Lesson 7 of 8
Steer the format
5 min read
The AI gives you the right information in the wrong shape — three dense paragraphs when you needed a table, or a wall of text when you wanted three bullet points. The content was fine. You just never said what shape you wanted.
Ask for the shape you need
Left to itself, the AI picks a default shape — usually flowing prose — because that's the most common one. But prose is terrible for comparing options and overkill for a quick list. Tell it the format you want — "as a table," "three bullet points," "a short email," "one sentence" — and it delivers the same content in a shape you can actually use.
The AI defaults to the most common shape — usually prose — when you don't specify. Naming the format you want (table, bullets, email, one line) reshapes the same content into something usable.
Say it in the right unit
Two tips make this sharper. First, be concrete about length in the unit that fits: "three bullets," "under 50 words," "a two-line summary" — "short" means different things to you and the AI. Second, length and detail aren't the same knob: "in one paragraph" controls size, "explain it simply" controls depth. You can ask for a short and deep answer, or a long shallow one — say which you mean.
Specify length in a concrete unit — bullets, words, sentences — not a vague "short." And remember length and depth are separate: ask for the size and the detail level you actually want.
The gist
- —Unasked, the AI defaults to prose — often the wrong shape for your need
- —Name the format: table, bullets, email, one line
- —Give length a concrete unit, and remember length and detail are separate dials
You need to share the three decisions from a meeting with your team, so everyone can scan them fast. Best format to ask for?
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