Crafting Clear Instructions › Common Pitfalls to Avoid

As you practice prompt writing, watch out for these common mistakes:

Assuming the Model Knows Context: The model doesn't know what you're working on, what you discussed earlier (unless you include it in the conversation history), or what your goals are. Include the context it needs.

Being Too Vague: "Make it better" or "fix this" don't give the model actionable direction. Be specific about what "better" means.

Overcomplicating: You don't need to write a novel. Sometimes a simple, direct prompt works best. Start simple and add detail only if needed.

Forgetting to Specify Constraints: If you have requirements (length, format, style, what to avoid), include them upfront rather than hoping the model will guess.