ChatGPT Formatting refers to how ChatGPT structures its responses based on your input. (Did you notice that ChatGPT doesn’t just output plain text?) Whether you need information presented as bullet points, tables, or even JSON code, you can specify the exact format you need.
“But what types of output formats does ChatGPT support?” you might ask. You’ve come to the right place! This blog post lists 25 essential ChatGPT formatting types to cover almost all your needs. Keep reading to find out more.
The benefits of specifying output formats are significant. By guiding ChatGPT to structure its response, you can extract more usable information more easily and minimize manual edits (the output is already in the exact format you need!) Think of how it helps for tasks like creating structured reports, generating clean code snippets, or organizing data into tables for analysis.
Table Of Content
- How to Specify ChatGPT Formatting
- Types of Output Formats ChatGPT Supports
- 1. Bullet points
- 2. Numbered lists, step-by-step instructions
- 3. Tables
- 4. Q&A Format
- 5. Code Blocks
- 6. Outlines
- 7. Dialogues or scripts
- 8. JSON or structured data
- 9. CSV format
- 10. Flowcharts (described textually)
- 11. Comparisons (side-by-side or sequential)
- 12. Quiz or trivia format
- 13. Formatted documentation (Markdown format)
- 14. Problem and solution structure
- 15. Quotes or Excerpts
- 16. Bold, italic, emphasized text
- 17. Checklists
- 18. Decision trees (text-based descriptions)
- 19. ASCII Bar Charts
- 20. Timelines
- 21. HTML, web page
- 22. CSS
- 23. Action plans or roadmaps
- 24. Annotated examples
- 25. Mathematical equations or formulas
How to Specify ChatGPT Formatting
Specifying formats is incredibly simple. All it takes is including a request like:
- “…formatted in
<format_type>” - “Present your response/Provide your answer in
<format_type>“ - “Format your response in
<format_type>“
or anything to the same effect in your prompt. Here are a few example prompts:
List the top benefits of AI, formatted in bullet points.
Compare the physical characteristics of wild cats like lions, tigers, and cheetahs. Organize the data in a table.
Enclose your response in HTML table tags.
Types of Output Formats ChatGPT Supports
1. Bullet points
Purpose: To present key information or ideas in a concise and easy-to-read list. Useful for summaries, overviews, or highlighting important points.
Example Prompt:
List the benefits of adopting a cat, formatted as bullet points.
Example Output:
2. Numbered lists, step-by-step instructions
Purpose: To present information in a step-by-step or ranked order. Ideal for instructions, processes, or prioritizing items.
Example Prompt:
Write out the steps to adopt a cat from a shelter, presented as a numbered sequence.
Example Output:
3. Tables
Purpose: To organize information into rows and columns for easy comparison or structured presentation. Ideal for data analysis, comparisons, or summarizing multiple attributes.
Example Prompt:
Compare three popular programming languages, organized in a table.
Example Output:
4. Q&A Format
Purpose: To structure information as a question-and-answer exchange. Ideal for FAQs, interviews, or clarifying specific queries.
Example Prompt:
Explain common questions about renewable energy, formatted as a Q&A.
Example Output:
5. Code Blocks
Purpose: Best suited for showcasing programming examples, troubleshooting, or sharing reusable snippets in a structured format.
Example Prompt:
Provide a Python function to calculate the area of a circle, written in a code blocks.
Example Output:
6. Outlines
Purpose: Used for structuring ideas, organizing content, or planning projects in a clear and hierarchical format.
Example Prompt:
Provide the outline of a blog post about the benefits of renewable energy.
Example Output:
7. Dialogues or scripts
Purpose: Simulate conversations, role-playing, or drafting scripts for storytelling or educational purposes.
Example Prompt:
Write a dialogue between a teacher and a student discussing the importance of recycling.
Example Output:
8. JSON or structured data
Purpose: Best suited for tasks involving data storage, APIs, or applications requiring machine-readable formats.
Example Prompt:
Provide a JSON object with details about three planets, including their name, size, and distance from the sun.
Example Output:
9. CSV format
Purpose: Used to organizing tabular data in a compact, plain-text format (the “CSV format”) that’s easy to import into spreadsheets or databases.
Example Prompt:
Provide details about three cat breeds, including breed name, size, and average lifespan, in CSV format.
Example Output:
10. Flowcharts (described textually)
Purpose: This format helps to illustrate processes, workflows, or decision-making paths when visual diagrams aren’t feasible.
Example Prompt:
Describe the process of deciding whether to take an umbrella, as a text-based flowchart.
Example Output:
11. Comparisons (side-by-side or sequential)
Purpose: Perfect for contrasting two or more items in a clear and structured way, either side-by-side or step-by-step.
Example Prompt:
Compare electric cars and gasoline cars, presented side-by-side.
Example Output:
12. Quiz or trivia format
Purpose: Best suited for creating interactive learning experiences or entertaining challenges, such as quizzes, trivia games, or knowledge checks.
Example Prompt:
Create a short quiz about space exploration in a trivia format.
Example Output:
13. Formatted documentation (Markdown format)
Purpose: Well-suited for creating structured, easy-to-read documents using markdown syntax. Ideal for technical documentation, notes, or web content.
Example Prompt:
Write a quick start guide for a to-do list app, using markdown format.
Example Output:
14. Problem and solution structure
Purpose: Highly effective for identifying an issue and presenting a clear, actionable resolution. Ideal for troubleshooting guides, technical support, or case studies.
Example Prompt:
Explain how to fix a computer that won’t turn on, using a problem and solution structure.
Example Output:
15. Quotes or Excerpts
Purpose: This format highlights key statements, famous quotes, or selected passages from texts. Great for emphasizing important points or showcasing inspirational content.
Example Prompt:
Provide a famous quote about perseverance, formatted as a block quote.
Example Output:
16. Bold, italic, emphasized text
Purpose: Draws attention to specific parts of text, such as keywords, important phrases, or contrasting elements, using bold or italic styling.
Example Prompt:
Explain the importance of time management, emphasizing key terms in bold and italic text.
Example Output:
17. Checklists
Purpose: Well-suited for organizing tasks or steps that require completion. Ideal for to-do lists, event planning, or procedural checklists.
Example Prompt:
Create a checklist for preparing a cat for a vet visit. Include checkboxes [ ] next to each item for ticking off tasks.Example Output:
18. Decision trees (text-based descriptions)
Purpose: Useful for breaking down decisions and outcomes in a logical sequence, especially when visual diagrams are not an option.
Example Prompt:
Describe a decision tree for choosing a mode of transportation to work, in a text-based format.
Example Output:
19. ASCII Bar Charts
Purpose: Create simple, text-based visualizations of data directly in plain text environments. Ideal for quick comparisons when graphical tools aren’t available.
Example Prompt:
Create an ASCII bar chart comparing hours of exercise: Alice (3), Bob (6), and Charlie (4).
Example Output:
20. Timelines
Purpose: Great for presenting chronological events or milestones in a clear, sequential order. Useful for history, project planning, or life events.
Example Prompt:
Create a timeline of significant events in the Apollo space program.
Example Output:
21. HTML, web page
Purpose: Designed for creating web-ready content with proper structure and formatting. Perfect for building web pages, styling text, or embedding data in HTML documents.
Example Prompt:
Create an HTML snippet for a webpage about cats, including a title, a paragraph, and a list of cat breeds.
Example Output:
22. CSS
Purpose: Outputs CSS code to style web pages or specific HTML elements.
Example Prompt:
Write a simple CSS snippet to style a heading.
Example Output:
23. Action plans or roadmaps
Purpose: Outputs a step-by-step strategy or timeline to achieve a goal. Useful for project planning, goal setting, or outlining long-term strategies.
Example Prompt:
Create a simple roadmap for learning Python in three months.
Example Output:
24. Annotated examples
Purpose: Outputs examples, and on top of that, add explanations or comments to clarify the purpose or functionality of each part of the example.
Example Prompt:
Write an annotated C example for calculating the area of a rectangle.
Example Output:
25. Mathematical equations or formulas
Purpose: Outputs equations or formulas in a clean and readable format, useful for solving problems, teaching concepts, or demonstrating calculations.
Example Prompt:
Write the formula for the area of a circle and explain its components.
Example Output:
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