Prompt tip: define the exact output format first to kill 90% of 'that's not what I meant' moments
JafarNajafov · x · 2026-10-13
Part 8 of Jafar Najafov's prompt-context series covers "output format context": LLMs are pattern-completion machines, so showing the exact output structure eliminates most misinterpretation.
His template has three parts:
- OUTPUT FORMAT: list each section name with a description of its contents
- EXAMPLE OUTPUT: one complete example so the model sees the pattern
- NOW GENERATE FOR: append your specific input
Core claim: professional AI engineers always define the output shape before asking for the task.
Related event: Jafar Najafov's Eight Techniques of Context Engineering(9 posts)→
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