Why you need this
Most people use AI like a search engine—short, vague questions that get mediocre answers. Prompt patterns are reusable templates that consistently produce better, more useful outputs.
This cheat-sheet gives you 10 proven patterns you can start using today.
Perfect for:
- Professionals who use AI daily (writers, developers, analysts, marketers)
- Teams standardizing their AI workflows
- Anyone tired of rewriting prompts until they work
- Teachers showing students how to use AI effectively
What's inside
10 Battle-Tested Patterns
- Role-Based Prompting — "Act as a [role]... help me with [task]"
- Step-by-Step Reasoning — "Think step-by-step before answering"
- Few-Shot Examples — Give 2-3 examples, AI follows the pattern
- Output Format Control — "Format your answer as: [structure]"
- Constraint Setting — "Use only [X], avoid [Y], limit to [Z]"
- Chain-of-Thought — "Explain your reasoning, then provide the answer"
- Persona + Context — "You are [persona]. Given [context], how would you [task]?"
- Ask-Before-Answering — "Ask me clarifying questions before you proceed"
- Self-Critique — "Review your answer for [criteria], then improve it"
- Template Fill-in — Provide a template with [placeholders] to complete
Each Pattern Includes:
- Goal: When to use this pattern
- Example: Real prompt you can adapt
- Output Format: What you'll get back
How to use it
- Keep it handy — Print and stick near your desk or save as a desktop background
- Start with one pattern — Try "Role-Based Prompting" for a week
- Mix patterns — Combine Role + Output Format for even better results
- Share with your team — Standardize prompts for consistent quality
Real-world example
Before (vague):
"Write something about project management"
After (using Role + Output Format pattern):
"Act as a senior project manager. Write a 3-paragraph email to stakeholders explaining why our Q4 launch is delayed. Use a tone that's professional but empathetic. Format: Problem → Impact → Next Steps."
Result: Clear, usable output on the first try.
Want to go deeper?
This cheat-sheet is your quick reference. For detailed explanations, advanced techniques, and troubleshooting tips, explore:
- Prompt Engineering Basics — Full guide to crafting better prompts
- Glossary: Context Window — Understanding AI's memory limits
- Glossary: Token — Why prompt length matters
License & Attribution
This resource is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC-BY). You're free to:
- Share it with colleagues, students, or online
- Print and distribute it
- Adapt patterns for your specific use case
Just include this attribution:
"Prompt Patterns Cheat-Sheet" by Field Guide to AI (fieldguidetoai.com) is licensed under CC BY 4.0
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