Prompt Engineering Cheat Sheet Core Commands & Techniques
1. Role AssignmentCommand: “Act as a [role]” Use Case: Establishes expertise context and response style
Example: “Act as a marketing strategist with 10 years of experience”
2. Step-by-Step Reasoning Command: “Think step by step” or “Break this down step by step” Use Case: Complex problem solving, analysis, calculations
Example: “Calculate the ROI step by step for this marketing campaign”
3. Format Specification
Command: “Format your response as [format]”
Use Case: Structured outputs, specific document types
Example: “Format your response as a bulleted executive summary”
4. Context Setting Command: “Given the context that [context], please…
“Use Case: Providing background information for better responses
Example:
“Given that this is for a B2B SaaS company, create a content strategy”
5. Output Constraints Command: “In exactly [number] words/sentences/paragraphs”
Use Case: Meeting specific length requirements
Example: “Summarise this in exactly 50 words”
Advanced Techniques
6. Few-Shot Learning Command: Provide 2-3 examples before asking
Use Case: Pattern recognition, consistent formatting Example: Show examples of good headlines, then ask for more
7. Chain of Thought Command: “Show your reasoning process”
Use Case: Transparent decision-making, learning from AI logic
Example: “Show your reasoning for ranking these marketing channels”
8. Perspective Taking
Command: “From the perspective of [persona]” Use Case: Targeted content, audience-specific responses
Example: “From the perspective of a busy CEO, what are the key points?”
9. Iterative Refinement
Command: “Improve this by focusing on [aspect]” Use Case: Content optimisation, progressive enhancement
Example: “Make this more persuasive by adding emotional appeals”
10. Constraint Addition Command: “While avoiding [constraint]”
Use Case: Filtering unwanted elements, focusing approach
Example: “Create a pitch while avoiding technical jargon”
Specialised Applications
11. Content Creation Command: “Create [content type] for [audience] about [topic]”
Use Case: Marketing materials, educational content
Example: “Create a LinkedIn post for marketers about AI tools”
12. Analysis & Critique Command: “Analyse [item] for [criteria]” Use Case: Content review, strategic evaluation
Example: “Analyse this email for conversion potential”
13. Comparison Frameworks Command: “Compare [A] vs [B] across [dimensions]” Use Case: Decision-making, feature analysis
Example: “Compare these two strategies across cost, time, and impact”
14. Scenario Planning Command: “What would happen if [scenario]?” Use Case: Risk assessment, strategic planning
Example: “What would happen if we doubled our content output?”
15. Template Generation Command: “Create a template for [use case]” Use Case: Scalable processes, consistency
Example: “Create a template for customer onboarding emails”
Quality Enhancement
16. Specificity Boosters Command: “Be specific about [aspect]” Use Case: Detailed, actionable responses
Example: “Be specific about implementation timelines”
17. Evidence Requests Command: “Support your recommendations with reasoning “Use Case: Credible, well-reasoned outputs
Example: “Explain why you recommend this approach over alternatives”
18. Multi-Angle Analysis Command: “Consider this from multiple angles” Use Case: Comprehensive evaluation, risk mitigation
Example: “Analyse this decision from financial, operational, and customer angles”
19. Assumption Checking Command: “What assumptions are you making?”
Use Case: Identifying blind spots, clarifying context
Example: “What assumptions about our target market are you making?”
20. Output Validation Command: “Double-check this for [criteria]” Use Case: Quality assurance, error reduction
Example: “Double-check this calculation for accuracy”
Quick Reference Commands Goal Command Structure Example
Get specific format” Format as [type]”
“Format as a table”
Add constraints”
While ensuring [requirement]”
“While keeping it under 100 words”
Target audience”
For [audience]”
“For technical professionals”
Set tone” Use a [tone] tone”
“Use a conversational tone”
Request examples”
Include [number] examples”
“Include 3 specific examples” Add urgency” This is for [timeline]”
“This is for tomorrow’s meeting”
Pro Tips for Better Prompts
Be Specific: Vague prompts get vague responses
Provide Context: Background information improves relevance
Use Examples: Show don’t just tell what you wantIterate:
Refine prompts based on initial outputs
Combine Techniques: Stack multiple commands for complex tasks
Test Variations: Try different phrasings for better results
Set Clear Expectations: Define success criteria upfront.
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