Patterns
Your guide to mastering prompt patterns
Prompt Pattern Foundations
Prompt Pattern Basics
+Purpose
Prompt patterns are reusable strategies for crafting effective prompts, ensuring consistent and high-quality AI responses.
Use Case
Use prompt patterns when you need predictable outputs, such as generating summaries, answering questions, or creating content in a specific style.
Example
Start with a simple 'Few-Shot' pattern: 'Here are two examples of summaries: [Summary 1], [Summary 2]. Summarize this text: [Text].'
Pro Tip
Begin with basic patterns and gradually add complexity as you understand how the AI responds to different structures.
Dive DeeperCore Prompt Patterns
Core prompt patterns like 'Few-Shot', 'Chain-of-Thought', and 'Role-Play' form the foundation of effective prompt engineering. 'Few-Shot' uses examples to set expectations, 'Chain-of-Thought' encourages step-by-step reasoning, and 'Role-Play' sets a persona for context.
Few-Shot Pattern
+Purpose
The 'Few-Shot' pattern provides examples to guide the AI, ensuring it follows a specific format or style.
Use Case
Ideal for tasks requiring a consistent output format, such as summarizing articles, generating lists, or writing in a specific tone.
Example
Give two summaries as examples: 'Summary 1: [Example]', 'Summary 2: [Example]'. Then ask: 'Summarize this text in the same style: [Text].'
Pro Tip
Use 2-3 examples for best results; too many can overwhelm the AI, while too few may not provide enough guidance.
Chain-of-Thought Pattern
+Purpose
The 'Chain-of-Thought' pattern prompts the AI to explain its reasoning step-by-step, improving transparency and accuracy.
Use Case
Great for complex tasks like problem-solving, logical reasoning, or tasks requiring detailed explanations, such as math problems or decision-making.
Example
Prompt the AI: 'Solve this problem and explain each step: 2x + 3 = 7.' The AI will break down the solution: 'First, subtract 3 from both sides...'
Pro Tip
Encourage detailed steps by adding 'show all calculations' or 'explain your reasoning' to the prompt for clearer outputs.
Role-Play Pattern
+Purpose
The 'Role-Play' pattern sets a persona for the AI, tailoring its responses to a specific audience or perspective.
Use Case
Useful for creating audience-specific content, such as explaining concepts to children, professionals, or beginners.
Example
Set the persona: 'You are a teacher explaining photosynthesis to a 5th grader.' The AI will simplify its language: 'Plants use sunlight to make food...'
Pro Tip
Be specific about the persona’s expertise and audience to get the most relevant and appropriately toned responses.
Advanced Prompt Patterns
Critique then Improve
+Purpose
The 'Critique then Improve' pattern asks the AI to evaluate and enhance its own output, leading to better quality responses.
Use Case
Perfect for iterative refinement, such as improving a draft, refining creative writing, or enhancing a generated idea.
Example
Prompt the AI: 'Write a short story, then critique it and provide an improved version.' The AI will analyze its story and suggest improvements.
Pro Tip
Ask the AI to focus on specific aspects (e.g., 'critique the plot') to get more targeted improvements.
Zero-Shot Pattern
+Purpose
The 'Zero-Shot' pattern asks the AI to perform a task without examples, relying on its pre-trained knowledge.
Use Case
Useful for straightforward tasks where examples aren’t needed, such as translations, simple definitions, or basic questions.
Example
Prompt the AI: 'Translate this text to French: [Text].' The AI will perform the task without needing prior examples.
Pro Tip
Ensure the task is simple and well-defined, as 'Zero-Shot' may not work well for complex or ambiguous requests.
Practical Applications
Prompt patterns can be applied to various tasks—creative writing, problem-solving, and more. Combine patterns for complex needs: use 'Few-Shot' with 'Chain-of-Thought' to guide the AI through a multi-step task with examples.
Creative Writing
+Purpose
Use prompt patterns to guide the AI in generating creative content that matches your desired style and tone.
Use Case
Ideal for writing stories, poems, or scripts where consistency in tone, style, or structure is important.
Example
Use 'Few-Shot' for creative writing: 'Here are two story intros: [Intro 1], [Intro 2]. Write a story intro in the same style.' The AI will match the tone and style.
Pro Tip
Combine 'Few-Shot' with 'Role-Play' (e.g., 'You are a novelist') to further refine the AI’s creative output.
Problem-Solving
+Purpose
Apply prompt patterns to solve complex problems by guiding the AI through logical, step-by-step reasoning.
Use Case
Useful for tasks like solving math problems, logic puzzles, or decision-making scenarios where detailed reasoning is needed.
Example
Use 'Chain-of-Thought': 'Solve this logic puzzle step-by-step: [Puzzle].' The AI will break down its reasoning: 'First, let’s identify the clues...'
Pro Tip
If the AI skips steps, add 'explain each step in detail' to the prompt to ensure a thorough breakdown.