6. Ask for the Shape
Structured Output
If you'll act on the output, the shape matters. Ask for the structure you actually want — list, table, paragraph, bullets — and the AI will respect it.
Rough prompt
Tell me about three weekend trips.
Strong prompt
Suggest 3 weekend trips from Berlin under €400 for two. For each: name, travel time by train, one bakery, one rough cost, one line on who it suits. Output as a markdown table. No preamble.
Coach note
Name the format, the columns, and the ban on preamble.