10 ChatGPT Prompt Mistakes Everyone Makes (and How to Fix Them)
- Brooke Silva
- Sep 8
- 3 min read
When people first start using ChatGPT prompts (or any AI assistant), they often feel let down. The answers are too generic, too long, or just not in their voice.
The good news? It’s not the AI’s fault. It’s the prompt.
Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT work by predicting the most likely next word based on the input you give it. If your input is vague, rushed, or missing detail, the output will feel the same.
The trick is learning how to write better AI prompts so the model can give you personalized, useful results.
Here are 10 common ChatGPT prompt mistakes — and how to fix them.
1. Being Too Vague
❌ “Write me a social media post.”
✅ “Write a funny Instagram caption about Labor Day BBQ, under 150 words, with 5 hashtags.”
Why it happens: LLMs are pattern matchers. If you don’t give details, it pulls the most generic patterns it knows.
Fix: Add parameters — audience, tone, word count, format, or platform.
2. Forgetting Context
❌ “Make me a flyer.”
✅ “Make me a flyer for a free Canva basics class. It’s for real estate agents, it’s on Zoom, and I want it to feel beginner-friendly and fun.”
Why it happens: The model doesn’t know your situation.
Fix: Tell ChatGPT the who, what, where, when, and why before asking for output.
3. Not Assigning a Role
❌ “Help me write an email.”
✅ “Act like a marketing copywriter. Draft a warm but professional invite to my Canva drop-in session.”
Why it happens: AI defaults to “neutral Wikipedia mode.”
Fix: Assign ChatGPT a role — copywriter, teacher, negotiator, coach. This is classic prompt engineering.
4. Asking for Too Much at Once
❌ “Write me a blog, 10 social posts, and an email campaign.”
✅ “Start with a blog outline. Then we’ll move to social posts.”
Why it happens: Models are great at short reasoning steps but struggle when overloaded.
Fix: Break big projects into small steps.
5. Skipping Examples
❌ “Write me a funny caption.”
✅ “Here’s an example of my humor: [insert pun]. Write a caption about iced coffee in that style.”
Why it happens: The model has seen millions of examples of “funny.” Without guidance, it guesses.
Fix:: Provide sample text — that’s how AI learns your style.
6. Ignoring Audience
❌ “Make a post about mortgages.”
✅ “Write a post about mortgages for first-time homebuyers in their 20s who want approachable, non-jargony advice.”
Why it happens: Without an audience, the model defaults to “generic internet.”
Fix: Define exactly who you’re talking to and what they care about.
7. Not Setting Boundaries
❌ “Tell me everything about Canva.”
✅ “Give me 5 Canva tips for beginners, explained in less than 2 sentences each.”
Why it happens: Without limits, ChatGPT gives you the firehose.
Fix: Use constraints like word count, number of items, or grade level.
8. Forgetting Format
❌ “Write me an outline.”
✅ “Write me an outline in bullet points with headers and sub-points.”
Why it happens: ChatGPT defaults to prose unless told otherwise.
Fix: Ask for lists, tables, or scripts to get scannable content.
9. Never Reviewing or Iterating
❌ Taking the first draft and posting it.
✅ Asking: “Make this punchier,” “Add emojis,” or “Simplify to a 5th-grade level.”
Why it happens: People treat AI like a vending machine instead of a writing partner.
Fix: Always iterate — prompt, review, refine.
10. Not Telling It About You
❌ Using generic prompts and wondering why it doesn’t sound like you.
✅ “I’m quirky, love puns, and use hashtags like #BrooketheNerd. Rewrite this caption in my style.”
Why it happens: ChatGPT doesn’t know your tone or brand voice automatically.
Fix: Train it. Share your hashtags, humor, and even sample posts.
Next Steps: Learn How to Write Better AI Prompts
If you’re ready to go beyond the basics and actually master AI for your business, grab these free resources:
– Learn how to set up your digital presence with SEO/GEO best practices so AI (and clients) can actually find you.
– My framework for prompt writing that produces clear, consistent, and on-brand results every time.
– A starter kit of prompts you can copy, paste, and customize today.
✨ Bottom line: ChatGPT isn’t magic — it’s a mirror. The better your input, the better the reflection you get back. Keep giving feedback, ask your GPT for help! Yes, you can do that! And keep staying curious. AI is here to stay, let's stay relevant with it.
Stay Nerdy! Brooke
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