Good ChatGPT prompts for writing follow a simple formula: say what to write, how long it should be, and what it is about, then add modifiers such as a style or a role. The 5 prompts below help you draft, rephrase, enrich, and proofread your own texts.
Using ChatGPT prompts for writing can feel like having a superpower for expression and creativity. Getting started seems easy, but a few formulas and suggestions help you get much more out of it as a writing companion.
1. Craft outstanding prompts
First, consider a common use case: writing an essay.
The basic formula looks like this: Write a (length) (type of text) on (topic). For example: "Write a 500-word essay on the history of the bicycle."
Then try to imagine what happens behind the scenes in ChatGPT's "mind". Once you understand the formula, you can create prompts that fit you and your purpose.
Start with a core prompt and then enhance it with modifiers such as "in the style of (a style)". That is the key to a more advanced use.
Think beyond the obvious. Instead of just essays, experiment with prompts for poems, blog articles, cover letters, or even songs.
When your prompts reflect your own voice and style, and you branch out into different genres and sources of inspiration, you can reach a level of creativity beyond the ordinary.
2. Mind the keywords
Now that you know the basic prompt, focus on a few keywords that make it more powerful. A simple way to try them is to take a paragraph you have written yourself and use keywords to improve it.
One very useful keyword is "rephrase". It expresses the same ideas in a fresh tone. Use it on your own text: rephrasing someone else's paragraph does not make it yours, and passing it off as your own work is plagiarism. How to avoid plagiarism explains where the line is.
Another powerful prompt takes a different angle. Writing often requires research, which means taking in a lot of information. Ask ChatGPT for an outline of a book, say The Catcher in the Rye. An outline is especially useful for school assignments, and you can ask for one not only of books but also of articles or transcripts. Check it against the source, though, because ChatGPT can get details wrong.
You can also tell ChatGPT to "elaborate" on a point. The results can be surprisingly rich.
3. Elevate your English
Here is a nifty trick, especially if you want to improve your English. Write something with a fairly basic vocabulary, such as:
"I woke up early today. The sun was shining, and it felt nice and warm. I had some cereal for breakfast, and then I went for a walk in the park."
To use more advanced vocabulary and adjectives, put the text in quotation marks and add this instruction: "Replace my simple vocabulary with advanced English."
The result may look like this:
"I rose early this morning. The sun bathed everything in a golden glow, and the gentle warmth of its rays enveloped me. For breakfast, I opted for a nutritious bowl of cereal. Subsequently, I embarked on a leisurely stroll through the serene expanse of the park."
It is almost like having a language tutor at hand. Do not take every fancy word, though: keep the ones you understand and would use yourself. You can also ask for any other style or tone that you would like to explore in your writing.
More style ideas for the same paragraph
- In the style of a fantasy adventure: "In the early hours, as the sun's rays pierced the horizon, I awoke. The warmth was like the embrace of a benevolent dragon. My morning sustenance was a humble bowl of cereal, preparing me for the epic journey that lay ahead. I ventured to the park, a mystical realm filled with flying creatures and young heroes engaged in mirthful battles on the swings."
- In the style of science fiction: "As the day's first light pierced the blinds, I arose. The sun's warmth felt like the embrace of an advanced nanotech fabric. I ingested a nutrient-rich cereal, a futuristic fuel for my day. My destination: the park, a cybernetic oasis."
- In the style of a mystery noir: "I woke early, the sun a muted witness to the shadows of the city. Its feeble warmth offered little solace. My breakfast, a mundane bowl of cereal, was a mere prelude to a walk in the park."
- In the style of a historical drama: "At the break of day, I stirred from slumber. The sun's rays, like a benevolent monarch, illuminated the world with warmth and hope. My morning fare was a simple bowl of cereal, sustenance fit for a commoner. I embarked on a leisurely stroll through the park."
4. Use ChatGPT for proofreading
The next point is proofreading. ChatGPT can act as a spelling and grammar expert that refines any text you give it.
Write: "Act as a professional spelling and grammar corrector and improver."
Then paste your text and let it do its work. The result usually reads better, but compare it with your original: a chatbot rewrites quietly, and it may change your meaning or your voice along with the errors. If you want to see and decide on each change, the AI Spell Checker also has an AI model read whole sentences, but it underlines every issue and explains it, so you pick each fix yourself.
5. Bonus tip: give ChatGPT a role
Ask ChatGPT to write a text in the style of a Pulitzer Prize winner. Pretty cool, right?
Think of these techniques as formulas, each unlocking new possibilities. Try asking ChatGPT to "act as a professional (profession)". Pick any profession you like, such as a psychologist or a philosopher, and the answers take on that perspective and vocabulary. Keep in mind that a role changes the tone, not the knowledge behind it: for real advice, ask a real expert.
ChatGPT for writing: the bottom line
What ties all these approaches together is the way they communicate with artificial intelligence. The AI brings a huge amount of data to the table, and you bring your own skill, talent, insight, and knowledge. Mastering these prompts lets you combine the two, and finding that balance between human and AI is what writing with ChatGPT is all about.