Lesson 83 · 2 min
Ask for options, then choose
Asking for three different versions turns one AI guess into a menu you can pick from and mix.
One answer is one guess about what you want. Ask for three, and you can see the range: a short one, a warm one, a bold one.
Ask for real variety. "Give me 3 headlines that take different approaches: one funny, one practical, one emotional." Without that, the three versions can come out almost the same.
Then choose, and say why. "I like the second, but make it shorter and keep the word 'free' from the first." Your reason teaches the model what you value, and the next round gets closer.
This is useful for names, titles, opening lines, ways to say something hard, and plans. It does little for facts. Three versions of a date do not make it more correct.
Do it now
Three ways to say it
- 1. Think of a message that is a little hard to write: saying no, asking for a favour, giving bad news.
- 2. Use the prompt below.
- 3. Pick one, then ask for a mix of the best parts.
I need to tell [PERSON] that [MESSAGE]. Give me 3 versions that take clearly different approaches: one very direct, one warm and gentle, one short and light. Under each, add one line on when that approach works best.
Quick check
Keep going
Next →Limits make answers betterWords from this lesson
- Prompt
- The instruction or question you give an AI. Clearer prompts with context usually get much better answers.
- Temperature
- A setting that controls how predictable or varied an AI's word choices are. Low is steady, high is more surprising.