OpenAI releases new Prompting guide calling on users to start directly from the results

OpenAI recently released a Prompt Word Guide designed for general users, emphasizing that when writing prompts, you should start directly from the target results, rather than describing the process step by step. This guide comes on the heels of OpenAI launching ChatGPT Work. A stand-alone product based on Codex technology and the new GPT-5.6 model, Work can take hours to work on complex projects, work across applications and files, and produce finished Excel or Word documents. Four building blocks at your disposal The guide builds prompts around four selection elements: goal, context, output format, and constraints. OpenAI means that none of the items are required, short prompts are often sufficient, and all four items need to be filled only when working on larger tasks. The point is to state the desired outcome first, rather than listing the steps. "Describe processes only when the process itself is important," the document states. "Otherwise, let ChatGPT search, compare information, and adapt methods on its own." Specifying a target audience or format can shape the output more effectively than detailed instructions. Constraints over step-by-step instructions OpenAI recommends using one or two hard rules to prevent undesired behavior rather than writing instructions for each step. For example: "Keep the approved dates and budget numbers unchanged" or "Prepare the message as a draft and do not send it." The same principle applies to providing context: only attach sources that will actually change the answer. The guide lists options for spreadsheets, PDFs, images, web searches, and shared project files, as well as plug-ins for Google Drive, Gmail, Slack, and GitHub. For high-risk tasks, OpenAI recommends asking ChatGPT to verify the output itself, such as checking that each action has a responsible person and a due date. Chat and Work have a clear division of labor. The guide divides tasks into two categories: Chat handles quick questions and rewrites, and Work handles tasks that require citing multiple sources, making revisions, or producing larger deliverables such as reports. Work consumes more quota, but can save time or support heavy