How to write better prompts: seven habits that change the answers
The quality of an answer depends a lot on the request. Seven simple habits, with before-and-after examples, to get useful answers from Nella on the first try.
You don’t need “prompt engineering” to get great answers. You need what a capable colleague would need: context, a clear goal and a sense of what “done” looks like. Here are seven habits that make the biggest difference.
1. Say what it’s for
The same question deserves a different answer depending on its purpose.
Before: Summarize this report.
After: Summarize this report for my manager, who has two minutes. Focus on the decisions we need to make this week.
Who will read the result, and what will they do with it? One sentence about the purpose often does more than ten about the format.
2. Give the context you’d give a person
Nella only knows what’s in the conversation, plus what you’ve written in your profile. If something matters, say it: your audience, your constraints, what you’ve already tried.
After: I run a small bakery in Halifax. I want to announce our new Sunday hours on Facebook. Most of our customers are families; keep it warm and short.
3. Show an example
When tone or format matters, an example beats a description. Paste a paragraph you like and ask for “the same style”. For data, show one line of the output you expect:
Turn this list into a table with these columns: Product · Price (CAD) · In stock (yes/no).
4. Specify the shape of the answer
Length, structure and format are easy to ask for:
- “In five bullet points.”
- “Under 120 words.”
- “As a table, followed by a one-sentence recommendation.”
- “Step by step, numbered, for a complete beginner.”
5. Break big tasks into steps
For a long document or a complex decision, work in stages. Ask for an outline first, correct it, then ask for each section in turn. You stay in control, and every step builds on something you’ve already approved.
6. Let Nella interview you
When you’re not sure what you need, ask Nella to ask the questions:
I want to build a household budget. Before you suggest anything, ask me the questions you need answered.
You’ll get better answers, and you’ll often clarify your own thinking along the way.
7. Iterate instead of starting over
The first answer is a draft. Point at what to change: “keep the second paragraph and make the rest more concrete”, “too formal”, “add a counter-argument”. If the conversation went down the wrong path, use Edit message on your earlier request rather than piling corrections on top: Nella answers again from that point.
Set your preferences once
If you keep repeating the same instructions (“be concise”, “use metric units”, “no jargon”), add them to Settings › Profile › Personal preferences. Nella applies them to every conversation, so each request can stay short.
A quick checklist
Before you send an important request, check:
- Goal: what is the result for?
- Context: what would a newcomer need to know?
- Format: length, structure, tone.
- Example: is there a sample that shows what you want?
- Next step: will you refine it together?
Good prompts aren’t long; they’re specific. Start with a single habit, saying what it’s for, and you’ll notice the difference right away. New to Nella? Begin with our getting started guide.
