Part 2 - Building Skill
6. Ask for a Specific Format
Goal: Get the answer in the exact shape you can use: list, table, steps, JSON, email.
The AI will happily give you a wall of text if you do not say otherwise. Naming the format makes the answer usable straight away - a table you can scan, steps you can follow, an email you can send.
Formats are also how you make AI output feed into other tools. Ask for a table or for structured data and you can paste it into a spreadsheet or a program.
The Script (Template)
[Task]. Give the answer as [format: a table with columns X and Y / numbered steps / a short email / bullet points].
Worked Example
You write
Compare tea and coffee for a health-conscious reader. Give the answer as a table with three columns: Drink, Main Benefit, One Downside. Keep each cell under 8 words.
AI replies (sample)
| Drink | Main Benefit | One Downside | |--------|---------------------------------|------------------------------| | Tea | Gentle, steady energy lift | Less caffeine if you need it | | Coffee | Strong alertness boost | Can disturb sleep |
Why it works
Naming the columns and the word limit produced a tidy, scannable table instead of two long paragraphs.
Do & Avoid
Tips
- Name the columns for tables, and the fields for structured data.
- Ask for 'just the code' or 'just the table, no explanation' when you want it clean.
Common Mistakes
- Asking for a table but not saying what the columns are.
- Requesting a format the content does not fit (a table for a story).
Practice
- Turn a paragraph answer into a table by re-asking with column names.
- Ask for the same information as steps, then as bullets; note which suits it better.
My Practice — capture your own script
Write your own version of this lesson's script, run it in your AI chat, then paste the reply. Your work is saved on this device; use Download to keep a copy.