Plain-Words Prompt Library

Make a message more polite

Rewrite the message below to be more polite, without weakening my position. Keep it about the same length:

[paste your message]

TipToo soft? Reply "more direct." Two rounds usually lands it.

Chase a payment without burning the bridge

Write a payment reminder to [name]. Amount: [amount], overdue by [time]. Polite but firm, with a clear reply-by date. No threatening language.

An apology that sounds human

Write an apology to [person]. What happened: [one sentence]. Sincere, with a concrete fix I'll make. No excuses, no groveling.

Explain this like I have no background

Explain what the text below is saying, in plain words, to someone with zero background. End with one sentence on what it's actually asking me to do (if anything):

[paste the confusing text]

Turn meeting notes into an action list

Below are meeting notes or a transcript. Give me: 1) a three-sentence summary, 2) what was decided, 3) who does what by when (as a list), 4) open items to chase next time:

[paste notes]

Read a long report in ten minutes

I have ten minutes. Read the report below: give me the three most important takeaways, then the parts most relevant to a [your role, e.g., sales manager], and flag any numbers that look off:

[paste report]

Reply to a tricky email

Help me reply to the email below. My position: [one sentence, e.g., decline but keep the relationship]. Give me two versions, one soft and one direct, and I'll choose:

[paste the email]

Mock interview, one question at a time

I'm interviewing for [role] at [company/industry]. Act as the interviewer: ask me the 5 most likely questions, one at a time. After each answer, give me specific feedback before the next.

Translate and explain, not just convert

Translate the text below into natural English. If there are idioms, cultural references, or formalities, add two or three sentences after on what they really convey:

[paste text]

Draft a reply in another language, with a gloss

Write a reply in [language] to the message below, tone [formal/casual]. Include an English line-by-line gloss so I know what each sentence says:

[paste their message] + [what I want to say]

Ten minutes of speaking practice

Practice [language] speaking with me. Set an everyday scene (ordering, directions, small talk), one line each. Correct me in the flow without stopping the conversation, then summarize my three most common mistakes at the end.

My kid asked something I can't answer

My child is [age] and asked: "[the question]". Help me answer at their level in two or three sentences, then suggest one small experiment or observation we can do together.

Check homework without handing over answers

Here's my child's ([grade]) homework and their answers. Don't give the solutions: tell me which are right, which have problems, and give me guiding questions to help them figure it out themselves:

[paste work]

Weekend plans with a kid

Suggest three weekend outings near [area] for a [age]-year-old: one indoor backup, one free, one to burn energy. Note what to watch for (weather, booking, transport).

Quiz me, don't lecture me

I'm studying for [exam/topic]. Quiz me with 10 questions from [scope], one at a time. Only reveal the answer and explanation after I respond. At the end, tell me my weakest concept and what to review first.

Feynman-check my understanding

I'll explain [concept] to you; play someone who knows nothing. After I finish, point out where I was unclear, skipped steps, or got it wrong:

[your explanation]

Turn a long article into my notes

Turn the article below into notes: the core claim in one sentence, three to five supporting points, each technical term in one plain sentence, plus one question the author didn't answer that I should chase:

[paste article]

I'll try it first, AI only points out where I'm wrong

I already worked through this myself. My answer: [paste your answer or approach]. I'm trying to build this skill, not get you to redo it. Just point out where I went wrong or skipped a logical step. Don't give me the correct answer directly, I'll fix it myself and ask you to check.

Cook from what's in the fridge

My fridge has: [list ingredients]. Give me two dishes ready in 30 minutes, steps written for a kitchen beginner, with substitutions for any seasoning I might not have.

Plan a trip that isn't a race

Plan [days] days in [place] traveling with [who, e.g., parents / kids]. Relaxed pace, at most two anchor activities per day, with rain backups and rough transport notes.

What should I watch in this contract?

Read the contract or terms below and list in plain words: the three points least favorable to me, any auto-renewal or penalty clauses, and the questions to ask before signing. Then remind me to verify important decisions with a real professional:

[paste terms]

TipFor money and legal matters, AI is a starting point, never the final word.

Structure a decision before I make it

I'm deciding whether to [your decision]. First ask me three background questions you need. Then list three points for and three against. Don't choose for me; instead tell me the single variable this decision most depends on.

Let me try first, then you critique

I need to handle [a task, e.g., write an email, debug some code, plan something]. Let me write a first draft and paste it here. Don't rewrite it, just point out what's wrong, why, and what I might be missing. I'll decide whether to revise it myself:

[paste your draft]

TipThink it through yourself first, then let AI catch what you missed. That's how the judgment stays with you.

Decide what to trade your saved time for

I recently used AI to cut the time [a task, e.g., writing a weekly report, planning a trip, doing research] takes from [original time] down to [new time]. Help me think through three options: use the extra time to rest, use it for [something I've wanted to do but never had time for], or use it to take on one more task that used to take longer. List the upsides and tradeoffs of each, but don't decide for me.

TipAI can save you time. What you trade it for is something only you can decide.