What is the role of temperature in prompt engineering?
I see the 'temperature' setting mentioned in API discussions, but can I control this through a standard prompt? Does the 'temperature' of the conversation change how I should write my prompts? I want ...
How to debug a prompt that works sometimes but fails others?
I have a system prompt that generates perfect output 80 percent of the time, but the other 20 percent it completely ignores my formatting constraints. How do you go about debugging such an inconsisten...
Is there a difference in prompting for Claude versus ChatGPT?
I have been focusing exclusively on ChatGPT, but I am starting to look at other models. Is the prompt engineering philosophy the same, or are there fundamental differences in how I should construct pr...
Is 'think step-by-step' still the best logic prompt?
I have used 'let's think step-by-step' for months. Is there something better now? I am worried that I am relying on an outdated 'magic phrase' when there might be more precise ways to guide the model'...
What are the limitations of long context prompts?
I have been pasting entire PDFs into my prompts to get summaries, but I noticed the model starts to lose the plot halfway through. Is this a prompt engineering failure or a context window limitation? ...
How do I prompt for complex formatting, like tables and lists?
I often need to format data into complex tables or specific list structures for reports. Sometimes the formatting breaks. How can I ensure the output is always formatted correctly for easy copy-pastin...
Does persona adoption actually improve prompt outcomes?
I see many prompts that start with 'Act as an expert...' but does this actually change the model's logic, or is it just a placebo? I have been testing this for my data analysis tasks and I can't tell ...
How does prompt engineering affect API cost?
I am worried about my monthly API usage costs. If I use very verbose, chain-of-thought style prompts for every query, am I blowing through my budget? Is there a balance between prompt length and outpu...
How do you refine a prompt based on an unsatisfactory response?
I often find myself playing a guessing game with ChatGPT when it gets an answer wrong. Is there a systematic way to iterate? For example, should I ask it to explain its reasoning first before giving i...
What are the common pitfalls in prompt engineering for research?
I see many students and researchers trying to use AI to summarize papers. What are the common mistakes people make when prompting for research assistance? I am worried about the model missing key find...
