Copy practical ChatGPT prompts for emails, summaries, learning, marketing, job search, spreadsheets, coding, social media, translation, and research checks.
A prompt is the instruction you type into ChatGPT. It can be a question, a task, a text you want rewritten, or a clear description of the result you want.
A good prompt is not a magic phrase. It is a specific instruction that tells ChatGPT what to do, who the output is for, what tone to use, and what the final answer should look like.
A weak prompt looks like this:
Write an email.
A better prompt adds context:
Write a short and polite email to a customer explaining that their order will be delayed by 2 days. The tone should be apologetic, but not dramatic. Keep it under 120 words.
Below you will find ready-to-use prompts you can copy and adapt. If you are new to ChatGPT, start with ChatGPT in English: how to get started.
A simple formula for a good prompt
The best prompts usually include:
- task: what ChatGPT should do,
- context: who it is for and what situation it is for,
- output: email, table, list, plan, outline, or draft,
- constraints: length, tone, language, format, or what to avoid,
- verification: what should be marked as uncertain or checked.
You do not need to write a long prompt. You just need to avoid being too vague.
How to adapt a prompt
Do not copy prompts blindly. Replace the square brackets with your own details:
I need [type of output] for [audience]. Context: [situation]. The output should be [format and length]. Tone: [formal/friendly/direct]. Do not use [what I want to avoid]. If you are not sure, tell me what I should verify.
If the answer is not right, continue the conversation:
Make it half as long.
Use a more natural tone.
Give me 3 alternatives.
Remove generic advice and add concrete examples.
1. Email to a customer
Write an email to a customer in English. Context: [briefly describe the situation]. Goal of the email: [what should happen next]. The tone should be polite, clear, and human, not overly formal. Keep it under 150 words. End with one clear call to action.
2. Reply to a difficult email
Help me reply to this email calmly and professionally. Do not attack the sender, do not admit fault unless it is clear from the text, and suggest the next practical step. Keep the reply under 120 words.
Email:
[paste email]
3. Summarize a long text
Summarize this text for someone who does not have time to read the full document. Split the output into:
1. main idea,
2. 5 key points,
3. open questions,
4. what I should verify.
Text:
[paste text]
4. Rewrite text in clearer English
Rewrite this text so it sounds natural in English. Keep the meaning, remove awkward wording, do not make it sound promotional, and do not make it longer. If a sentence is unclear, suggest a better version and mark it.
Text:
[paste text]
If you often clean up copied text, headings, or letter case, the Text case converter can also save time.
5. Shorten text without losing meaning
Shorten this text by about 40%. Keep the important information, remove repetition and generic phrases, and make the result clear and easy to read.
Text:
[paste text]
6. Explain a topic to a beginner
Explain [topic] in English for a beginner. Start with a short explanation, then give a simple real-life example, and finish with 5 terms I should remember.
7. Learning plan
I want to learn [topic] in [time period]. My level is [beginner/intermediate] and I can spend [number of hours] per week. Create a realistic week-by-week plan. For each week, add concrete tasks and a way to check whether I understand the topic.
8. Brainstorming ideas
Suggest 20 ideas for [topic/project]. The target audience is [who]. Avoid generic suggestions. I want practical ideas that could be used in real work. Put the output in a table with columns: idea, who it suits, difficulty, first step.
9. Weekly work plan
Help me plan my work week. My main tasks are: [list]. Constraints: [deadlines, meetings, available time]. Suggest a day-by-day plan, mark priorities, and add what I can postpone if I run out of time.
10. Meeting preparation
Prepare a meeting agenda for [topic]. The goal is [goal]. Participants: [who will attend]. Include the agenda, questions for discussion, decisions that need to be made, and a short invitation email.
11. Marketing copy for a product or service
Write marketing copy in English for [product/service]. Target audience: [who]. Main customer problem: [problem]. Benefits: [list]. The tone should be practical and trustworthy, with no exaggerated claims. Output: headline, short description under 80 words, and 5 benefit bullets.
12. Blog article outline
Create an outline for an article about [topic]. The reader is [target audience]. The article should be practical, not generic. Output: SEO title, short excerpt, H2 headings, what each section should cover, and 5 questions the article should answer.
For longer drafts, you can quickly check the length with the Word counter.
13. Improve a CV bullet
Help me improve this CV bullet. I want it to sound more specific and professional, but not exaggerated. Keep it truthful, do not invent results, and if numbers are missing, suggest questions I should answer.
Text:
[paste CV bullet]
14. Cover letter
Write a draft cover letter in English for the role of [position]. What I know about the company: [brief info]. My experience: [list]. The tone should be professional, natural, and not too self-confident. Keep it under 250 words. Do not invent facts I did not provide.
15. Job interview preparation
Prepare me for an interview for [position]. Create 12 questions I might be asked. For each question, explain what the interviewer is probably checking and suggest an answer based on my experience: [briefly describe experience].
16. Excel or Google Sheets
I need help with Excel or Google Sheets. My table has these columns: [list columns]. I want to achieve: [goal]. Suggest a formula or workflow. Explain it simply and include an example with sample values.
17. Analyze spreadsheet data
Look at these data and suggest what I can learn from them. Split the output into: interesting patterns, possible data issues, questions to verify, and 5 charts or tables that would make sense.
Data:
[paste data or describe columns]
18. Debug code
Help me find the bug in this code. Context: [language/framework/version]. Expected behavior: [what should happen]. Actual behavior: [what happens]. Error message: [paste]. First explain likely causes, then suggest a concrete fix and a test I can use to verify it.
Code:
[paste code]
19. Code review
Review this code like an experienced developer. Focus on bugs, security risks, unclear names, unnecessary duplication, and edge cases. Do not nitpick style for its own sake. Output a list of findings with priority and a short suggested fix.
Code:
[paste code]
20. Proposal for a small business
I run [type of business] and need a simple proposal for a client. Service: [what I offer]. Scope: [what is included]. Price or price range: [amount]. Write a professional proposal in English. Keep it clear, concise, and free of legal jargon.
21. Customer FAQ
Create a customer FAQ for [service]. Target audience: [who]. Include questions before purchase, during use, and after purchase. Answers should be short, clear, and calm. If something depends on company policy, mark it as a detail to fill in.
22. Social media content plan
Suggest 10 social media posts for [business/project]. Goal: [sales, education, trust, community]. Target audience: [who]. Put the output in a table: topic, format, main idea, post text, call to action.
23. LinkedIn post from notes
Turn these notes into a LinkedIn post in English. The tone should be clear, human, and free of motivational clichés. Start with a strong first sentence, explain the point, and end with a question for discussion. Keep it under 180 words.
Notes:
[paste notes]
24. Translation and localization
Translate this text into English so it sounds natural for an English-speaking reader. Do not translate word for word. Keep the meaning and adapt idioms. If a cultural or legal detail may not apply, mark it.
Text:
[paste text]
25. Research and verification
Help me verify [topic]. First list what needs to be checked. Then suggest trustworthy types of sources where I can verify it. If you make factual claims, mark them as: verified, likely, or uncertain. Do not invent links if you are not sure.
What to watch out for
ChatGPT can sound confident even when it is wrong. For casual drafts, that may not matter. For important decisions, it does.
Always verify:
- legal, medical, and financial advice,
- current prices, laws, dates, and terms,
- quotes, studies, and links,
- technical instructions where a mistake could cause damage,
- information about specific people, companies, or events.
A useful sentence to add:
If you are not sure, do not state it as a fact. Clearly tell me what I should verify in an official source.
Do not paste sensitive data
Do not paste passwords, API keys, national ID numbers, health data, internal documents without permission, or personal data about clients, customers, or employees.
If you need help with sensitive text, anonymize it first:
Rewrite this text. Replace the name with [NAME], the company with [COMPANY], the amount with [AMOUNT], and keep all personal details anonymous.
If you use ChatGPT regularly, review privacy settings, memory, and temporary chat. If you are deciding whether to pay, read ChatGPT Free vs Plus: is it worth paying?.
Summary
The best ChatGPT prompts are not the longest ones. They are specific.
Say what you need, add context, define the output format, and set the tone or constraints. For important topics, ask for sources and verify the result yourself.
The practical method is simple: copy a prompt, replace the square brackets with your details, and then refine the answer with short follow-up instructions.
