A vague request
“Write an update about the training.”
Get a better result
Make the work clear. Then improve it through conversation.
Compare two requests
A clear request
“Write a five-line update for my manager about Thursday's training. Use my notes. Keep dates unchanged. Mark missing details.”
Claude fills gaps with guesses. A clear request leaves fewer gaps.
Give a clear brief
Role
Who should Claude act as? For example, an editor.
Task
What should it make or do?
Context
Who is it for, and why?
Material
Which notes, files, or data should it use?
Add the parts that change the result. Skip the rest.
Give it the right material
Without material
Claude uses general knowledge and guesses.
With material
Claude works from your notes, file, or data and can quote it.
Attach the file or paste the text. Say which part to use.
Choose the audience and format
Audience
A manager, a client, or a new colleague.
Format
A table, a list, an email, or a short brief.
Tone and length
Formal or friendly. Five lines or one page.
The same facts can need a different shape for each audience.
Set boundaries and handle gaps
Use only the supplied material. Keep names, dates, and commitments unchanged. Mark missing details as Not provided. Do not guess causes.
Boundaries stop invented details from entering the result.
Improve your first request
Choose a request from yesterday, or start something new.
Rewrite
Add task, context, material, and format.
Run
Send the new request.
Compare
Note one visible improvement.
Keep the better version.
Show the pattern you want
Use this pattern: “Review the draft by Tuesday” → “Review draft | Tuesday” Now turn my notes into the same format.
One clear example can be better than a long description.
Ask useful questions first
Before you start, ask up to three questions if missing details would change the result. If nothing is missing, start.
Use this when the task is new or the brief is short.
Direct a precise revision
Ask for a self-check
“Check your draft against my notes. List any claim that the notes do not support.”
Then change one thing
“Remove the unsupported claim. Keep everything else.”
Claude can review its own draft. You still make the final check.
Compare possible approaches
Suggest three ways to achieve [my goal]. Compare each by effort, benefit, risk, and what is needed. Recommend one and say why.
For a hard decision, choose more effort in the model picker.
Break larger work into stages
Plan
Ask for an outline first.
Draft
Write one section at a time.
Check
Review each section against the source.
Finish
Combine, format, and do a final read.
Stages make large work easier to check and correct.
Review against clear criteria
Accurate
Facts and numbers match the source.
Complete
Nothing important is missing.
Clear
The audience can act on it.
Safe to share
No private or confidential detail is exposed.
Use the same criteria each time you review a result.
Experiment with your own prompt
Choose a task. Try a technique that fits it.
Choose
Pick one technique: example, questions, revision, or stages.
Try
Run it on your task.
Compare
Record what changed and when it helps.
One technique per try makes the effect easy to see.
Keep the version that works
Save your prompt, one example result, and a note about when it helps.
Tomorrow you will use Claude to finish real work from your own material.