Template
Prompt Template
Use this template when you know what you want, but you are not sure how much context or structure to include.
goal, context, expectations, and source
Microsoft Support
Key Facts
- A template works best when you edit it down to your real task instead of filling every line mechanically.
- The most reusable prompt ingredients are goal, context, source material, constraints, and output shape.
- If the task is important, add a verification instruction and ask the model to flag assumptions.
A prompt template is a checklist, not a spell. Its job is to remind you what a helpful assistant would need before answering: the job, the situation, the material to use, the limits, and the form of the answer.
Copy-paste beginner template
Help me [clear task].
Context: [who this is for, why it matters, what has already happened].
Source material: [paste the text, notes, data, or facts the answer should use].
Constraints: [length, tone, reading level, deadline, things to avoid].
Output: [table, checklist, draft, bullets, questions first, or another exact shape].
If anything important is missing, ask me up to three questions before answering.
Separate facts from assumptions.How to shorten it
For easy tasks, delete lines you do not need. "Draft a friendly reply under 120 words" may be enough. Use the full version when the task has an audience, source material, factual risk, or a specific format.
Source-grounded summary
Weak
Summarize this.Better
Help me summarize the notes below for a manager who missed the meeting.
Context: the manager needs decisions, risks, and owners.
Source material: [paste notes]
Constraints: do not add tasks that are not implied by the notes.
Output: table with Decision, Owner, Deadline, Risk, and Open Question.The template tells the model who the summary is for, what material to use, what not to invent, and what the output should look like.
Learning
Weak
Teach me this.Better
Help me learn [topic].
Context: I know [background] and need this for [goal].
Constraints: use plain language first; save jargon for the end.
Output: explanation, example, common mistake, and a 3-question quiz.The learner's background and desired answer shape make the explanation easier to use.
Use the interactive version
If you want the template to assemble itself, open the Prompt Builder. If you already have a weak prompt, use the Prompt Improver Checklist to turn it into a clearer version.