Common prompting mistakes to avoid in AI for Everyone - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the sentence to avoid a common prompting mistake: Always be {{BLANK_1}} when giving instructions to an AI.

AI for Everyone

Always be [1] when giving instructions to an AI.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aconfusing

Bvague

Csilent

Dclear

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using vague or unclear instructions

Assuming the AI knows unstated details

Being clear helps the AI understand exactly what you want, avoiding mistakes.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the sentence to avoid a common prompting mistake: Avoid asking {{BLANK_1}} questions that are too broad or unclear.

AI for Everyone

Avoid asking [1] questions that are too broad or unclear.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aspecific

Bclosed

Copen-ended

Dsimple

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Asking very broad questions without context

Not specifying what kind of answer is expected

Open-ended questions can be too broad, making it hard for the AI to give a focused answer.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in this prompting advice: "Don't {{BLANK_1}} too many instructions in one prompt."

AI for Everyone

Don't [1] too many instructions in one prompt.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Acombine

Bignore

Crepeat

Dsimplify

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Giving multiple unrelated tasks in one prompt

Expecting the AI to handle complex instructions without clarity

Combining too many instructions can confuse the AI, so keep prompts focused.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to complete the advice: Use {{BLANK_1}} language and {{BLANK_2}} examples to help the AI understand your request.

AI for Everyone

Use [1] language and [2] examples to help the AI understand your request.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Asimple

Bcomplex

Cclear

Dvague

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using jargon or complicated words

Not giving examples to clarify the request

Simple and clear language with examples helps the AI respond accurately.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to complete the best prompting practice: Always {{BLANK_1}} your prompt, {{BLANK_2}} the context, and {{BLANK_3}} what kind of answer you want.

AI for Everyone

Always [1] your prompt, [2] the context, and [3] what kind of answer you want.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Areview

Bprovide

Cspecify

Dignore

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Sending prompts without checking

Not giving enough background information

Not telling the AI what kind of answer you want

Reviewing your prompt, providing context, and specifying the answer type helps the AI give the best response.

Practice

1. Which of the following is a common mistake when writing prompts for AI?

easy

A. Checking the AI's responses carefully

B. Providing clear context and examples

C. Being specific about what you want

D. Using vague or unclear questions

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what makes a good prompt

   Good prompts are clear and specific, helping AI understand the request.

2. Step 2: Identify common mistakes

   Vague or unclear questions confuse the AI and lead to poor answers.

3. Final Answer:

   Using vague or unclear questions -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Vague prompts cause poor AI answers [OK]

Hint: Avoid vague questions; be clear and specific [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Writing broad or unclear prompts
• Not giving enough context
• Assuming AI knows your intent

2. Which prompt is correctly structured to avoid common mistakes?

easy

A. What do you think?

B. Tell me about stuff.

C. Explain the causes of climate change with examples.

D. Give me info.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze each prompt's clarity

   The prompts "Tell me about stuff.", "What do you think?", and "Give me info." are vague or too broad without specifics.

2. Step 2: Identify the clear and specific prompt

   Explain the causes of climate change with examples. asks for causes and examples, guiding the AI well.

3. Final Answer:

   Explain the causes of climate change with examples. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Specific prompts guide AI better [OK]

Hint: Look for prompts with clear requests and examples [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using vague words like 'stuff' or 'info'
• Asking open-ended questions without focus
• Not specifying what kind of answer is wanted

3. Consider this prompt: "List the benefits of exercise." What is a likely problem with this prompt?

medium

A. It is too long and complicated

B. It is too vague and lacks context

C. It uses technical jargon

D. It asks for an opinion

Solution

1. Step 1: Evaluate the prompt's clarity

   The prompt is short and simple but does not specify details or context.

2. Step 2: Identify the issue

   Without context, AI might give a generic or incomplete list.

3. Final Answer:

   It is too vague and lacks context -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Vague prompts cause unclear AI answers [OK]

Hint: Check if prompt gives enough detail or context [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not specifying what kind of benefits to list
• Assuming AI knows the user's intent
• Using very short prompts without guidance

4. You wrote this prompt: "Explain AI." The AI gives a very short and unclear answer. What is the best way to fix this?

medium

A. Add more details and specify what aspect of AI to explain

B. Make the prompt shorter

C. Use slang and informal words

D. Repeat the same prompt multiple times

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify why the answer is unclear

   The prompt is too broad, so AI doesn't know what to focus on.

2. Step 2: Improve the prompt

   Adding details or specifying topics helps AI give a better answer.

3. Final Answer:

   Add more details and specify what aspect of AI to explain -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Specific prompts get clearer AI answers [OK]

Hint: Add details to broad prompts for better answers [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using too short or broad prompts
• Repeating prompts expecting different answers
• Using unclear or informal language

5. You want the AI to generate a list of healthy dinner ideas but your prompt is: "Dinner ideas?" How can you improve this prompt to avoid common mistakes and get better results?

hard

A. Ask: 'Can you list 5 healthy dinner ideas with ingredients and cooking time?'

B. Just say: 'Food?'

C. Write: 'Tell me everything about dinner.'

D. Use: 'Dinner ideas' without question mark

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the problem with the original prompt

   "Dinner ideas?" is too short and vague, lacking details or guidance.

2. Step 2: Choose a prompt that is clear and specific

   Ask: 'Can you list 5 healthy dinner ideas with ingredients and cooking time?' asks for a specific number of ideas, includes 'healthy', and requests ingredients and cooking time, guiding the AI well.

3. Final Answer:

   Ask: 'Can you list 5 healthy dinner ideas with ingredients and cooking time?' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Specific, detailed prompts get better AI answers [OK]

Hint: Be specific and detailed in your prompt requests [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using very short or vague prompts
• Not specifying quantity or details
• Assuming AI guesses your needs