The 20 Most Popular Prompts

Twenty prompts for the jobs people most often give to AI chat tools. Fill in the parts in square brackets with your own details, then copy and paste into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini.

Ready-made prompt templates

• Professional email: Write an email to [recipient] about [purpose]. Tone: [formal/friendly]. Keep it under [word count] words and suggest a subject line.
  Sample case: Recipient: my manager. Purpose: asking for Friday off. Tone: formal. 80 words.
  Subject: Leave request for Friday
  
  Hi [Manager's name],
  
  I would like to take Friday [date] off for a personal matter. I will finish this week's report and send it to you by Thursday evening. If anything urgent comes up, I will be reachable by phone.
  
  If that works for you, I will submit the request in the leave system.
  
  Thanks,
  [Your name]
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Summarise a text: Summarise the text below in [number] bullet points, one sentence each. Do not add anything that is not in the text. [text]
  Sample case: A 400-word council notice about a new recycling scheme, 3 points.
  • From 1 November, glass, paper and plastic will be collected in separate bins.
  • Bins will be delivered free to every neighbourhood; dates will be announced locally.
  • Buildings that leave mixed waste will first get a warning and may be fined if it happens again.
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Explain simply: What is [topic]? Explain it as you would to someone who knows nothing about it, with an everyday analogy, in at most [word count] words. If you use a technical term, explain it in brackets.
  Sample case: Topic: inflation. 100 words.
  Inflation is the general rise in prices over time, which means the same money buys less. Think of a cake: last year 10 pounds bought you a whole cake; this year the same money buys only three quarters of it. The cake did not shrink; your purchasing power (how much your money can buy) did.
  
  Inflation is usually given as a yearly percentage. Twenty percent inflation means a basket that cost 100 a year ago now costs about 120 on average.
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Proofread: Correct the spelling, punctuation and grammar in the text below. Do not change the meaning or the tone. Under the corrected text, list the changes you made. [text]
  Sample case: "Their going to the meeting tomorow, so please dont be late"
  Corrected text:
  They're going to the meeting tomorrow, so please don't be late.
  
  Changes:
  • "Their" → "They're": short for "they are".
  • "tomorow" → "tomorrow": spelling.
  • "dont" → "don't": missing apostrophe.
  • Added a full stop at the end.
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Strengthen CV bullet points: Strengthen the CV bullet points below for a [position] application. Start each with an action verb and include a measurable result where possible. Do not invent achievements; if there is no number, write [number]. [bullet points]
  Sample case: Position: customer service specialist. Bullets: "Dealt with customer complaints", "Helped new staff".
  • Resolved an average of [number] customer requests a day by phone and email.
  • Grouped recurring complaints into categories and prepared a weekly report for the team lead.
  • Trained [number] new starters one-to-one during onboarding and wrote an FAQ document for the team.
  
  Note: replace the bracketed parts with your real figures, or remove them if you have none.
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Cover letter: Write a cover letter for the [position] role at [company]. My experience: [short experience]. Key requirement in the ad: [requirement]. At most 200 words, warm but professional. Leave a space for a sentence on why I am interested in the company.
  Sample case: Position: junior graphic designer, company: an advertising agency. Experience: 1 year freelancing, social media designs. Requirement: strong Adobe skills.
  Dear Hiring Team,
  
  I was excited to see your opening for a junior graphic designer. For the past year I have worked as a freelancer, creating social media visuals, campaign posters and logo refreshes for small businesses, using Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign every day.
  
  Freelancing has taught me to turn client feedback into design changes quickly and to stick to deadlines. I now want to build on that experience inside a team, on larger projects.
  
  [A sentence on why you are interested in the agency]
  
  My portfolio is attached. Thank you for considering my application.
  
  Kind regards,
  [Your name]
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Interview practice: Run a practice interview with me for a [position] role. Ask me [number] questions one at a time, waiting for my answer each time. After each answer, briefly tell me one strength and one thing to improve.
  Sample case: Position: sales representative, 5 questions. (First question and feedback on the first answer)
  Question 1: Could you briefly tell me about yourself and why sales interests you?
  
  [Sample feedback after your answer]
  Strength: Giving a concrete example of dealing directly with customers in your previous job worked well.
  To improve: The answer ran a little long. Try to keep it to a minute and finish with one achievement and one number.
  
  Question 2: How would you approach a customer who says the price is too high?
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Social media post: Write a [platform] post about [topic]. Audience: [audience]. Tone: [tone]. Keep it under [characters] characters and end with a call to action and [number] relevant hashtags.
  Sample case: Platform: Instagram. Topic: a bookshop's weekend signing. Audience: young readers. Tone: friendly. 300 characters, 3 hashtags.
  [Author's name] is at our shop this Saturday at 2 pm! 📚 Come get your copy of the new novel signed and ask your questions. Bring your book or buy it here, and come early. Tag a friend and come together!
  
  #booksigning #bookworm #whattoread
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Blog post outline: Prepare an outline for a blog post about [topic]. Target reader: [reader]. Give a title, a short intro paragraph and 5 subheadings with 2-3 bullet points each. Add 3 questions the reader might ask.
  Sample case: Topic: staying focused while working from home. Reader: people new to remote work.
  Title: 5 Realistic Steps to Stay Focused When Working from Home
  
  Intro: The first weeks of remote work feel like freedom; then come the hours lost between the kitchen and the desk. Here are steps you can put in place today to cut distractions.
  
  1. Separate your workspace
  - A corner used only for work, if possible
  - Close the laptop and leave the space at the end of the day
  2. Split the day into blocks
  - 50 minutes of work, 10 minutes of break
  - Put the hardest task where your energy is highest
  3. Manage notifications
  - Phone in another room during focus time
  - Check email at a few set times
  4. Agree rules at home
  - Closed door = meeting
  - A shared calendar
  5. End the day with a shutdown
  - Note tomorrow's first task
  - Switch off the work laptop
  
  Questions readers may ask:
  - How do I focus with children at home?
  - How do I stay motivated working alone?
  - Which tools actually help?
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Product description: Write an online shop product description for [product]. Features: [features]. Target customer: [customer]. Start with a two-sentence intro, then a four-point feature list. Avoid exaggerated or unverifiable claims.
  Sample case: Product: 500 ml stainless steel flask. Features: double-walled, leak-proof lid, not dishwasher safe. Customer: commuters.
  Keep the tea or coffee you made in the morning with you until lunch. This 500 ml stainless steel flask, with its bag-friendly size and leak-proof lid, is made for the commute.
  
  • Double-walled: helps keep drinks hot for longer.
  • Leak-proof lid: no spills, even carried flat in a bag.
  • 500 ml capacity: holds about two large mugs.
  • Care: hand wash only; not dishwasher safe.
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Find an Excel formula: I want to do this in Excel: [what you want]. My data is in these columns: [columns]. Write the formula, explain step by step what it does, and give the version for non-English Excel if function names differ.
  Sample case: Column A has salesperson names, column B has sale amounts (rows 2-200). I want the total sales for "Ayşe".
  Formula:
  =SUMIF(A2:A200,"Ayşe",B2:B200)
  
  What it does:
  1. Finds the cells in A2:A200 that say "Ayşe".
  2. Adds up the values in column B on those rows.
  
  Tip: put the name in a cell (say D1) and use =SUMIF(A2:A200,D1,B2:B200). Change D1 to see any salesperson's total.
  
  Note: depending on your regional settings, the argument separator may be a semicolon instead of a comma, and non-English Excel uses translated function names (for example ETOPLA in Turkish).
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Find a bug in code: The [language] code below should [expected behaviour] but instead [actual behaviour]. Explain the cause, give the fixed code and briefly say what you changed. [code]
  Sample case: Python: it should return the average of a list but crashes on an empty list. def average(numbers): return sum(numbers) / len(numbers)
  Cause: when the list is empty, len(numbers) is zero, which raises a ZeroDivisionError.
  
  Fixed code:
  def average(numbers):
  if not numbers:
  return None
  return sum(numbers) / len(numbers)
  
  Change: I added an empty-list check at the start; the function returns None for an empty list. If an empty list should count as an error in your program, raise a ValueError with a clear message instead.
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Weekly meal plan: Make a 7-day dinner plan for a household of [number]. Preferences: [preferences]. Budget: [budget]. Add a shopping list grouped by aisle under the plan.
  Sample case: 2 people, vegetarian, budget-friendly, at most 30 minutes of prep on weekdays.
  Monday: Red lentil soup, carrot and yoghurt salad
  Tuesday: Vegetable pasta
  Wednesday: Chickpea bulgur pilaf, tzatziki
  Thursday: Cheesy potato omelette, salad
  Friday: Roast vegetables with bread
  Saturday: Homemade mushroom pizza
  Sunday: Bean stew in olive oil, rice
  
  Shopping list
  Produce: onions, garlic, carrots, potatoes, courgettes, peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumber, parsley, salad leaves
  Dried goods and pulses: red lentils, chickpeas (tinned is fine), dried beans, bulgur, rice, pasta, flour
  Dairy: yoghurt, feta, cheddar or similar, eggs
  Other: olive oil, tomato paste, spices, bread, yeast
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Travel itinerary: Plan a [number]-day trip to [city]. My interests: [interests]. Pace: [relaxed/busy]. Split each day into morning, afternoon and evening, and group nearby places on the same day. Note that I should check prices and opening hours.
  Sample case: City: Lisbon, 2 days. Interests: history and food. Pace: relaxed.
  Day 1
  Morning: Walk through Alfama, view from Miradouro de Santa Luzia
  Afternoon: São Jorge Castle, then down to Baixa
  Evening: Dinner in Bairro Alto
  
  Day 2
  Morning: Tram or bus to Belém, Jerónimos Monastery
  Afternoon: Belém Tower and riverside walk, pastéis de nata nearby
  Evening: Sunset at a viewpoint, light dinner in Chiado
  
  Note: check opening hours and ticket prices on the official websites before you go.
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Exam study plan: Make a study plan for the [exam] on [date]. Topics: [topics]. I can study at most [hours] hours a day. Topics I find hard: [topics]. Add a review and practice-test day at the end of each week.
  Sample case: Exam in 3 weeks, statistics. Topics: probability, distributions, hypothesis testing, regression. 2 hours a day. Hard topic: hypothesis testing.
  Week 1
  Mon-Tue: Probability basics and practice questions
  Wed-Thu: Distributions (normal, binomial)
  Fri: Introduction to hypothesis testing
  Sat: Review + 20-question mini test
  Sun: Rest
  
  Week 2
  Mon-Wed: Hypothesis testing (hard topic, 3 days): t-tests, chi-square, interpreting p-values
  Thu-Fri: Regression
  Sat: Review + practice test
  Sun: Rest
  
  Week 3
  Mon-Tue: Hypothesis testing review and past exam questions
  Wed: Regression review
  Thu: Full timed practice exam
  Fri: Go through the mistakes from the practice exam
  Sat: Light review, formula sheet
  Sun: Rest before the exam
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Brainstorm ideas: Generate [number] different ideas for [topic]. Describe each in one sentence and order them from easiest to hardest to carry out. Put the obvious, everyone-thinks-of-it ideas at the end.
  Sample case: Topic: getting more customers into a small café on weekday afternoons. 5 ideas.
  1. A 2-5 pm deal on a second drink: can start today, low extra cost.
  2. A "quiet hour" for remote workers and students: music down, tables with sockets set aside.
  3. Offer weekly group orders to nearby offices: can start with a few visits.
  4. A monthly afternoon workshop (latte art, book club): needs preparation and promotion.
  5. Post the cake of the day on social media: an obvious idea, but it works if done consistently.
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Help me decide: I need to choose between [option A] and [option B]. What matters to me: [criteria]. My situation: [short situation]. Put the pros and cons of each in a table, then ask which information could change the decision. Do not make the decision for me.
  Sample case: Options: a small flat in the city centre or a bigger house outside the city (similar rent). What matters: commute, quiet, space.
  | | Small flat in the centre | Bigger house outside |
  |---|---|---|
  | Commute | Short, easy public transport | Long, probably needs a car |
  | Quiet | Noisier | Calmer |
  | Space | Tight, little storage | Roomy, could have a study |
  | Social life | Cafés and events nearby | Fewer options |
  | Extra costs | Low transport costs | Fuel or travel costs may rise |
  
  Questions that could change the decision:
  1. How many days a week do you go to the office, and can you work from home?
  2. Do you have a car, or would you need to buy one?
  3. Do you expect changes in your family or work situation in the next few years?
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Say no politely: [Person] has asked me to [request], but I cannot say yes. Reason: [reason]. Write a polite but clear message saying no without hurting the relationship, and suggest an alternative if it fits. At most [word count] words.
  Sample case: Person: a colleague. Request: help with a weekend presentation. Reason: a family visit planned in advance. 70 words.
  Hi [Name],
  
  Thanks for asking me. I have a family visit planned this weekend, so I will not be able to help with the presentation.
  
  If it helps, we could spend half an hour on Friday afternoon going through the slide order together, or you could send me your draft and I will get my comments to you by Friday evening.
  
  Good luck with it!
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Task list from meeting notes: Turn the meeting notes below into a task list. For each task, give the owner and the deadline. Do not add any name or date that is not in the notes; write "not specified" instead. At the end, list the decisions made separately. [notes]
  Sample case: Notes: Discussed the website redesign. Can will have the design draft ready by next Tuesday. Not clear who will write the copy. Budget approved. Elif will talk to the hosting company.
  Tasks
  1. Prepare the design draft – Owner: Can – Deadline: next Tuesday
  2. Talk to the hosting company – Owner: Elif – Deadline: not specified
  3. Write the website copy – Owner: not specified – Deadline: not specified
  
  Decisions
  • The budget for the website redesign was approved.
  
  Note: an owner and a deadline are still needed for the copywriting.
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.
• Natural translation: Translate the text below into [target language]. Do not translate word for word; make it sound like a native speaker wrote it. Replace idioms with natural equivalents and note any phrases you were unsure about under the translation. [text]
  Sample case: Target language: Spanish. Text: "We've had to push the meeting to tomorrow, sorry about that. Great job on the report, by the way."
  "Hemos tenido que pasar la reunión a mañana, disculpa las molestias. Por cierto, ¡muy buen trabajo con el informe!"
  
  Notes:
  • "Disculpa" is informal (tú). For a formal tone, use "disculpe" and "su informe".
  • "Pasar la reunión a mañana" is natural in Spain; in Latin America "cambiar la reunión para mañana" is also common.
  This sample output was produced with Claude; your result may differ.