Hey friends,
If you’ve ever stared at ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini and wondered why the output felt off PURE sh*t, you’re not alone.
I’ve felt that frustration too (way too many times).
Over months of using AI daily, I’ve collected a handful of simple phrases that make a huge difference in the quality of answers I get.
These phrases have even been validated by AI experts and improved my workflows across writing, brainstorming, and planning.
And I guarantee they will for you too.
Below are the five prompt phrases (number 5 is my favourite) that changed how AI works for me.
Each one is universal.
You can use them in any chatbot that you prefer: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot.
I’ve added a brief explainer and a pro tip on where it shines most, so let’s get into it.
📌 What Are Prompt Phrases (and Why Do They Matter)?
Think of a “prompt phrase” as a little nudge that guides an AI model to produce more useful answers.
Like good directions, they set tone, structure or depth.
By adding the right phrase, you can get the model to think step by step, adopt a role or explore multiple options for your idea.
These phrases are your steering wheel in a conversation with AI.
⚡️ My Top 5 Prompt Phrases (With Examples)
✅ 1. “Let’s think step by step.”
When a task requires logic or multiple steps, adding this line encourages the AI to break down its reasoning.
Use it for planning outlines, solving a complex problem or tailoring content to a target audience.
- Where it shines: Complex problem-solving and analysis
- Pro tip: Pair this with a word limit to keep the answer concise: “Let’s think step by step. Keep it under 200 words.”
✅ 2. “You are [role/persona]…”
Assigning a persona frames the AI’s tone and expertise.
For example: “You are a veteran social media strategist advising a startup. Give me 3 Instagram hooks.”
- Where it shines: Marketing copy, brainstorming angles, teaching tasks
- Pro tip: Be specific about years of experience and audience for richer context
✅ 3. “Follow this format and example…”
Providing a template with examples helps the model copy a structure.
Share a sample paragraph, table or list, then ask it to follow the same pattern.
- Where it shines: Product descriptions, cold emails, data summaries
- Pro tip: Use bullet points or numbered lists in your example to set clear expectations
✅ 4. “Let’s explore this using a Tree‑of‑Thoughts approach…”
For creative brainstorming, this phrase prompts the AI to generate multiple ideas, evaluate pros and cons, and pick a winner.
Example: “We need a new newsletter idea. Let’s explore this using a Tree‑of‑Thoughts approach: Step 1: Brainstorm three concepts. Step 2: List pros and cons. Step 3: Select the best and outline it.”
- Where it shines: Product design, content strategy, decision-making
- Pro tip: Adjust the number of ideas or steps based on your time and scope
✅ 5. “If you were designing this for [specific audience], what would you change?”
This adds audience sensitivity.
GPT-5 adjusts tone, examples, style when you tell it who will read it.
- Where it shines: Social media posts, email campaigns, landing page copy
- Pro tip: Be precise about the audience: their experience level, pain points, cultural context. Example: “for a startup founder in Southeast Asia just starting marketing.”
🛠 How to Get Started (3 Quick Steps)
- Pick a real task: Outline a blog post, plan a marketing campaign, or summarise a report
- Choose one phrase: Add it to your prompt and see how the output changes. Start with “Let’s think step by step” for complex tasks
- Iterate: Compare versions with and without the phrase. Tweak tone, length, and examples to refine results
📈 Why This Matters
Great output isn’t always about smarter models.
It’s also about smarter prompting.
The right phrase can push the AI to reason more clearly, adopt the right voice, or tailor your writing for a target audience.
These prompt phrases will improve your work across every AI tool you use and save time you’d otherwise spend editing or clarifying.
And if they don’t, let me know by replying to this email. I’ll wait.
🫡 Final Thoughts
These phrases have become part of my daily AI toolkit.
Each one moves the needle on quality, saving me time and frustration.
Try them out this week when drafting a social post or planning a project, and see which resonates most.
Then reply and tell me your favourite.
I’d love to know how these small tweaks change your results.
Here’s to more intentional prompting and better outputs,
Nahid
