Common Prompt Writing Mistakes (and How to Fix Them in PromptPlan)

Mistake 1: Vague objectives

Bad: "Analyze this"

Fix: specify desired outcome and decision context.

Mistake 2: Mixed instructions and context

When instruction and source text are mixed, outputs drift.

Fix: keep instruction in prompt body, move dynamic content into fields.

Mistake 3: No output format

Unstructured output is harder to review and reuse.

Fix: require numbered sections or a known schema.

Mistake 4: One prompt for everything

Overloaded prompts produce inconsistent quality.

Fix: split workflows into specialized templates.

Tip

Use PromptPlan run history to diagnose mistakes with real examples, not assumptions.