What is Prompt Engineering?

How ChatGPT and Gemini prompts work

In Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT models, users input a prompt or a series of prompts to instruct the model on the desired task or generate a specific type of response. Prompt engineering involves experimenting with different phrasings, formats, and styles of prompts to achieve the desired outcome. This iterative process aims to find the most effective way to communicate with the model and elicit the desired information or response.

Below is a screenshot of a sample ChatGPT prompt in its simplest form. The prompt asks about a word that has two contradictory meanings. This example demonstrates the importance of word specificity and context in the prompts made in order to obtain factual outputs.

The content output of GenAI apps like Gemini and ChatGPT often needs human editing to sound human since it's intended for human readers who expect the empathy, sound judgment, and critical thinking of an actual writer.

Why learn prompt engineering

Researchers, B2B marketing writers, and content marketers engage in the prompt-crafting and prompt-testing aspect of prompt engineering and provide feedback to AI developers and engineers to:

Enhance the performance and utility of NLP models for specific tasks
Create target outputs using the minimum number of iterations.

This process may involve refining prompts to be more explicit, adding context, specifying the format of the desired answer, or using certain keywords to guide the model's behavior.

Fine-tuning prompts to specific needs

Prompt engineering is often task-specific, and what works well for one type of prompt or application may not be as effective for another. Continuous experimentation and fine-tuning prompts are common practices in the use of NLP models to achieve optimal results.

The role of descriptive writing in prompt engineering

Descriptive writing plays a crucial role in writing prompts for several reasons:

Engagement: Detailed descriptions offer technical or sensory details that make prompt unique and context aware.
Creativity: Rich descriptions provide a framework for reader engagement. They can guide the AI engine to create content that evokes an image or scenario with which the reader identifies.
Clarity: Strong descriptions can set the scene, establish tone, and clarify the purpose of the task at hand, resulting in more focused and relevant responses.
Emotional connection: Descriptive writing can evoke emotions in the reader, adding depth and resonance to the prompt output.

The contribution of professional writers to prompt engineering

Do professional writers have any edge over technical engineers in the craft of prompt engineering?

Here's what writers bring to the "prompt" table:

Experience:

Writers are trained in the art of storytelling and evoking emotions through words. They understand how to use language to paint pictures, create atmosphere, and engage the reader. This experience translates directly into crafting prompts that are not just informative but also inspiring and impactful.

Sensitivity to language:

Writers have a natural sensitivity to the nuances of language, the power of specific word choices, and the rhythm of sentences. This allows them to craft prompts that are not only clear but also aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable to read.

Empathy and understanding:

Writing often involves understanding characters, perspectives, and emotions. This innate empathy helps writers create prompts that resonate with readers on a deeper level and encourage them to connect with the prompt in a meaningful way.

Have questions about prompts for content development? Learn more in this writing and editing FAQ and explore the Resources page.