Prompting Cheat Sheet

Last verified: 21 April 2026 | Applies to: All plans

In 30 seconds

Quick-reference prompting patterns you can copy and adapt. For the full guide with examples and explanations, see Prompting for Operators.

The framework

Role + context. Tell Claude who it’s working as.
Output format. Describe exactly what you want back.
Examples. Share a previous version if you have one.
Constraints. Tell Claude what NOT to do.
Options. Ask for multiple approaches when you need to decide.

Copy-paste patterns

Briefing

Read [document/data].
Brief me on:
- What's the key issue?
- What decision do I need to make?
- What are my options?
- What would you recommend?
Keep it under 200 words. Lead with the recommendation.

Delegation

I need you to [task].
Context: [who this is for, what they care about, constraints]
Deliverable: [exactly what you want back]
Quality check: Before you deliver, verify [specific things].

Review

Review this [document] for:
1. [Specific thing to check]
2. [Second thing]
3. [Third thing]
For each issue, suggest a specific fix. Don't rewrite, just flag and fix.

Extraction

Extract from [source]:
| Field | What to look for |
|-------|-----------------|
| [field 1] | [description] |
| [field 2] | [description] |
Output as a table. Flag anything unclear with [UNCLEAR].

Comparison

Compare [A] and [B]:
- Features/capabilities
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Which is better for [specific use case]
Output as a table with your recommendation.

Draft with audience

Draft a [document type] for [audience].
They care about: [what matters to them]
Tone: [specific tone]
Length: [word count or constraint]
Include: [required elements]
Do NOT: [things to avoid]

Iteration

This is close. Adjust:
- [Change 1]
- [Change 2]
Keep [thing that worked] as-is.

Multi-step

Step 1: [First action]
Step 2: Based on Step 1, [second action]
Step 3: Compile into [final output]

Quick tips

Be specific. “Summarise for my CFO who wants numbers” beats “summarise.”
Iterate, don’t restart. If it’s 70% right, fix the 30%.
Use artifacts. Ask for “a downloadable Excel file” not just “a spreadsheet.”
Set constraints. Tell Claude what to avoid, not just what to include.
Save winners. Turn your best prompts into custom skills.

Prompting for Operators: full guide with examples
Skills: save prompts as reusable skills

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