Prompt Optimization Guide

Comprehensive guide for crafting high-quality prompts that maximize AI understanding and effectiveness. Contains best practices for clarity, context, structure, and tactical approaches to prompt engineering.

When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:

• Crafting initial prompts for complex tasks
• Improving AI response quality and accuracy
• Training team members on effective AI interaction
• Iterating on prompts that aren't producing desired results
• Creating reusable prompt templates

Rule Categories by Priority

| Priority | Category | Impact | Prefix | |----------|----------|--------|--------| | 1 | Clarity and Precision | CRITICAL | clarity- | | 2 | Context Provisioning | CRITICAL | context- | | 3 | Structure and Formatting | HIGH | structure- | | 4 | Tactical Tips | MEDIUM | tactical- | | 5 | Examples and Patterns | MEDIUM | example- | | 6 | Advanced Techniques | HIGH | advanced- |

Quick Reference

1. Clarity and Precision (CRITICAL)

• clarity-specific-language - Use precise terminology instead of vague concepts
• clarity-define-terms - Define technical terms or acronyms
• clarity-clear-objectives - State specific goals and expectations
• clarity-avoid-ambiguity - Eliminate vague pronouns and references

2. Context Provisioning (CRITICAL)

• context-project-info - Include relevant project background
• context-current-state - Describe current situation and constraints
• context-goals-outcomes - Specify desired outcomes and success criteria
• context-priorities-tradeoffs - Explain important priorities and trade-offs

3. Structure and Formatting (HIGH)

• structure-segmentation - Break complex requests into logical sections
• structure-order-of-info - Present information in logical sequence
• structure-formatting-visual - Use markdown for readability
• structure-sequential-steps - Number steps when sequence matters

4. Tactical Tips (MEDIUM)

• tactical-role-definition - Assign specific roles to AI
• tactical-expectation-setting - Explicitly state output format
• tactical-feedback-loops - Include iteration and refinement cycles
• tactical-constraints-clarification - Clearly define limitations

5. Examples and Patterns (MEDIUM)

• example-good-vs-bad - Compare effective and ineffective approaches
• example-template-patterns - Provide reusable prompt templates
• example-industry-specific - Show domain-specific best practices
• example-error-patterns - Highlight common mistakes to avoid

6. Advanced Techniques (HIGH)

How to Use

Follow the systematic approach outlined in USAGE.md for consistent prompt optimization results.