How To Use AI To Write Content

It’s time to use AI for content writing

It’s a scene every writer is familiar with: Staring at a blank page, not knowing where to begin. The good news is that whether you’re a seasoned writer or new to content creation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can streamline the writing process, enhance creativity, and improve overall efficiency.

The more we create content with AI writing tools, the more we see that the quality of the generated output depends on the clarity and structure of the prompt. And as we move toward using AI tools in our content creation workflow, knowing how to prompt effectively has moved from a “nice to have” to a “need to have.”

But what types of prompts should you use? Is there a formula for the perfect prompt? And what examples should guide us? Let’s dive into the world of AI prompting!

What are AI prompts?

AI prompts are specific cues or suggestions provided to AI-powered tools which are used to spark ideas, guide writing, or generate content. These prompts can range from simple sentence starters to more complex outlines, helping writers kickstart their creativity, overcome writer’s block, or complete writing tasks. 

AI prompts often leverage machine learning algorithms to analyze patterns and generate relevant, context-specific suggestions tailored to the user’s needs. By using prompts to guide an AI writing tool, writers can explore new angles, refine their ideas, and streamline their writing process.

Types of AI prompts

AI prompts come in various types, each serving a specific purpose in aiding the content creation process. From improving sentence structure and sentence rewriting to creating blog post outlines and search engine optimization, AI prompts can streamline the writing process and improve the quality of content produced. 

Here are some examples of the different types of AI prompts and how they can benefit content creators: 

Classification prompts

This prompt assists writers in structuring their content by offering cues on how to group and classify related ideas or concepts within their writing. By helping writers organize and categorize information effectively, it’s then easier for writers to structure their content.

Creative prompts

Creative prompts are what writers use when they want to be inspired by AI writing tools. These prompts are intended to generate new ideas and original perspectives, fostering creativity in the writing process. It could also be something as simple as getting help rewriting sentences when you’re struggling with writer’s block. 

Comparison prompts

A comparison prompt is when you ask an AI writing tool to provide guidance on the similarities and differences between various subjects or concepts. This prompt assists writers in creating compelling comparisons within their content, improving the depth and clarity of their writing.

Dialogue prompts

These prompts aid in generating engaging and realistic conversations between characters or personas, adding depth and authenticity to the content.

Informational prompts

An informational prompt for AI writing tools is a clear and specific request for a definition, context, and further information on a topic or subject. It outlines the type of information or content needed and provides guidelines for the AI tool to follow when generating the written material.

Instructional prompts

This type of prompt is a set of clear instructions given to the AI tool to provide step-by-step directions on how to achieve a specific outcome or goal. The AI tool should correspondingly generate clear and informative content.

Summarization prompts

A summarization prompt instructs an AI writing tool to condense and summarize complex information into clear and concise content, promoting effective communication of key points. This also includes shortening copy to convey the main points in a direct manner while omitting unnecessary details.

How to craft effective AI prompts

It’s all well and good knowing about the different types of prompts, but crafting effective prompts is essential for guiding AI writing tools to produce the desired AI-generated content. With the right prompts, you can make sure that the AI generates relevant and high-quality outputs that meet your specific goals. 

Below we’ll outline the key elements of how to craft an effective prompt to help you maximize your use of AI writing tools. 

Choose one goal or task

When crafting a prompt, start by clearly defining the goal or task you want the AI tool to accomplish. Whether it’s generating a blog, summarizing an article, or drafting a product description, specificity is essential. By choosing a single, well-defined goal for each prompt, you can make sure that the AI’s output will align closely with your expectations.

Identify audience attributes and needs

Understanding your audience is crucial for any type of content creation — but especially when you want to draft a prompt that will help the AI tool provide the generated copy you need. 

Consider the demographic characteristics, preferences, and knowledge level of your audience. By identifying these attributes and needs, you can tailor your prompts to elicit responses that resonate with your readers. For instance, if your audience consists of tech-savvy individuals, your prompts can include technical language and in-depth analysis, whereas prompts for a general audience should use simpler language and explanations.

Use clear and precise language

Clarity and precision in your prompts are imperative for guiding AI writing tools effectively. Avoid ambiguity and use straightforward language to convey your expectations. Clearly outline the information or task required, providing specific details to inform the AI’s output. This helps the AI tool understand the desired outcome and generate content that meets your criteria.

Detail is great

While being clear and precise in your language choice is important, providing sufficient detail in your prompts is equally vital. Clearly articulate the parameters, context, and any specific requirements for the content. 

For example, if you want the AI writing tool to create a product description, include details such as the target audience, key features to highlight, and the overall tone and style desired. This helps the AI tool generate content that aligns with your expectations.

Provide examples of desired outputs

Incorporating examples of the desired outputs within your prompts further guides the AI writing process. By including sample sentences, paragraphs, or structures that reflect the style and tone you’re aiming for, you provide the AI writing tool with concrete references to emulate. This helps standardize the quality and style of the AI-generated content, promoting consistency across different prompts.

Crafting effective AI prompts involves thoughtful consideration of the desired goal, audience attributes, language clarity, level of detail, and provision of examples. By honing these skills, you can maximize the potential of AI writing tools to produce content that resonates with your audience and meets your specific needs.

Tips and tricks to create AI prompts

As with any content creation process, there are plenty of tips and tricks at your disposal. From using direct and simple language in your prompts and simplifying complex sentences to be more digestible for AI, to testing and iterating — there’s a lot to consider. 

We’ve highlighted some of our favorite tips and tricks for creating AI prompts that yield tailored and high-quality outputs.

Ask AI to behave as a specific person

When crafting prompts for AI writing tools, consider asking the AI to emulate the writing style or persona of a particular individual. Whether it’s a professional, a casual conversationalist, or a specific character, providing clear instructions for the AI to embody a specific person can help tailor the tone and language of the generated content to match your desired style.

Use “do” and “don’t”

In your prompts, clearly outline the actions or approaches that the AI writing tool should take (“do”) and those that it should avoid (“don’t”). By setting clear boundaries and expectations, you can guide the AI to produce content that aligns closely with your preferences and requirements.

Consider tone and audience

Specify the tone, voice, and intended audience for the content in your prompts. Providing this information guides the AI writing tool to craft content that resonates with the preferences and characteristics of your target audience. Tailoring the content to suit the audience’s attributes and needs is essential for effective communication.

Correct mistakes and give feedback

No matter how much you tailor your prompt, now and again your AI content generator isn’t going to always produce an output that aligns with your expectations. If that happens, it’s crucial to provide specific feedback and corrections in subsequent prompts. This feedback loop helps the AI learn and improve its outputs over time, leading to more accurate and tailored content.

Build on previous prompts

The best advice that we can give you is to continuously refine and build upon previous prompts to provide the AI tool with a clear understanding of your preferences and requirements. Consistent guidance allows the AI to adapt and produce content that closely aligns with your specific needs.

By employing these tips and tricks, you improve the effectiveness of AI prompts, enabling you to guide AI writing tools to generate content that you actually want to use.

AI prompt examples

Let’s take a look at some examples of both effective and ineffective AI prompts!

An effective prompt

Here’s an example of a prompt that follows the guidance we’ve outlined in this blog:

“Generate a product description for a new line of eco-friendly reusable water bottles. The tone should be informative and engaging, targeting environmentally conscious consumers. Highlight the durability, sustainability, and design features of the water bottles. Use clear, concise language, and avoid technical jargon.”

This prompt effectively outlines the specific task, target audience, tone, and key features required for the product description. It provides clear and precise instructions, allowing the AI tool to understand the expectations and craft a tailored and engaging product description.

An ineffective prompt

Here’s an example of a prompt that still needs a lot of work:

“Write about water bottles.”

This prompt lacks clarity and specificity. It fails to provide essential details such as the purpose of the content, the intended audience, or the desired tone. The lack of guidance may lead to a generic output that doesn’t align with the intended goals.

By examining these examples, it’s evident that effective AI prompts are clear, specific, and provide detailed guidance, while ineffective prompts lack clarity, specificity, and fail to communicate the desired outcome to the AI writing tool.

By understanding the characteristics of good and bad AI prompts, you can enhance your ability to create prompts that yield the desired results and effectively leverage AI writing tools.

Common mistakes to avoid when writing AI prompts

Of course, there are common mistakes that content writers should avoid when creating prompts. Let’s explore these mistakes and provide insights on how to steer clear of them, making sure that your AI prompts yield the best possible results.

Overcomplicating the prompt

One common mistake when writing AI prompts is overcomplicating the instructions. Using convoluted language or including excessive details can confuse the AI writing tool and lead to misinterpretation. 

Instead, strive for clarity and conciseness in your prompts. Clearly state the task or goal, provide specific guidance, and avoid unnecessary complexity to make sure that the AI comprehends and executes the prompt accurately. Also, be disciplined by eliminating any fluff or redundant information that doesn’t contribute to the prompt’s clarity or effectiveness.

Not providing enough context

Insufficient context in AI prompts can hinder the AI writing tool’s ability to produce relevant and targeted content. Without adequate background information or details about the intended audience, tone, or specific requirements, the AI may struggle to generate outputs that align with your expectations. 

To avoid this mistake, make sure that your prompts include sufficient context, such as the purpose of the content, target audience attributes, desired tone, and any specific instructions relevant to the task. Likewise, avoid vague or general statements that may lead to inaccurate results.

Ignoring the AI’s capabilities

Another mistake to avoid is disregarding the capabilities and limitations of the AI writing tool. If you don’t consider the AI’s strengths, weaknesses, and specific functionalities it can lead to prompts that are unrealistic or unattainable for the AI to fulfill. It’s important to understand the AI’s capabilities and tailor your prompts accordingly, leveraging its strengths to produce optimal outputs while being mindful of its limitations.

Understanding the potential pitfalls and implementing best practices in prompt creation can significantly enhance the effectiveness of AI-driven content generation.

How Acrolinx can help writers craft their AI prompts

Now you know how to prompt like a pro, it’s time to get to work!

Although the principles we shared apply to any AI tool, the Acrolinx AI Writing Assistant is the only tool that scores the generated content against your writing standards.

Acrolinx will score on whether the generated content is meeting your expectations. For example, is the generated content excessively using colloquial language or exclamation marks? Because let’s be honest, AI tools love to use exclamation marks!

You can also make use of the Get Ideas capability, which supports some of the most common prompts, including:

• Summarize it
• Write a follow-up paragraph
• Simplify it
• Elaborate on it

When you use the prompt formula above in conjunction with the capabilities of AI Assistant, you’ll be introduced to a new world of efficient content creation. Make sure to download The Ultimate Prompt Cheat Sheet for more information and tips on the perfect prompt.

Using Acrolinx mitigates the risk of poorly crafted generated content being published. And by scoring generated content against your standards, it adds even more velocity to your content creation process!
If you want to learn more about our AI Assistant, request a demo here.