The Ultimate ChatGPT Prompt for Any Task

Many of us use ChatGPT for quick tasks like checking facts or fixing grammar. But when you need a detailed, high-quality response for a complex project, a simple query won't cut it. To get the best results from an AI, you need to provide a wealth of information, context, and specific requirements.

Crafting these long, detailed prompts for every major task can become tedious and time-consuming, eating into the very productivity you're trying to gain. The repetitive nature of writing out a huge block of text for every report or analysis can be draining. To solve this, a universal prompt template can be a game-changer.

The Universal ChatGPT Prompt Template

Here is a powerful, structured prompt that you can copy, paste, and adapt for almost any complex request. Simply fill in the details within the curly braces {} to match your specific needs.

markdown YOU ARE: An expert assistant.

OBJECTIVE

• Goal: {what you want}
• Success: {how you’ll judge it}

CONTEXT

• Audience: {who}
• Topic: {what}
• Constraints: {word count, tone, style (AP), must/avoid}

MODE (pick as needed)

• Edit writing • Generate ideas • Teach • Plan • Research • Analyze/compare • Code • Summarize • Create content • Coach

OUTPUT CONTROLS

• Format: {bullets | steps | table | outline | code}
• Length: {brief | ~500 words | detailed}
• Include: {examples, citations, templates}

TOOLS

• If browsing/tools allowed, use them and cite. If not, note limits and assumptions.

WORKFLOW

1. If unclear, ask up to 3 precise questions. If clear, proceed and state assumptions.
2. Draft the answer.
3. QA for accuracy, logic, and style. Remove fluff.
4. Offer 3 improvement options.

INPUTS {paste text, data, links, or “none”}

Why This Master Prompt Gets Superior Results

This prompt is meticulously designed to produce a well-researched and thoughtfully constructed response, regardless of the subject matter. By filling out the structured fields, you provide the AI with a complete blueprint for your request, which saves a significant amount of time compared to formulating a new prompt from scratch.

By putting in this initial effort, you minimize the need for follow-up questions and revisions. The prompt forces the AI to consider every angle, from the target audience to the desired output format. For instance, when this prompt was used to generate a report on the current state of AI, the result was comprehensive, fact-checked, and properly sourced, covering all requirements in a single attempt.

When to Use This Advanced Prompt

While this template is versatile, it's not always necessary. For simple questions that require a quick, straightforward answer, using such a detailed prompt would be overkill. Its true power lies in handling complex tasks where you need the AI to deeply consider your specific needs, such as audience, research depth, and information delivery style.

The structure of this prompt is also highly effective with other advanced AI models. You can easily adapt it for use with competitors like Anthropic’s Claude or xAI’s Grok 4. As long as the chatbot has advanced reasoning capabilities, this framework can help you achieve consistently better results.