9 Practical Prompt Tips from Anthropic's Guide

1. Name the output, not the task. Be specific about what you want delivered. Example: Instead of 'Review this', use 'Create a risk assessment table'. 2. Define the length upfront. Set word counts, specify bullet counts, add: 'No filler. No recap. No preamble.' Constraints improve outputs. 3. Replace negatives with positives. Instead of 'Don't be verbose', use 'Be concise and direct'. Tell AI what to do, not what to avoid. 4. Start with action verbs. Skip 'Can you help me...' and use: Write, Draft, Analyze, Summarize. Clear instructions get faster results. 5. Trigger deeper reasoning. End prompts with: 'Think before answering.' Better thinking often leads to better outputs. 6. Push beyond default quality. Add: 'Go beyond the basics.' 'Polish this like a client-ready deliverable.' Raise the standard. 7. Teach AI your voice. Provide 2-3 writing samples and say: 'Match the style of these examples.' Consistency compounds. 8. Control tool usage. For research: 'Use search and cite sources.' For speed: 'Answer from training data only.' Be intentional. 9. State the goal first. Start with: 'Goal: [desired outcome]' Then define the audience and task. A clear goal turns a prompt into a plan.