Write ChatGPT prompts that get it right the first time

Why ChatGPT prompts work best with Markdown

ChatGPT writes in Markdown and reads it naturally. Short ## headings tell it where the role ends and the task begins, and bullet lists make each requirement a separate, checkable instruction instead of a clause buried in a paragraph. That is why this preset formats every part under its own heading. In Expert mode, ChatGPT also gets an instruction to think the problem through step by step and present only the polished final answer, which helps on planning, analysis and multi-part tasks.

Here is an Advanced-level prompt (shortened, context filled in) generated from the idea "plan a 4-week content calendar for a vegan bakery's Instagram":

## Role
You are a social media manager who creates scroll-stopping content.

## Context
We are a small vegan bakery in Leeds; 1,200 followers; we post 3 times a week.

## Task
Plan a 4-week Instagram content calendar for our bakery.

## Requirements
- Write a strong first line (hook)
- Adapt length and style to the platform
- Suggest relevant hashtags and a call to action
- Be specific and practical; avoid generic advice

## Output format
A Markdown table with clear column headers.

Use the conversation: ChatGPT is built for follow-ups

ChatGPT keeps the whole conversation in view, so the first prompt does not have to be perfect. A practical pattern is to send the structured prompt, then refine with short targeted messages: "make week 2 about the new cinnamon rolls", "shorten every hook to under 8 words", "turn this into a CSV". Each follow-up inherits the role and context you set at the start, which is the biggest advantage of starting with a complete prompt.

Expert mode adds an instruction for ChatGPT to ask up to three questions when critical information is missing. Use it when you are not sure what details matter: let ChatGPT interview you, answer, and the next reply will be far more specific.

Custom instructions, GPTs and one-off prompts

Not everything belongs in every prompt. Preferences that never change, such as your job, your preferred spelling or "no emojis", fit better in ChatGPT's custom instructions or personalization settings, so you do not repeat them. Rules for a reusable assistant that other people will use belong in the Instructions field of a custom GPT; build those with the system prompt generator. The prompts from this page are for the task in front of you: one goal, one context, one output.

Common ChatGPT prompt mistakes and fixes

• No format: you get an essay when you wanted a table. Always pick an answer format for anything you will reuse.
• Asking for "the best": ChatGPT will give a confident list without criteria. Add the criteria to the requirements: price, beginner-friendly, available in the UK.
• Too many tasks at once: a research report, a summary and a tweet thread in one prompt dilute each other. Send them as separate steps in the same chat.
• Trusting facts blindly: ask ChatGPT to mark uncertain claims, then verify them. Expert mode includes this in the quality check.

Before sending a long prompt you wrote by hand, run it through the prompt checker. Working with another assistant too? Compare how the same idea is formatted on the Claude prompt generator.