ChatGPT Prompts.
A useful ChatGPT prompt tells the model what you need, supplies the information it should use, and describes the answer you want. Try the examples below, check the result, then adapt the prompt to your task.
Affiliate link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Tools we use and back
Featured tools
Tiles marked Ours are our own sites. Open slots are available to advertisers.
You already prompt well, now ship with it
The same skill behind a great ChatGPT prompt builds real software in Lovable: describe the app, get working code, launch it. Free to start.
Affiliate link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
ChatGPT prompt examples you can copy
Start with a task you can check: summarize notes, draft a reply, or learn a concept. Each example includes a review checklist and a follow-up for improving the answer.
These are illustrative prompts, not tested model outputs. The first two use fictional details. Replace them with information you are allowed to share, then check the response yourself.
Turn meeting notes into actions
Turn these fictional meeting notes into a table with columns: Action, Owner, Deadline, Open question. Use only the notes; write ‘not specified’ for missing details. Do not turn suggestions into agreed decisions. Notes: Sam will send the draft on Tuesday. Lee suggested a customer survey, but nobody agreed to run it. The team approved updating the FAQ; no owner or deadline was assigned.
Check the result: Sam owns the draft. The survey is a suggestion. The FAQ action has no named owner or deadline; the answer must not invent them.
Useful follow-up: If suggestions appear as commitments, ask: ‘Separate agreed actions from proposals and quote the supporting note for each.’
Draft a reply with a clear boundary
Draft a friendly reply under 80 words using this fictional situation. A colleague asked for the report today. I can send the completed report on Thursday, or an outline today. Ask which option would help. Do not invent a reason for the delay or promise anything else.
Check the result: The reply offers exactly two options: a report Thursday or an outline today. Check the date, length, and any added explanation before using it.
Useful follow-up: If the tone is too formal, ask: ‘Keep the same commitments, but use short sentences and everyday language.’
Learn a concept, then test yourself
Teach me the difference between a spreadsheet relative reference (A1) and an absolute reference ($A$1). I am a beginner. Use one formula that I can copy down a column, explain what changes, then give me one practice question. Wait for my answer before showing the solution.
Check the result: Try the formula in a blank spreadsheet. Copy it down one row and inspect the references; an explanation alone is not proof that it works.
Useful follow-up: If the explanation moves too fast, ask: ‘Show the formula before and after copying it down one row, and explain each change.’
Build a prompt for your own task
Choose a task, add your goal and constraints, then copy a draft from the generator. It assembles instructions in your browser; it does not run ChatGPT or verify its answers.
Open the free ChatGPT prompt generatorLooking for examples and a full list?
Browse categorized, copy-paste templates in the ChatGPT prompts library, then adapt them to your own sources and constraints.
Want it as a PDF?
Press Ctrl/Cmd + P on any of our prompt lists and choose Save as PDF to keep the whole list offline, no email or download required.
How to write a useful ChatGPT prompt
A vague request can leave ChatGPT guessing about the task. State your goal, provide relevant source material, and describe the output you need. Review the result and refine the instructions when it misses the mark.
Clear instructions and relevant source material can help the model follow the task, but they do not eliminate factual errors. Ask it to distinguish source-supported facts from assumptions, then verify important claims and citations against the original sources.
For OpenAI’s current guidance, see Prompting in ChatGPT. The examples here are our own practice briefs.
Prompting for Pure Reason
For a reasoning task, state the problem, relevant evidence, and the criteria for a useful answer. Ask for a concise explanation and checks you can reproduce. A model checking its own answer can still miss errors, so use original sources, calculations, or tests to verify the result.
A verification checklist:
- 1. Supply the evidence: "Use only the notes below. Flag anything the notes do not establish."
- 2. Make checks concrete: "List the source sentence or calculation supporting each conclusion."
- 3. Verify independently: Compare those sentences with the source and reproduce the calculation or test yourself.
The RGC Framework for ChatGPT
Role, Goal, Context (RGC) is one way to organize a request. A role is optional; the task, relevant information, and output requirements matter more than an impressive job title.
Role
Describe a useful perspective when needed, such as a patient tutor. A role does not confer expertise or guarantee accuracy.
Goal
Define the exact output. 'Create a 12-month content calendar' or 'Refactor this code.'
Context
Provide the 'why' and 'how.' Include target audience, tone, and constraints.
ChatGPT Mastery FAQ
If this is becoming a career interest, our prompt engineering job market covers it in detail.
For broader context on how AI assistants are reshaping work, read AI Assistants Shaping the Future.
Keep reading
More ChatGPT and AI guides to read next
- AI Model Prompts
ChatGPT Prompts Library
Free prompt templates for business, content creation, and coding
Read guide → - AI Tools & Apps
OpenAI Codex Prompts
Prompts for OpenAI Codex CLI coding agent for code generation, debugging, and multi-file projects
Read guide → - Image & Video Generation
ChatGPT Image Generation Prompts
Create stunning images with ChatGPT DALL-E integration, viral photo trends, and professional visuals
Read guide → - Image & Video Generation
Sora Prompts
AI video generation prompts for OpenAI Sora cinematic scenes, product videos, and creative content
Read guide → - Industry Guides
ChatGPT Prompts for Excel
AI prompts for Excel formulas, macros, data analysis, automation, and dashboards
Read guide → - AI Model Prompts
Midjourney Prompts
Stunning image generation with Midjourney prompt mastery
Read guide →