# 1stPrompt

> Beginner-first guide to writing useful AI prompts, with sourced plain-language advice, free browser-only prompt tools, everyday prompt recipes, and next steps.

Updated: 2026-07-06
Canonical URL: https://1stprompt.com

## Start Here

- [Your First Prompt](https://1stprompt.com/your-first-prompt): Anatomy of a good first ask, with before/after examples.
- [Give Context](https://1stprompt.com/give-context): How goal, role, constraints, source material, and examples help.
- [Iterate](https://1stprompt.com/iterate): How to repair an answer when it is wrong, vague, too long, or aimed at the wrong audience.
- [Common Mistakes](https://1stprompt.com/common-mistakes): Vague asks, buried questions, no examples, missing source checks, and other beginner traps.
- [Everyday Recipes](https://1stprompt.com/everyday-recipes): Copy-paste prompts for summaries, email, planning, learning, decisions, and editing.
- [Prompt Template](https://1stprompt.com/prompt-template): A reusable beginner prompt template with examples.
- [Next Steps](https://1stprompt.com/next-steps): Where to go deeper after prompt basics.
- [Free Prompt Tools](https://1stprompt.com/tools): Browser-only prompt builder and improver tools.
- [Prompt Builder](https://1stprompt.com/tools/prompt-builder): Assemble role, goal, context, constraints, and output format into a copy-paste prompt.
- [Prompt Improver Checklist](https://1stprompt.com/tools/improve-your-prompt): Turn a weak prompt into a clearer before-and-after prompt.
- [FAQ](https://1stprompt.com/faq): Beginner questions and answers.
- [Sources](https://1stprompt.com/sources): Primary sources and editorial notes.

## Core Takeaway

A beginner prompt does not need special wording. It needs a clear goal, enough context, useful constraints, any relevant source material, and a willingness to follow up. The free tools run in the browser and do not send prompt text to a server.

## Primary Sources

- OpenAI Help Center: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10032626-prompt-engineering-best-practices-for-chatgpt
- OpenAI Help Center: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/4936848-how-do-i-create-a-good-prompt-for-an-ai-model
- OpenAI Help Center: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8313428-does-chatgpt-tell-the-truth
- Anthropic Claude Platform Docs: https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/prompt-engineering/claude-prompting-best-practices
- Google Cloud Gemini docs: https://docs.cloud.google.com/gemini-enterprise-agent-platform/models/prompts/prompt-design-strategies
- Microsoft Support: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/get-started-writing-prompts-in-microsoft-365-copilot

See full machine-readable guide: https://1stprompt.com/llms-full.txt