appropriate length/scope limits
Exercise: Apply SMART Criteria
Common Clarity Pitfalls
1. Double Meanings
"Draw a table" - Create an image or format data?
2. Assumed Context
"Continue the story" - What story? From where?
3. Jargon Without Definition
"Make it more agile" - Development methodology or just flexible?
Clarity Checklist
Before submitting a prompt, ask:
- Would someone unfamiliar with my project understand this?
- Are all pronouns clearly defined?
- Have I specified quantities where possible?
- Is the desired output format clear?
- Could this be interpreted multiple ways?
Practice: Clarity Audit
Analyze this prompt. Identify at least 3 clarity issues:
- What product? No context provided
- "Look good" is subjective - no design specs
- "Everything customers need to know" is undefined
- How many slides? What format?
Clear prompts lead to useful outputs every time.