Evaluating prompt quality criteria

The prompting framework provides a reliable structure for crafting effective prompts: Task, Context, References, Evaluate, and Iterate. Each element serves a specific purpose in guiding AI toward useful outputs:

• The task forms your prompt's foundation by clearly stating what you need.
• Context provides background information that helps AI understand your situation.
• References offer examples or styles to follow.
• Evaluation and iteration acknowledge that first attempts rarely achieve perfection.^[1]

Quality prompts balance specificity with appropriate flexibility. Too much detail can constrain AI unnecessarily, while too little leaves it guessing at your intent. Consider word count requirements, format specifications, and target audience as essential details rather than optional additions. The clearer your requirements, the more likely AI will meet them on the first attempt. Strong prompts often read like clear instructions you might give a skilled colleague. They assume intelligence while providing necessary guidance. This balance between respect for AI's capabilities and recognition of its need for direction characterizes effective prompt writing.