4.1 Write Prompts Claude Always Follows
Write Prompts Claude Always Follows
Clear instructions produce predictable results
Clear instructions produce predictable results. Every time. The quality of your Skill depends entirely on how well you communicate the task to Claude.
The Description Field
The description in your YAML frontmatter is your Skill's elevator pitch. Claude reads it first to decide whether to activate the Skill. Make it clear and specific. Include trigger words and common phrases users might say.
Be Specific
Instead of 'processes data', write 'Parse CSV files, calculate summary statistics, and generate a formatted Markdown report with charts.'
Include Triggers
List the exact phrases users might type: 'create report', 'weekly summary', 'status update'.
State Capabilities
Tell Claude what it can do: 'supports filtering by date range, department, and project.'
Instruction Quality Principles
Clarity Over Cleverness
Write instructions a smart human assistant could follow without asking questions. If it confuses you, it will confuse Claude.
Action-Oriented Language
Use imperative verbs: 'Parse the file', 'Generate the report', 'Validate the output'. Not 'the file should be parsed'.
Explicit Format
Define exactly what the output should look like: headings, structure, length, style.
The Clarity Test
Read your instructions aloud. If a smart colleague could follow them without asking clarifying questions, they are clear enough for Claude.
Core Principle
The quality of your Skill is directly proportional to the quality of your instructions. Invest time in clear, specific, actionable prompts.
Proč jasné instrukce produkují předvídatelné výsledky.
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