Learn the essential tweak to craft prompts that elicit precise one-word responses like “caution” or “neglect” in AI systems. Master this prompt engineering technique for certification success.
Table of Contents
Question
You create a prompt to arrive at a one-word answer, either “caution” or “neglect,” as follows:
“The dog’s owner has not trimmed its nails in months, and they have become sharp and overgrown.”
The tool responds with a long paragraph instead of a one-word response. What minimal change must you make to your approach to obtain the expected output?
A. Rephrase the prompt as a question, asking for the dog’s condition.
B. Include the sentence “Provide a detailed explanation.” at the end.
C. Insert the phrase “Use complex language in your response.” at the end.
D. Add the phrase “Respond with one word:” at the end of the prompt.
Answer
D. Add the phrase “Respond with one word:” at the end of the prompt.
Explanation
When crafting prompts for AI systems, specificity is key to achieving the desired output format. In this scenario, the tool generates a long paragraph because the original prompt lacks explicit instructions about the expected response format. By appending “Respond with one word:” to the end of your prompt, you provide clear and direct formatting information, guiding the AI to limit its response to a single word.
This approach aligns with best practices in prompt engineering:
- Clear Instructions: Explicitly stating the desired output format minimizes ambiguity and ensures precision.
- Desired Output Format: Specifying “one word” as the required response format narrows down the AI’s interpretation and avoids verbose outputs.
- Conciseness: Adding such directives helps streamline responses, particularly when brevity is essential.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Rephrase the prompt as a question, asking for the dog’s condition: While rephrasing as a question may improve clarity, it does not guarantee a one-word response.
B. Include the sentence “Provide a detailed explanation.” at the end: This contradicts the goal by encouraging longer answers.
C. Insert the phrase “Use complex language in your response.” at the end: This adds complexity but does not address brevity or format.
By implementing option D, you ensure that your prompt effectively communicates both content and format requirements, demonstrating mastery of prompt engineering techniques critical for certification and professional success.
Prompt Engineering skill assessment practice question and answer (Q&A) dump including multiple choice questions (MCQ) and objective type questions, with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the Prompt Engineering exam and earn Prompt Engineering certification.