Why Prompts Matter
The quality of your results depends heavily on how you communicate with Claude. Better prompts = better outputs.
The CORE Framework
Use this framework for consistent results:
- Context: Provide background information
- Objective: State what you want accomplished
- Requirements: Specify constraints and preferences
- Example: Show what good output looks like
Example Application
Bad prompt:
Make a budget spreadsheet
Good prompt using CORE:
Context: I track monthly personal expenses across 5 categories.
Objective: Create a budget tracking spreadsheet for 2026.
Requirements:
- Categories: Housing, Food, Transport, Entertainment, Other
- Include columns for budgeted vs actual amounts
- Add formulas for totals and remaining budget
- Use conditional formatting for overspending
- Make it print-ready on standard paper
Example: Similar to a typical budget tracker with monthly tabs.
Advanced Techniques
Chain of Thought
Ask Claude to explain its plan before executing:
Before starting, outline your approach for organizing these files.
Iterative Refinement
Start simple, then add requirements:
Good start. Now also add a chart showing monthly trends.
Error Prevention
Specify what NOT to do:
Do NOT delete any original files. Only create copies.