Work
The section order
The order is not cosmetic. A model reads a prompt as a whole and weights the opening heavily, so the role goes first because it frames everything after it, and the closing instruction goes last because it is the final thing before generation starts.
The Formula
role, then task and context, then tone and format, then constraints, then the final-answer instruction
The order is not cosmetic. A model reads a prompt as a whole and weights the opening heavily, so the role goes first because it frames everything after it, and the closing instruction goes last because it is the final thing before generation starts.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| r | Role | text | The opening line naming who the model should be. |
| t | Task | text | The labelled line stating what to do. |
| c | Context | text | The labelled line giving the situation. |
| f | Tone and format | text | The two labelled lines setting register and shape. |
| k | Constraints | text | The bulleted list of guards. |
| a | Closing instruction | text | The step-by-step and final-answer request. |
What Each Symbol Means
rtext
Role
The opening line naming who the model should be.
ttext
Task
The labelled line stating what to do.
ctext
Context
The labelled line giving the situation.
ftext
Tone and format
The two labelled lines setting register and shape.
ktext
Constraints
The bulleted list of guards.
atext
Closing instruction
The step-by-step and final-answer request.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to write chatgpt prompts page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Write ChatGPT Prompts, filed under Everyday Life. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.