Prompt Engineering vs Plain Questions: Does It Matter?
Not every request needs a long prompt.
Simple tasks
Short questions work for quick facts and definitions.
Complex tasks
Add structure for tasks with many requirements.
- State audience.
- Specify format.
- Give examples.
Iterate
Improve the answer through follow-ups.
Rule of thumb
Match effort.
- Quick question, short prompt.
- Important work, detailed prompt.
- Always check the result.
Key takeaway: Use detail when the task is complex, and keep simple questions simple.
