You follow prompting tips from 2023. That's why you're WORST at prompting (without knowing). So here are 21 rules you should use while prompting Claude:
✦ More here:
✦ Taken from:
Prompt Tip 1. Never end questions with "right?"
☑ Not even with "maybe?" It's worse.
☑ Do not ask yes/no questions.
☑ "Compare X vs Y for this [context]" is far better.
☑ Otherwise, AI is very good at following the signals
☑ It won't argue against, to please you.
Prompt Tip 2. "Think step by step" doesn't work.
☑ No "Think step-by-step."
☑ No "get information, and then work on a plan."
☑ Instead, add a role in just a few words ("…as a reliability engineer").
Prompt Tip 3. Never trust AI's cited sources.
☑ AI is very good at sounding confident.
☑ Open every single link.
☑ Mentioned links may not exist.
Prompt Tip 4. Only give 3 rules in a prompt.
☑ If you have more rules, give them in the follow-up prompts.
☑ 2nd follow-up prompt: "Check your draft against these ONE AT A TIME, then revise."
☑ It doesn't read beyond 3 rules.
Prompt Tip 5. Do not give examples anymore.
☑ NO "Example 1: [solved case]."
☑ Give a goal instead.
☑ Paste any necessary real numbers & context.
☑ Mention what you ruled out ("I didn't change format, send time, or subject").
☑ End the prompt with: "Ask me for the data you need before you answer."
Prompt Tip 6. No prompting rule is ever green.
☑ Test hacks that were tested on 2023 models.
☑ When you have any new model, re-test your favorite tricks before trusting them.
Save the new rules & delete the 2023 ones.