The Five-Part
Formula
Every prompt I wrote that actually worked had all five, no matter which AI I was using.
Prompting is really just directing.
You set the scene, and the model does the work.
True in Every Model
The Five Parts
Role
Tell it who it is. You wouldn't hand a script to an actor without telling them the part, so give the model a role before you ask it for anything.
"You're a senior software architect helping someone who doesn't code build an internal tool."
Context
Tell it the situation. The more it knows about your business and what you're trying to do, the less generic the answer comes back.
"I run a wedding photo and video company. Fifteen people on my team. We shoot 45 to 60 weddings a year. Right now everything lives in HoneyBook and a stack of Google Sheets."
Task
Tell it exactly what you want. Skip the vague "help me with my business" and give it one specific outcome to aim at. The clearer your ask, the better what comes back.
"Help me design the database for an internal portal where my team can see every wedding."
Format
Tell it how you want the answer laid out, whether that's bullet points, a step by step walkthrough, or a clean table. Decide the shape up front or the model will pick one for you.
"Walk me through it step by step without writing any code. Show me all of the structure first."
Constraints
Tell it the rules: what to avoid and what you don't want it to do. This is the part most people skip, and it's what turns a generic answer into one that actually sounds like you.
"I'm not a programmer. Don't use jargon without explaining it. Don't build any screens until the foundation is right."
Forget technical.
Just get specific.