City University of Hong Kong
Generative AI
City University of Hong Kong
Generative AI

Learning to Write Effective Prompts

Last updated: 11 March 2025

Many people believe they are proficient users of Gen AI but are merely scratching the surface of its full potential. Generative AI works when a user submits a 'prompt', and the Gen AI generates an appropriate response.

It is common for users to not get the expected outcome in the first prompt, but the following tips tend to help most users go in the right direction.

Five Prompting Tips

To write the best prompt that would generate the best output, follow these basic prompt writing points:

  1. Put instructions at the beginning of the prompt.

    2. ❌ Less effective {text input here}
    Simplify the text above for a non-native English speaker.
    ✔️ More effective Simplify the text below for a non-native English speaker.
    {text input here}

  2. Provide the desired context, outcome, length, format and style of the output.

    3. ❌ Less effective Write a poem about CityUHK.
    ✔️ More effective Write a Haiku about CityUHK, focusing on its Gen AI policies.

  3. Provide a sample output format through examples.

    4. ❌ Less effective Create a protagonist for a science fiction story.
    ✔️ More effective Create a protagonist for a science fiction story.
    Desired format:
    1. Name:
    2. Age:
    3. Favourite food:

  4. Make to-the-point, precise descriptions.

    5. ❌ Less effective Please help me, I am struggling to understand this science concept, I would like for you to break it down to be as easy as possible, please try your best, thank you.
    {text input here}
    ✔️ More effective Explain the following science concept to a freshman student.
    {text input here}

  5. Use appropriate words or phrasing, especially the verbs.

    6. ❌ Less effective Create an image of a man using a car on the road.
    ✔️ More effective Create an image of a man driving a car on the road.

Other Additional Tips

Below are a selection of useful prompts for teachers and students.

  1. Break Down Your Request: If your request is complex, try breaking it down into smaller, more manageable parts.
  2. Adjust Parameters: If the Gen AI tool allows, adjust parameters like temperature or max tokens to refine the output.
  3. Review and Edit: Sometimes, adjusting the prompt is unavoidable. Review the results and make any necessary edits.
  4. Seek Help: If you're still having trouble, consult the tool's documentation or contact us at DigitalLearning@cityu.edu.hk.

Interested in mastering advanced prompts? Click here to explore the Harvard Prompt Library.