Stop Saying "Make This Better" to ChatGPT — Here's What to Say Instead
"Make this better."
It's one of the most common prompts people use with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. The problem is simple: AI doesn't know what "better" means unless you tell it.
A small change in your prompt can turn a generic response into a clear, useful, and personalized one.
Why "Make This Better" Doesn't Work
The word better is too vague. AI has to guess what you want, and that often leads to inconsistent results.
Instead of asking AI to guess, tell it exactly what success looks like.
Vague Prompt
Make this better.
Better Prompt
Rewrite this to sound professional, concise, and confident. Keep the original meaning and keep it under 100 words.
That's prompt engineering in action.
What "Better" Can Actually Mean
"Better" usually means one of these six things:
If you mean...
Tell AI this instead...
Shorter
Rewrite this in under 50 words while keeping the meaning.
Professional
Rewrite this in a professional and confident tone.
Persuasive
Rewrite this to convince startup founders to take action.
Simpler
Explain this in simple English with one example.
Engaging
Rewrite this with a strong hook and a CTA.
Friendly
Rewrite this in a warm, conversational tone.
Real-World Prompt Examples
Resume
Before: Make this better.
After: Rewrite this as an ATS-friendly resume achievement with measurable impact.
LinkedIn Post
Before: Improve this post.
After: Rewrite this in a founder tone, make it educational, and end with a discussion question.
Coding
Before: Fix this code.
After: Optimize this Java code for readability and performance, and explain every improvement step by step.
Instagram Caption
Before: Write a caption.
After: Write an engaging Instagram caption for students. Start with a hook and end with “Save this post.”
The 5-Part Prompt Formula
Whenever you're writing a prompt, include these five things:
Task: What should AI do?
Tone: Professional, friendly, persuasive, etc.
Audience: Who is this for?
Constraints: Word count, format, or style.
Keep: What should remain unchanged?
Example Prompt
Rewrite this professionally for startup founders. Keep the original meaning, make it under 80 words, and format it as bullet points.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Saying "Make this better" without context.
Not mentioning the target audience.
Forgetting tone or word limits.
Not specifying the output format.
The more specific your instructions are, the better AI performs.
Final Takeaway
Prompt engineering isn't about writing longer prompts—it's about writing clearer prompts.
The next time you're about to type "Make this better," replace it with a specific instruction like make it professional, shorter, engaging, or beginner-friendly.
Remember: Specific instructions create better AI outputs every time.