Which change most reliably improves a vague prompt such as "summarize this"?
Options
- Write it in capital letters so the model pays attention
- Say what the summary is for, who will read it, the length and the format, and give an example if you can (Correct option)
- Add "think very hard" at the end
- Repeat the same instruction three times
Answer
Say what the summary is for, who will read it, the length and the format, and give an example if you can
Why
Models do what the text asks. A clear task, the audience, the constraints (length, format, tone) and an example remove most of the guessing.
Shouting, repeating or magic phrases give little and can even make the output worse.
Treat the prompt like a brief for a new colleague who knows nothing about your context.
Remember
Be specific about task, audience, format and limits.