Begin with the outcome
Before writing a prompt, finish this sentence: “I will know this worked when…” A concrete answer might be “I have a table of tasks with missing owners clearly marked.” That is easier to evaluate than “my notes look better.”
Add the information that matters
Include the relevant source material, audience, and purpose. If you are drafting an update, explain who will read it and what they need to decide. Do not paste information you do not have permission to share.
Make uncertainty visible
Tell the tool how to handle missing information. Ask it to mark unknown dates rather than invent them, and to separate source facts from suggestions.
Draft a short client update from these approved notes. Use a calm, professional tone. Do not invent progress or dates. Put missing information in an “Open questions” section. Do not send the message.
Review against your goal
Specific instructions help make the output easier to inspect. They do not guarantee accuracy. Check the result against your original material, fix omissions, and revise the instructions if the format does not support your next step.