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Prompt engineering is both an art and a science. While there are proven best practices for structuring effective prompts, there is also room for creativity. One key place prompt designers can flex their creative muscles is with prompt suffixes.
As a closing reinforcement and refinement, well-crafted prompt suffixes provide huge opportunities to steer AI outputs. In this post, I’ll explore creative tactics for prompt suffixing that elevate your AI interactions.
First, a quick recap on why prompt suffixes matter:
The suffix comes at the end of a prompt, after the main question or instructions. Key suffix functions include:
Without a suffix, prompts lack closure and leave response requirements ambiguous. But an artfully designed suffix ties everything together into a complete package primed for an optimized AI reply.
Most prompt suffixes follow a simple structural framework:
Reiteration – Repeat core desired attributes or tone
Refinement – Provide additional nuanced guidelines or guardrails
Reinforcement – End with final virtuous activation as needed
For example:
Please respond in a friendly, conversational tone focusing only on factual information from reputable sources. As an AI assistant created by Anthropic to be helpful, harmless, and honest…
This suffix reiterates the desired tone, refines the response scope, and reinforces Anthropic’s AI virtues.
Within this basic framework, there is ample room for creativity in crafting highly effective, customized prompt suffixes. Here are some creative tactics to try:
Constrain the response with an imaginative limitation:
Respond as if you only had 10 words left to communicate the key takeaway.
End with an open-ended hook prompting further thinking:
What are the potential counterarguments to this viewpoint?
Inject emotion like inspiration, urgency, or caution:
Please provide guidance with wisdom and care.
Ground the response in conceptual metaphor:
Explain this concept as if enlightening a child.
Borrow styles from poetry, lyrics, and storytelling:
Summarize in eloquent, lyrical verse.
Make an unexpected lateral link to provoke new connections:
Now relate these findings to impressionist painting.
Adopt a fictional persona and scenario:
Respond as an astronaut describing the view of Earth from space.
Here are some examples of creative suffixes in action:
Summarize the key concepts in three concise bullet points as if briefing a student before a test.
This suffix frames the response like a study guide.
In one sentence, provide an intriguing headline or lead capturing the essence.
This prompts a journalistic headline.
Describe a utopian future this technology could enable if responsibly applied for good.
This suffix elicits an inspired vision statement.
Explain how this discovery would have impacted society in the Middle Ages.
This adds a creative time travel constraint.
In vivid, flowing verse, characterize the meaning of this breakthrough.
This suffix requests poetic treatment.
When getting creative with prompt suffixes, keep these best practices in mind:
Creativity should enhance, not override, core prompt objectives.
It’s also important to avoid some common over-creative suffix pitfalls like:
Keep creativity clarifying rather than obscuring.
Mastering the art of prompt suffixing involves striking the right balance between structure and creativity. Template formulas provide a solid suffix foundation. Adding artful creative twists and constraints elevates responses to the next level.
But restraint is needed to retain clear user alignment and avoid AI confusion. Test creative suffixes iteratively and only keep those that improve on basic templates.
Prompt suffix innovation helps keep our AI interactions engaging, vibrant and tailored. With practice, you’ll develop expertise in distinguishing creative suffixes that work from those that go too far. Look for creative additions that act as a seasoning, elevating prompt flavors without overwhelming.
I hope these tips encourage you to bring more artistry and imagination to your prompt suffix designs. Please reach out if you need any consulting help implementing creative prompting strategies. Keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible!
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