The goal is stated plainly
Could a stranger read your prompt and know exactly what you want, without guessing? If not, say it more directly.
You named who it’s for
A beginner and an expert need different answers to the same question. If you didn’t say, the model is guessing.
You said what shape the answer should take
Length, structure, tone. A list, a few sentences, a table. Leave this out and you get whatever the model defaults to.
You set any limits
"No jargon," "keep it under 100 words," "don’t recommend a paid tool." Limits stop the model from wandering.
You gave an example, if the task is unusual
For anything with a specific style or structure, one example does more than a paragraph of instructions.
It’s one task, not three stacked together
A prompt asking for three different things at once usually does all three worse than asking separately would.
You cut the filler
"I was wondering if you could maybe help me with..." adds nothing. Say what you want directly.
Nothing contradicts itself
Asking for "a detailed explanation" and "keep it very short" in the same prompt confuses the model. Pick one.
You read it back cold
Read your prompt as if you knew nothing else about the situation. Anywhere you’d have to guess is a gap worth closing.
You don't need all nine every time
Nobody runs through a nine-point list for a quick question. This is for the prompts that are worth thirty extra seconds: something you'll reuse, something going to a client, or a request you've already asked twice without getting what you wanted.
For everyday use, just keep the list in the back of your mind. Most people find the same one or two items keep tripping them up, usually the audience or the format. Once you notice your own pattern, you stop needing the full list at all.