The 7 Most Common Prompt Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
After analyzing thousands of prompts, we've identified the mistakes that consistently lead to poor AI responses. Here's what to avoid and how to fix it.
Being Too Vague
❌ Bad:
"Help me with marketing"
Why it fails: The AI has no idea what aspect of marketing, for what business, targeting whom, or what format you need.
✓ Fix:
"Create a social media content calendar for a B2B SaaS company targeting HR managers. Focus on LinkedIn. Include 12 posts for the month with topics, hooks, and optimal posting times."
Assuming the AI Knows Context
❌ Bad:
"Continue from where we left off"
Why it fails: AI assistants don't remember previous conversations (in new sessions). Each conversation starts fresh.
✓ Fix:
"Previously, we discussed X. Building on that, I now need..."
Asking Multiple Unrelated Questions
❌ Bad:
"What's the best programming language, also how do I improve my marketing, and can you write a poem about my dog?"
Why it fails: The AI tries to address everything superficially instead of anything deeply.
✓ Fix:
One focused prompt at a time. Use follow-up prompts for additional topics.
Not Specifying the Output Format
❌ Bad:
"Tell me about project management"
Why it fails: You get a generic essay when you might have wanted a checklist, comparison table, or step-by-step guide.
✓ Fix:
"Create a comparison table of the top 5 project management methodologies. Columns: Name, Best For, Key Principles, Pros, Cons."
Not Iterating
Why it fails: First responses are starting points, not final products.
✓ Fix - Follow up with:
- • "Make this more concise"
- • "Add specific examples"
- • "What important points did you leave out?"
- • "Rewrite the introduction to be more engaging"
Not Assigning a Role
❌ Bad:
"Explain quantum computing"
Why it fails: The AI defaults to a generic explainer voice.
✓ Fix:
"Act as a physics professor explaining quantum computing to first-year students. Use analogies, avoid jargon, and include a simple thought experiment."
Ignoring Your Use Case
Why it fails: Different AI assistants have different strengths. ChatGPT handles code well, Claude excels at long documents, Gemini integrates with search.
✓ Fix:
Tailor your prompt to leverage the specific AI's strengths. Or use The Prompt Fixer, which automatically optimizes for your chosen assistant.
Quick Reference: Before vs After
Vague → Specific
Before: "Write content" → After: "Write a 500-word blog post about remote work productivity for startup founders"
No context → Context provided
Before: "Fix this bug" → After: "Fix this React bug. Error: [message]. Code: [code]. Expected: [behavior]"
No format → Format specified
Before: "Teach me SQL" → After: "Create a beginner SQL tutorial with 10 queries, each with explanation and example output"
The Fastest Fix: The Prompt Fixer
Don't want to remember all these rules? The Prompt Fixer automatically:
Adds specificity to vague prompts
Structures your request clearly
Assigns appropriate roles
Specifies output formats
Optimizes for your chosen AI
Conclusion
Most people make these mistakes because they treat AI like a search engine. But AI assistants respond to instructions, not queries. By avoiding these seven mistakes, you'll immediately see better results from every AI interaction.
Stop Making Prompt Mistakes
The Prompt Fixer automatically corrects these common mistakes, turning your basic prompts into expert-level instructions.
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