39 Types of Prompts for ChatGPT That You Can Apply to Common and Practical Uses

In this article, we’ll introduce 39 different types of prompts to help you make the most of ChatGPT. These general-use prompts serve as foundational styles and structures. They aren’t tied to specific tasks—meaning that they are versatile enough to suit a wide range of needs. Think of them as building blocks for effective communication with ChatGPT. You can adapt them to fit your unique use cases and requirements.

For each prompt type, we’ll explain what it is, how it’s used, and provide clear examples to demonstrate its practical application.

Category (A): Information Retrieval and Explanation Prompts

1. Basic Question

• Description: A Basic Question prompt asks ChatGPT for quick, straightforward information on a specific topic. It’s simple, requiring minimal context or detail.

• Application: This type of prompt is great for retrieving facts, definitions, or general knowledge. It’s particularly useful for quick lookups or clarifications.

• Example: “What is artificial intelligence?”

2. Open-Ended Prompt

• Description: An Open-Ended Prompt encourages ChatGPT to provide a detailed, expansive response without strict constraints. These prompts invite exploration and creativity.

• Application: Open-ended prompts are ideal for generating in-depth explanations, brainstorming ideas, or exploring broad topics. They’re useful when you want ChatGPT to think freely and provide more comprehensive answers.

• Example: “What are the unique behaviors of cats and why do they exhibit them?”

• Note: Read more about “Asking Open-Ended Questions“

3. Close-Ended Prompt

• Description: A Close-Ended Prompt directs ChatGPT to provide a brief, specific answer, often in the form of “yes,” “no,” or a single piece of information.

• Application: This type of prompt is ideal for situations where you need concise, straightforward answers, such as confirming facts or making binary decisions.

• Example: “Do cats sleep during the day?”

4. Specific Prompt

• Description: A Specific Prompt asks ChatGPT to focus on a particular detail or aspect of a topic. By clearly defining the expected output and context, it helps generate precise and targeted responses.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful when you need targeted information or an answer tailored to a specific context. It’s great for precise tasks like explaining a single concept or solving a defined problem.

• Example: “List three key benefits of meditation for mental health.”

5. Explainer Prompt

• Description: An Explainer Prompt asks ChatGPT to break down a complex concept or topic into simple terms for ease of understanding.

• Application: This type of prompt is great for learning new topics, simplifying technical ideas, or making information more approachable for different audiences.

• Example: “Explain why cats knead with their paws in simple terms.”

6. Summarizing Prompt

• Description: A Summarizing Prompt asks ChatGPT to summarize information, capturing the main points or key details of a topic or text.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for creating summaries of articles, long conversations, or complex topics. It’s ideal for simplifying information for quick understanding.

• Example: “Summarize this article on the benefits of owning a cat in two sentences.”

7. Fact-Checking Prompt

• Description: A Fact-Checking Prompt asks ChatGPT to verify the accuracy of a claim or piece of information. It is used to confirm details or debunk false statements.

• Application: This type of prompt is ideal for validating facts, correcting misconceptions, or ensuring that information is reliable before use.

• Example: “Is it true that cats can always land on their feet when they fall?”

• Note: Ask ChatGPT to search the web for supporting facts if your ChatGPT subscription allows for web browsing.

Category (B): Creative and Brainstorming Types of Prompts

8. Brainstorming Prompt

• Description: A Brainstorming Prompt encourages ChatGPT to generate a variety of ideas on a given topic. It’s open-ended and often involves a multi-step process that develops with follow-up prompts.

• Application: This type of prompt is great for idea generation, solving problems, or exploring possibilities for projects, plans, or content.

• Example: “Help me to brainstorm for some creative names for my cat.”

9. Hypothetical Prompt

• Description: A Hypothetical Prompt explores a “what if” scenario, encouraging ChatGPT to imagine possibilities or speculate about outcomes. It often involves creative or analytical thinking.

• Application: This type of prompt is ideal for exploring alternative situations, predicting potential results, or engaging in creative problem-solving.

• Example: “What if all vehicles worldwide were electric by 2030?”

10. Analogical Prompt

• Description: An Analogical Prompt asks ChatGPT to explain a concept by drawing comparisons to something familiar, using relatable analogies to clarify meaning. The purpose is to make complex ideas easier to understand.

• Application: This type of prompt is ideal for teaching, simplifying technical concepts, or making information more relatable for a specific audience.

• Example: “Explain how firmware works using an analogy that even high school students can relate to.”

11. Reflection Prompt

• Description: A Reflection Prompt encourages ChatGPT to analyze and share insights or lessons from past events, experiences, or ideas. It’s aimed at fostering thoughtful and introspective responses.

• Application: This type of prompt is great for exploring deeper understanding, drawing conclusions, or considering the broader implications of a topic.

• Example: “What lessons can we learn from observing how cats interact with their environment?”

12. Opinion-Based Prompt

• Description: An Opinion-Based Prompt asks ChatGPT to provide its perspective, interpretation, or viewpoint on a given topic. It encourages subjective or open-ended responses.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for exploring different perspectives, sparking discussions, or generating ideas based on interpretive insights.

• Example: “Do you think cats make better pets than dogs? Why or why not?”

13. Hypothesis Prompt

• Description: A Hypothesis Prompt asks ChatGPT to propose or explore a theory, assumption, or educated guess about a given topic.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for brainstorming possibilities, exploring potential outcomes, or analyzing “what if” scenarios based on logical assumptions.

• Example: “If we assume that increasing screen time negatively affects children’s attention spans, what evidence could support this hypothesis?”

14. Elaboration Prompt

• Description: An Elaboration Prompt asks ChatGPT to expand on a topic, providing more detail or depth to an initial response. It encourages thorough and comprehensive explanations.

• Application: This type of prompt is ideal for gaining deeper insights, clarifying points, or exploring a subject more extensively.

• Example: “Can you elaborate on why cats knead their paws and how this behavior develops?”

15. Contrarian Prompt

• Description: A Contrarian Prompt asks ChatGPT to present an argument or viewpoint that opposes the conventional or popular perspective. It encourages critical thinking and exploration of alternative ideas.

• Application: Use this type of prompt to challenge assumptions, explore less common viewpoints, or evaluate the strength of widely accepted beliefs.

• Example: “Argue why cats might not be the best pets for families with young children.”

16. Alternate Perspective Prompt

• Description: An Alternate Perspective Prompt asks ChatGPT to explore a topic, issue, or scenario from a different viewpoint or lens.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for understanding opposing viewpoints, broadening discussions, or examining a subject from an unconventional angle.

• Example: “What might a child think about the importance of household rules compared to a parent?

17. Probing Question Prompt

• Description: A Probing Question Prompt asks ChatGPT to dive deeper into a topic by providing detailed explanations or exploring underlying reasons, often to facilitate critical thinking and nuanced analysis.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for uncovering hidden details, gaining a deeper understanding of a topic, or following up on previous answers.

• Example: “What are the underlying factors contributing to climate change, and how do they interact with each other?”

18. Question Generation Prompt

• Description: A Question Generation Prompt asks ChatGPT to create relevant or insightful questions on a specific topic.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for use cases that require a series of questions, such as preparing for interviews, developing quizzes, or exploring topics in depth through inquiry.

• Example: “Generate five questions a new cat owner should ask their veterinarian.”

Category (C): Analysis and Evaluation Types of Prompts

19. Analytical Prompt

• Description: An Analytical Prompt instructs ChatGPT to examine a topic critically, breaking it down into its components and exploring relationships, causes, or implications.

• Application: This type of prompt is ideal for analyzing problems, evaluating scenarios, or understanding the underlying factors of a concept or situation.

• Example: “My cat constantly meows at the door every evening. Analyze why this might be happening. Ask me questions if you need more information.”

20. Validation Prompt

• Description: A Validation Prompt asks ChatGPT to evaluate the accuracy, logic, or relevance of a statement, argument, or idea. It focuses on confirming reliability or identifying flaws.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for testing arguments, verifying conclusions, or assessing the strength of reasoning in a given context.

• Example: “Validate this statement: “Cats are better pets than dogs.” Does this conclusion logically follow from the evidence provided in the attached article?”

21. Comparative Prompt

• Description: A Comparative Prompt asks ChatGPT to highlight similarities and differences between two or more items. It encourages a side-by-side analysis.

• Application: This type of prompt is ideal for evaluating options, understanding distinctions, or exploring relationships between topics. It’s useful for decision-making or learning.

• Example: “What are the differences between cats and dogs as pets?”

22. Contrasting Prompt

• Description: A Contrasting Prompt asks ChatGPT to compare two or more items by highlighting their differences.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for evaluating options, analyzing opposing ideas, or understanding the unique characteristics of each subject.

• Example: “What are the differences between an indoor cat and an outdoor cat in terms of behavior and lifestyle?”

23. Cause-and-Effect Prompt

• Description: A Cause-and-Effect Prompt asks ChatGPT to explore the relationship between events or actions and their outcomes.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for understanding and/or predicting consequences, analyzing scenarios, or explaining the impact of specific factors on a situation.

• Example: “What are the effects of saving an extra $50 per month?”

34. Challenge Prompt

• Description: A Challenge Prompt asks ChatGPT to critique, question, or oppose an idea, argument, or perspective, sometimes as a devil’s advocate. It fosters critical thinking and encourages exploring alternative viewpoints.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for testing the robustness of arguments, identifying flaws, or exploring the downsides of commonly held beliefs.

• Example: “Challenge the idea that renting a house is better than buying one.”

25. Contradiction Prompt

• Description: A Contradiction Prompt asks ChatGPT to identify inconsistencies, opposing ideas, or logical conflicts within a statement or argument.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for evaluating arguments, uncovering flaws or tensions in reasoning, and identifying areas of disagreement in discussions.

• Example: “Identify any contradictions in the claim: ‘Cats are solitary animals, yet they thrive in social environments.’”

26. Ranking Prompt

• Description: A Ranking Prompt asks ChatGPT to organize items in order of importance, preference, or relevance based on specific criteria.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for prioritizing tasks, evaluating options, or identifying the most significant elements in a list.

• Example: “Rank these renewable energy sources by their efficiency: solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal.”

27. Prioritization Prompt

• Description: A Prioritization Prompt asks ChatGPT to organize items or options in order of importance or urgency based on specific criteria, or simply, “set priorities”.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for managing tasks, allocating resources, or determining the most critical actions to take in a given situation.

• Example: “If I adopt a cat, what should I prioritize during the first week: setting up a litter box, scheduling a vet visit, or buying toys?”

28. Historical Analysis Prompt

• Description: A Historical Analysis Prompt asks ChatGPT to examine past events, trends, or figures to understand their causes, effects, or significance.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for studying patterns, drawing lessons from history, or connecting past events to current situations.

• Example: “How did the invention of the printing press influence the spread of knowledge in Europe during the Renaissance?”

• Note: Ask ChatGPT to search the web for supporting facts if your ChatGPT subscription supports web browsing.

29. Prediction Prompt

• Description: A Prediction Prompt asks ChatGPT to forecast potential outcomes or speculate about future scenarios based on trends, data, or imagination.

• Application: This type of prompt is ideal for exploring possibilities, anticipating challenges, or imagining the impact of future developments.

• Example: “Search the web for news related to the 2024 USA Presidential Election and Bitcoin. Predict how the Bitcoin price might change after the election.”

Category (D): Customization and Adaptation Types of Prompts

30. Role-Play Prompt

• Description: A Role-Play Prompt asks ChatGPT to adopt a specific persona or perspective to provide responses in a particular style or tone. It simulates interactions with experts, characters, or other roles.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for generating output tailored to a specific expertise or personality.

• Example: “Pretend you are a veterinarian. How would you explain proper cat grooming to a new pet owner?”

31. Rephrasing Prompt

• Description: A Rephrasing Prompt asks ChatGPT to rewrite a sentence, paragraph, or text while retaining the original meaning.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for repurposing written content, tailoring messages for specific audiences, or enhancing text for readability and impact.

• Example: “Rephrase this article to sound more professional.”

32. Categorization Prompt

• Description: A Categorization Prompt asks ChatGPT to sort information into distinct groups based on specified criteria.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for creating lists, grouping similar concepts, or organizing information in a structured way.

• Example: “Categorize these cat breeds by their coat type: Persian, Maine Coon, Sphynx, Siamese, and Bengal.”

33. Contextual Prompt

• Description: A Contextual Prompt frames a topic within a specific situation, background, or set of circumstances to guide ChatGPT’s response, to ensure the answer is relevant to the given context.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for tailoring responses to unique scenarios, addressing specific audiences, or aligning information with particular settings.

• Example: “I am working on a course to teach first-time pet owners about the importance of choosing the right food for their cats. Suggest the outline.”

Category (E): Feedback and Iteration Types of Prompts

34. Clarification Prompt

• Description: A Clarification Prompt asks ChatGPT to expand on or clarify a previous response to ensure understanding or provide additional detail. It helps refine or deepen the conversation.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful when ChatGPT’s answer is too vague, needs more context, or requires elaboration to be fully understood.

• Example: “Can you clarify what you mean by ‘sustainable pet care practices’?”

35. Reverse Prompt

• Description: A Reverse Prompt is used to identify or generate the original prompt that could have produced a given piece of content.

• Application: This type of prompt is useful for analyzing how specific outputs are generated, or reverse-engineering AI responses.

• Example: “Here is a paragraph about a cat’s hunting instincts. What prompt could have been used to generate this content?”

• Note: Read more: What Is Reverse Prompting? How to Reverse Engineer Prompts with ChatGPT

36. Iterative Improvement Prompt

• Description: An Iterative Improvement Prompt asks ChatGPT to refine or enhance an initial response or idea over multiple steps. It focuses on gradual improvement through feedback or new instructions.

• Application: This type of prompt is ideal for enhancing output from ChatGPT systematically, leading to improved accuracy and relevance in the generated responses.

• Example: “Can you review your answer and improve it for clarity and engagement, particularly in the list of pet care suggestions?”

• Note: Read more about “Iterative Improvement Prompting“.

Category (F): Instructional and Procedural Types of Prompts

37. Instructional Prompt

• Description: An Instructional Prompt guides ChatGPT to provide detailed and/or step-by-step instructions for completing a specific task.

• Application: Use this type of prompt for learning new skills, completing tasks, or breaking down complex processes into manageable steps.

• Example: “How do you train a cat to use a litter box?”

38. Troubleshooting Prompt

• Description: A Troubleshooting Prompt asks ChatGPT to diagnose a problem and provide potential solutions or fixes step-by-step. It focuses on identifying issues and resolving them efficiently.

• Application: This type of prompt is ideal for debugging processes, solving technical issues, or addressing common challenges in a structured way

• Example: “My cat has stopped using the litter box. What steps should I take to identify and fix the problem?”

39. Multi-Step Prompt

• Description: Multi-Step Prompting is a technique in prompt engineering that breaks down a complex task into smaller and manageable steps. A Multi-Step Prompt is one of the prompts in this series, addressing a specific step to guide ChatGPT systematically toward the final result.

• Application: This type of prompt is used for complex tasks that cannot be completed within a single step, which require the user to guide the AI through logical steps to achieve the expected output.

• Example: “Explain how to conduct a scientific experiment by outlining the hypothesis (Step 1), describing the methodology (Step 2), and discussing potential results and conclusions (Step 3).”