Recently, Xiaoming has been addicted to writing articles with AI. One day, he asked the AI to write an article on "how to cultivate the habit of waking up early". The AI gave him a bunch of clichés about how waking up early is good for your physical and mental health, and how it's important to do it in a gradual manner. Xiaoming was disappointed. Isn't this the same content that can be found on the Internet with a simple search?
In fact, it's not that the AI isn't smart enough, but that Ming didn't give clear instructions. It's like going to a restaurant and ordering food, if you just say "I want a noodle", you may get any kind of noodle. But if you say "I want a bowl of Japanese ramen with barbecued pork and loose egg, and the soup should be lighter", the chances of getting a satisfactory result are much higher.
So how can you give clear instructions to AI?
The answer is: structured expression.
Structured expression refers to organizing your requirements according to a certain logical hierarchy and format, and presenting them to the AI in a clearer, more concise, and more organized way. structured instructions are like preparing a "task list" for the AI, so that it can understand and carry out your requirements in a more efficient way.
Today we share a structured that works particularly well in everyday usePrompt wordMethodology: 3W1H framework.
Let's learn how to apply this framework through detailed explanations and real-world examples.
Recognizing the 3W1H framework
When we talk to AI, we often send out vague commands such as "help me write an article" or "help me analyze the data", and although AI can give us answers, they are often not the results we want. At this point, the 3W1H framework can help you clearly describe the task from four dimensions.
Who - AI characterization
Specify in what capacity the AI should accomplish the task. Giving the AI a clear characterization can make its output more professional and focused.
✓ Good example: "Let's say you are a financial advisor with 10 years of experience and are familiar with all types of investments such as funds and stocks"
✗ Pit: "You're a financial advisor" (role is too general and does not reflect specialization)
Applicable scenarios:
- When writing about specialized areas (e.g., financial, medical, legal)
- When a specific style of writing is required (e.g., children's storytellers)
- When solving specialized problems (e.g., software development)
What - Mission Statement
Specify the content and requirements of the task to be accomplished by the AI. The more specific the task description, the more the AI's output will meet expectations.
✓ Good example: "Help me write a 2,000-word introductory guide to money management, focusing on fund investment strategies"
✗ Pit: "Write a financial article" (no word count or specific topic stated)
Applicable Scenarios:
- Content creation (articles, programs, reports)
- Data analysis
- code writing
Why - Target and Audience
Explain the context and purpose of the task, as well as the audience for which the content is intended. This helps the AI adjust the depth and presentation of the content.
✓ Good example: "This content is geared toward young people who are new to the workforce, who have a steady income but no financial experience, and want to learn how to start investing money"
✗ Pit: "Written for people who want to learn how to manage money" (audience description too broad)
Applicable Scenarios:
- Description of the audience context at the time of content creation
- Contextualizing the problem when solving it
- Statement of the purpose of the analysis when analyzing data
How - the manner of implementation
Describe the organization of the content, style tone, structure and other specific requirements.
✓ Good example: "In an easy-to-understand tone, interspersed with real-world examples, please expand on this in 3 parts: 1) Why you should start managing your money early 2) What financial options are appropriate for newbies 3) How to avoid financial mistakes"
✗ Pit: "write in detail" (no specific structure or requirements)
real-life example
Let's take a look at how the 3W1H framework can improve the quality of AI output through a few real-world examples:
Case 1: Writing a Public Article
Common Cue Words:
"Help me write an article on time management."
After using 3W1H:
"Assuming you are a workplace efficiency management expert (Who), write a 2,000-word article on time management techniques (What). This article is aimed at newcomers to the workplace who often work late but are not very productive (Why). Please use a light tone, incorporate specific cases, and follow the three parts of 'Recognizing the Black Hole of Time - Laws of Efficient Time Management - Action Checklist for Newcomers', with practical advice in each part (How)"
Case 2: Data analysis requirements
Common Cue Words:
"Help me analyze this sales data."
After using 3W1H:
"In your capacity as a data analyst (Who), please analyze sales data for the past 12 months, focusing on trends in sales, customer unit price, and conversion rates (What). This analysis will be used in a monthly sales strategy meeting with the goal of identifying the reasons for sales declines (Why). Please generate an analysis report with data visualizations and provide 3-5 specific recommendations for improvement at the end of the report (How)"
Tips & Tricks
1. Not all scenarios require the use of all four dimensions. For simple tasks, only the core dimensions can be used.
2. The clearer the positioning of Who and Why, the more specialized and targeted the AI output will be.
3. The How section suggests providing a clear structure or framework so that the output of the AI is more organized.
4. In writing-type assignments, it is important to clearly specify the word count and writing style.
Practice Recommendations
Now you can try to rewrite your prompt words using the 3W1H framework.
It is advisable to start practicing with simple writing tasks, such as writing a product description or a work plan.
As you practice more, you'll find that conversations with the AI become smoother and the output more in line with your expectations.
Listen, a good cue is like a clear mission statement, allowing the AI to understand exactly what you need. By mastering this technique, you can realize the full potential of your AI assistant and make it your best working partner.
