Prompting Skills playbook/Module 3 · Core techniques

Day 24 / 100 · Core techniques · Output formats

Ask for the shape you need.

The same content is useless or brilliant depending on its format. Decide where the output is going, then ask for that shape.

Table

Compare

Options side by side with fixed columns. Easy to scan, easy to paste.

ASK FOR IT

“A table with these four columns.”

Bullets

Scan

Short, parallel points for busy readers. Max five or six.

ASK FOR IT

“Five bullets, one line each.”

Prose

Persuade

Arguments, emails and explanations where the reasoning needs to flow.

ASK FOR IT

“Two short paragraphs, no bullets.”

Structured data

Feed A System

CSV or JSON for spreadsheets, tools and scripts.

ASK FOR IT

“CSV with these headers, nothing else.”

Decide where it's going. Then pick the shape.