Start with success
Describe what a useful answer lets someone decide or do. A measurable target is stronger than adjectives such as good, professional, or detailed.
Supply decision-relevant context
Include audience, market, source boundaries, constraints, and important definitions. Remove background that cannot change the answer.
Define the output contract
Name the sections, order, format, length, evidence expectations, and what to do when information is missing. A small example often resolves ambiguity better than another paragraph of rules.
Iterate with one change
Keep a fixed test input and alter one prompt component at a time. Compare completeness, factual support, usefulness, and failure modes before publishing a new version.
Worked example
Task: Turn the notes into a project brief.
Input: [NOTES]
Use only the supplied notes. Mark missing owners or dates as unknown.
Return a table: deliverable | owner | due date | unresolved question.
Check that every deliverable can be traced to a note.How to check the result
Compare the old and new prompt on the same notes. Count unsupported additions and missing deliverables. Keep the version that performs better on those checks, including one incomplete-input case.