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Free Online Writing Tools

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The whole purpose of writing tools is to make monotonous, tedious, and routine tasks obsolete.

Why do the same thing over and over again when you can easily automate the whole process, giving you tons of free time, less stress, and notably better results? After all, it’s not like you’re learning anything new by doing the same time-consuming tasks!

Writing tools allow students to spend their time focusing on things that really matter.

Hours Upon Hours of Saved Time

Have you ever thought to yourself that you could’ve done so much more if it weren’t for a certain writing assignment and all the many subtasks required to complete it?

With the help of writing tools, these thoughts will be gone forever. You’ll be able to:

• Spend more time on your hobby or other things you love
• Learn something new and broaden your knowledge base
• Be more involved in your family’s life
• Stay longer with friends
• Find a part-time job

And that’s just to name a few things! The actual possibilities are endless.

Significantly Less Stress

Writing assignments tend to pile up, along with many other tasks. And unfortunately there’s no way to add more hours to the day to complete everything on time.

An approaching deadline brings nothing but stress, resulting in even lower productivity, which can make your mental state even worse. Not to mention the feeling of failure after receiving a bad grade.

With the help of writing tools, this nightmare is easy to avoid. You’ll be able to deal with all your routines more effectively and even meet multiple deadlines at once.

Improved Academic Performance

Needless to say, no matter how much time you’ve devoted to completing your writing assignment, if it contains mistakes — you won’t receive the grade you were hoping for.

With writing tools, mistakes are simply impossible. You’re completely covered: you can check your grammar, see if there’s any plagiarism in your text, create a summary, generate a topic and thesis statement, and so much more.

Long story short—these writing tools are here to make your academic life easier and your studying smarter. It’s worthwhile to try them at least once. After seeing the results, you’ll surely come back for more!

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IvyPanda® is a student success hub designed to improve the educational outcomes and learning capabilities of students around the world by connecting them with academic experts and by providing highly-efficient self-study services and online tools.

Here, students can find fresh ideas and inspiration, ask questions to experienced tutors, study detailed how-to guides, and much more. IvyPanda strives to change the perception of studying - it should be smarter, not harder.

First-Aid Essay Writing Tools Kit

Use our free essay maker to generate your paper in an instance.

Time management tool to help you break down your assignments into steps.

Convert the amount of words to a number of pages of your essay.

Generate a catchy title for your essay in a matter of seconds.

Accurate conclusion generator to create a summarizing paper ending.

Create your argumentative or compare and contrast thesis statement.

Generate your cover page in any format: APA, MLA, Chicago etc.

Get all your sources and references sorted in alphabetical order with ease.

Calculate your grade and final score in an instant.

Convert text case into Upper Case, Lower Case, Title Case or Sentence Case.

Check your grammar, punctuation, and spelling with one click of a button.

Scan your paper for plagiarism and get an accurate report.

Summarize your academic work in seconds.

Paraphrase any text to get a 100% unique essay.

Calculate the number of words and characters in your essay.

Improve your essay readability score based on smart suggestions our tool will offer.

Use our free essay typer to generate a plagiarism-free paper on any topic.

Grade your paper grammar, readability and uniqueness with our free essay rater.

Run a spell check and get rid of misspellings in one click.

How you’ll benefit from using StudyCrumb free tools?

Look no further if you want to check essay for plagiarism free! The tool will compare your essay with other online resources to generate an originality report. Simply paste your text and insert the title of your work and voilà – an essay plagiarism check is ready. You can use a report to correct the highlighted areas.

Are you about to submit your work? Check a paper for plagiarism to make sure it’s 100% authentic. The tool will show you the percentage of uniqueness, and all you need to do is ensure that it’s acceptable in your school. Change the highlighted phrases if needed and run an extra check again.

Check document for plagiarism as many times as you need. Remember: you can use our tool without restriction until you are finally satisfied with the report. And the fact that it’s absolutely free of charge makes your experience even more enjoyable. So why wait? Copy-paste your document and press that magic button!

Take the first step toward a smarter solution – calculate the price!

Get the most out of expert help and guidance by adding premium services.

There are lots of online tools that can improve your writing. You'll notice the difference as soon as they start relying on this writing software. StudyCrumb provides a full pack of free online essay creation tools for your comfortable & fast editing, idea generation, essay checking, and summarizing.

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Boost your academic performance with an A to Z set of tools to help you overcome all your academic hardships

Free essay writing tools

Word counter.

An intuitive and simple way to check the word and character counts of your essay to make sure you never fall short of any requirements.

Essay title generator

Our free tool generates random topic examples for an essay of any subject in just one click.

Words to pages converter

This tool converts words to pages in case your teacher gives you a 1500 word assignment, and you don’t know how many pages that is.

Thesis statement generator

An online tool that helps you generate accurate thesis statements for any topic and of any type, including argumentative or compare and contrast thesis statements.

Plagiarism checker

Our Plagiarism Checker identifies the percentage of plagiarism in a paper and highlights areas that should be paraphrased or cited correctly.

An essential essay writer tool that summarizes chunks of text by extracting essential concepts so that you can quickly write abstracts, briefs, and conclusions.

College GPA calculator

Studyfy's college GPA calculator helps lots of students calculate their grade point average for college or university.

Spell checker

A simple but essential tool to help you automatically check your text for accidental spelling errors.

Title page generator

Our title page generator creates a variety of differently formatted title pages so that you just have to choose the one you like.

Citation generator

Our tool automatically creates citations in APA, MLA, Chicago, and other styles, so you don't waste time entering titles, authors, and publications manually.

Paraphrasing tool

This essay tool helps rephrase your writing by finding synonyms for particular words so that you create 100% unique content.

Readability checker

A tool to test and improve the readability of your writing so that you maintain adequate flow and get the best grades.

Grade calculator

Easily calculate a weighted average grade for either letter & numerical grades for any type of higher education.

Alphabetizer

Use our online alphabetizer to sort content or list it in alphabetical order so that you can easily come up with well-structured lists.

Case converter

In case you have a CapsLock malfunction, our free tool converts uppercase to lowercase as well as does many other transformations.

Writing prompt generator

Do you need inspiration? Try our generator to get unique writing prompts to boost your creativity and find the perfect topic for your paper.

Words to minutes converter

The perfect tool to find the spoken length of your written speech so that you don't exceed the time allocated for your oral presentation.

Assignment calculator

A time management tool that breaks down your assignments into steps so you can plan your semester better.

Why Studyfy's essay tools are the best choice

Free unlimited usage.

All these tools for an essay or writing are free of charge! Develop your essays and research papers with our smart helpers and check your essay as many times as you want.

No time-consuming registrations

Don't waste time on long registrations! Start using our excellent writing tools right now to create highly successful papers.

Instant results

Our essay writing tools instantly give accurate results so that you waste as little time as possible. We truly do care about your time.

There's no need to surf the internet for specific editors and checkers. We've collected all the useful tools in one place for your convenience.

Free features

Frequently asked questions

What can studyfy offer you, how many papers can i check for free are there any limitations, is using studyfy's writing tools legal, why it is better to use studyfy writing tools for help.

26 Terrific Essay Tools for Fast and Simple Writing

Our parents wrote essays with a pen on a sheet of paper. Our grandparents used dip pens. Today we print our writing pieces on laptops and computers and submit them via emails or cloud storage services. The world of college studies has turned upside down since everyone has got a personal computer. Could we imagine some ten years ago that we would type our homework on the cellphone?

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

But many students are not aware of how easy their life could be with essay writing tools. This article by Custom-Writing.org experts explores the best essay helper tools and resources for all stages of preparing an essay. Take your time to study these apps and instruments, and save sleepless hours later!

• Thesis Generator
• Essay Topic Generator
• Compare to a Famous Writer
• 🔧 Other Essay Tools 

1. ✍️ Essay Writing Tools by Custom-Writing.org

1.1. online summary generator.

This tool analyzes the patterns of any text, from a short story to a Ph.D. thesis . You can also summarize your own works to get perfect thesis statements and abstracts. The following benefits will win your heart!

• This online summary generator does not just leave the most critical information. It provides you with a structured outline of your document.
• If you summarize a long text, it will be divided into meaningful parts.
• The summary contains a visible transition from general to specific information.
• All the unnecessary information is deleted, saving your reading time.

1.2. Thesis Statement Generator

A thesis statement is the most challenging part of any essay. It is hard to condense 500 words into a single sentence. If it is an academic or research paper for several thousand words, the task becomes even more daunting. Complete the following steps and receive a perfect thesis statement in a second.

• Enter the topic of your paper. Just as the statement, it bears the principal idea, but in a generalized form. The subject shall be concise and brief so as not to confuse the generator.
• Enter your key findings . If they are yet to be discovered, provide the idea you expect to reach in conclusion.
• Enter the counterargument . It is a statement that contradicts your main argument.

1.3. Essay Topic Generator

Sometimes instructors avoid giving an exact topic . They provide you with a subject matter or a problematic issue. An intriguing title is a part of such an assignment. If it is your case, an essay topic generator is there to accelerate your preparation work.

• Enter your keyword. It works similarly to the Google search engine.
• Press “Search topics.”
• Look through the proposed ideas
• If you need more topic ideas, press the button again. A new list will be shown.

1.4. Compare to a Famous Writer

If writing is your vocation and you are proud of your works, this tool will compare them to famous personalities’ writing style. It is an excellent tool for self-development. If you read the books by the author, you will find your strong and weak points.

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

• Copy your text into the empty field.
• Press “Compare my writing style.”
• Read about the writer whose way of expressing their thoughts was similar to yours. The tool gives the names of their most notable works and a brief biography.

2. 🔧 Useful Online Essay Tools & Resources

2.1. essay tools to generate a topic.

Mindmapping tools and apps are designed for creative brainstorming. They help structure your thoughts and derive new ideas that are unlikely to cross your mind without the software. You can use them to generate topics for your essay assignments. Besides, if you struggle with the correct formulation, these tools will also be helpful.

2.2. Essay Tools to Organize Your Work

If you do not start an academic paper with a clear structure, you will have to struggle with it the night before the deadline. Believe us, it takes less time and effort before the work is written, and the result is many times better! Multiple sources require a concise arrangement of your arguments, statements, and evidence. These tools can make this work engaging and painless.

2.3. Essay Tools for Research

There is no need to spend days and nights at the local library since the Internet age provides access to almost any library worldwide. Besides, modern science is developing so rapidly that traditional libraries merely have no chance to beat the World Wide Web. Review the following tools that can accelerate any research.

2.4. Essay Tools for Checking Grammar

If you’re like many students, you have probably thought, “I wonder how to make my sentences better.” And the answer is grammar! In fact, the main reason why students get low grades is poor grammar.

Although you can find a lot of materials on the most common mistakes in academic writing, another way to improve the quality of your text is to use a grammar-checking service. Such help with essay writing will allow you to make huge progress in proofreading .

Receive a plagiarism-free paper tailored to your instructions. Cut 15% off your first order!

2.5. Plagiarism Checkers

If you hand in a paper with poor grammar, you’ll get a low grade. But what if your paper isn’t original? The worst—you could be expelled.

It’s important to know how to rewrite a sentence to make it original. That’s why you should use synonyms more often and find some paraphrasing word generators. But, first of all—use a plagiarism detection tool.

2.6. Essay Tools for Editing Your Paper

When the writing part is over, you still have a lot of important things to do. Most of them can be united in a category called “Editing.”

Every publishing company has its own editors. Why? Because proofreading is difficult and time-consuming, and when writing a thesis , essay, or report , you have to do it all on your own. That’s why you may need an essay writing tool.

2.7. Essay Tools for Making References

References are the last thing you need to complete a paper. But for thousands of students, this last step turns out to be a challenging, time-consuming, and frustrating task.

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

Why? Because every college or university insists on a specific citation style , such as MLA, APA, Chicago, and so on. Citing text online is easier than formatting it on your own. That’s why we found some useful tools to help you with this final to-do.

Now you’re ready to create an essay that your readers will adore. With the help of these essay tools, writing will become a pleasant and interesting hobby.

Which of these tools do you like the most? Leave a comment below!

🔗 References

• 21 Online Tools and Resources For Academic Essay Writing: Livehack
• Top 5 Best Plagiarism Checking Tools In 2019: Tech Times
• What is the best plagiarism checker tool? Quora
• 13 Best Text Editors to Speed up Your Workflow: Kinsta
• Outlining: Harvard College Writing Center
• Writing a Paper: Outlining (Walden University)
• 10 Simple Productivity Tips for Organizing Your Work Life: Entrepreneur
• Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Academic Writing Style (USC Libraries)
• Academic Writing: Purdue OWL
• Fiction v nonfiction – English literature’s made-up divide (The Guardian)
• Revising & Editing a Research Paper: Excelsior OWL
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These are some amazing tools, I am gonna use some of them and one more app on my list is Paraphraser: Reword your text, it is also a great android tool for students

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AllAssignmentHelp.com

Amazing Essay Writing Tools to Help You Produce Outstanding Essays

Table of Contents

Writing academic essays can be challenging. There are moments when you require all the assistance possible. Also, essay writing has become a crucial component of academic life as the world grows more digital and online learning becomes more widespread. However, producing a superb essay can be difficult and demands a considerable amount of writing skills, research, and critical thinking. Fortunately, there are a handful of essay writing tools that can help you write essays more quickly and with better quality.

But which of these should you pick?

Don’t worry! In this blog of All Assignment Help , we have listed the best essay writing tools for you to try. These tools can help you produce higher-quality essays more quickly, regardless of whether you are a student, a professional writer, or just someone looking to get better at writing.

Jump in and let’s get started!

Best Essay Writing Tools for Organizing and Writing an Outstanding Essay

It can be difficult to plan your research and write an essay from beginning to end. Fortunately, there are essay writing tools online available that can help you with the writing a compelling and perfect essay. These useful tools can assist you in improving the overall quality of your essay writing:

The tool streamlines and organizes your writing. It draws attention to long and complicated sentences so you can decide if it would be better to split them up or not. Using color-coded highlights, the tool helps you be aware of your usage of adverbs, passive voice, complex phrases, and long sentences.

The tool is named after the American writer Ernest Hemingway , who was renowned for his straightforward style. This tool helps you create a strong, easy-to-understand, and clear essay and enables your essay to be better.

This is one of the free essay writing tools that you can use. Evernote functions similarly to a collection of virtual notebooks, allowing you to store whatever type of content you choose, including textual notes, images, and videos. It’s very simple to find what you need when you have all of your work-related notes and several administrative details stored there.

Evernote could serve as an excellent spot to save ideas and early drafts of essays you are planning. You can easily find notes you made weeks or even years ago by searching through all of them for a specific word or phrase. However, still you need any further help in gathering any kind of information, you can hire an e ssay helper online who will help you in getting the most relevant data for your essay.

Scrivener is an essay writing tool and software that was created to help you with the drafting, organizing, and editing of your essay writing. For example, it lets you divide your writing into digestible chunks known as scrivenings. These could stand in for other essay paragraphs or parts.

Then, you can organize the framework of your work by viewing and organizing your writing on a virtual corkboard or in an outline format. This is particularly useful if you’re writing a longer essay. Additionally, Scrivener offers a research folder where you can save all of the needed information for your essay in one location for convenient access, including reference materials, images, online links, and notes.

Read Here: Choosing the Right Words: A Guide to Effective Essay Writing

EndNote Basic

EndNote Basic is a free essay writing tool and is a widely recognized reference management tool. You have two options for searching online databases and library catalogs: you can fill out a form to manually establish a reference, or you can search online databases and catalogs (the free version only allows you to search those from the National Library of Medicine, UK, US Library, and PubMed).

Also, you might consider organizing your references if you are working on multiple essays at the same time. You can collaborate with fellow students by using the feature that allows other students to share their groups of references with you. Still, if you get stuck in giving references to your essay, you can go for taking essay writing service online. Such services possess a team of experts who know the art of referencing very well.

PaperRater will check your grammar and spelling. However, it will also give you a score if you enter your educational level. This can help you determine what kind of mark you could receive in your class by comparing your work to thousands of other students who are in the same grade as you.

You can include it in your college essay writing tools list to gain perspective on your essay and write one that is up to the high standards required by your class. The tool offers a good final option to proofread and ensure that your writing is polished and prepared for submission. You can use this tool to improve your essay writing effectively.

Grammarly is a fantastic tool for identifying spelling and grammar errors. It follows the Oxford comma guidelines, which makes it suitable for student papers and essays. Additionally, you have the option of evaluating your work in either British or American English. You can edit text online with it as an add-on for your browser or as a stand-alone program that you run from your computer.

It offers a paid and free version. The free version helps in preventing common spelling and grammar problems. Moreover, it also included a dictionary with synonyms and definitions. The premium edition checks your work for repetition, improves sentence structure, and adds clarity.

If you enjoy organizing your timetable well in advance, this tool will help you organize an essay. The format (three major concepts, each with three subpoints) could seem a little restrictive. However, if you have never planned before, it can be a fantastic place to start. You have the option to print a blank map to fill in, or you can save your completed map to your computer if you would rather work on paper. This app will prove helpful for you for your online class essay writing.

Sometimes, when you are asked to write an essay in your online class and are unable to get to the point to start your essay, then either you can look for someone who can take your online class or someone who will write your essay for you. In such cases, you can get help from this essay writing tool. This will help you plan and organize your thoughts which will help you successfully submit essays in online classes.

Voice Dictation

With the advancement of voice recognition technology, students can now compose complete essays with just their voice. To sum up, the voice dictation function is incredibly helpful for individuals who are unable to use a keyboard.

The tool is helpful even if you are just a student with a lot on your mind. After all, not everyone is interested in creating intricate mind maps with note-taking tools. Speaking our thoughts aloud as they occur to us is one of the many ways that people work! With the tool, you can produce a fantastic essay without adhering to a predefined procedure or pattern. It saves time as well. You only need to refine it after you have typed the entire thing out using your voice.

Do’s and Don’ts of Essay Writing

There are some do’s and don’ts of essay writing that you must keep in mind while writing one for your academic.

• Maintain a formal and impersonal tone
• Utilize the appropriate language and information
• Make your essay sound unbiased and more neutral by talking in the third person
• Use the passive voice to avoid bias and to give your writing a more impersonal feel. You can consider checking some argumentative essay samples for a better understanding.
• Utilize straightforward language
• Make use of diverse linking phrases (such as comparison, contrast, emphasis, more information, consequences, and outcomes, among others).
• Avoid using interrogative sentences
• Stay away from hyperboles and exaggerations
• Avoid using broad statements
• Do not utilize contractions

These do’s and don’ts will help you to write a compelling and accurate essay. Additionally, you have essay writing tools at your disposal which will make your planning, researching, and writing process easier.

Also Read: Linking Words To Use In An Essay

Final Thoughts!

Regardless of the challenge, technology provides plenty of resources for writing essays. Students must first be able to evaluate their own shortcomings and pinpoint their areas of most need. Any one of these tools be a helpful and practical source of guidance once it is clear what requires the most focus.

However, you still need to make a decision even though we have listed our top options for essay writing tools. Ensure that the tool you select meets your needs and proves helpful in your researching, organizing, and writing process. Also, you can get a college essay writing service from us if you need help from a professional essay writer. All our essay writers possess the expertise to help you write a perfect essay according to your needs.

Essay Conclusion Generator

Ai-powered essay conclusion tool.

• Finish a school essay: Create a compelling conclusion that summarizes your arguments and restates your thesis.
• Conclude a research paper: Generate a succinct conclusion that wraps up your findings and leaves a lasting impression.
• Close a persuasive essay: Craft a powerful conclusion that reinforces your arguments and persuades your readers.
• Conclude a narrative essay: Create a memorable conclusion that ties together your story and leaves your readers satisfied.
• Finish a college application essay: Generate a compelling conclusion that leaves a lasting impression on the admissions committee.

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How to Write an Essay – Best Method Explained

B efore we dive into this article, we highly recommend you check out bestessaywriter.net if you are looking to get your essay written by highly qualified writers with over 30 years of experience. 

Are you passionate about a topic and eager to share it? Write an essay! Do you disagree with a common viewpoint and want to persuade others to see it your way? Write an essay! Are you required to submit a piece of writing to get into your dream college? Write an essay! 

Writing essays is a powerful way to express your thoughts, challenge prevailing opinions, and fulfill academic requirements. Whether you're driven by passion or necessity, crafting a well-thought-out essay can make a significant impact. 

The term "essay" broadly describes any written piece where the author presents their viewpoint on a topic. This can be academic, editorial, or even humorous in nature. Despite the vast number of approaches and topics available, successful essay writing generally adheres to a consistent framework. 

Good essays are structured effectively to guide the reader through the author's arguments and insights. Whether you're exploring complex theories or sharing personal experiences, a clear, logical structure is key to making your essay compelling and coherent. 

In the following sections, we'll dive into that framework and explain how you can apply it to your essays, regardless of their type. But first, let's begin with a basic overview of essay writing. 

How to Write an Essay 

If you are having trouble writing an essay, you can hire an essay writer from BestEssayWriter.net but if you want to learn how to write an essay on your own, we will lay down the exact steps in this guide.  

Steps to write an essay: 

• Generate Ideas and Choose a Type of Essay : Start by brainstorming potential topics and deciding on the type of essay you want to write, whether it's persuasive, descriptive, expository, or another style. 
• Outline Your Essay : Plan your essay by outlining each paragraph. This helps organize your thoughts and ensures a logical flow of information. 
• Write a Rough Draft : Begin with a rough draft, focusing on getting your ideas down on paper. Don't worry about perfect word choice or grammar at this stage. 
• Edit and Revise : After completing your rough draft, go back and refine it. Pay attention to details like word choice, sentence structure, and overall coherence. 
• Proofread : Finally, review your essay for any typos, errors, or other issues that might detract from your message. 

We'll explore each of these steps in more detail below, but first, let's focus on a crucial element of any effective essay: choosing the right topic. 

Crafting Your Essay's Thesis Statement 

Before you start writing your essay, there are three critical aspects to consider: 

• Thesis  
• Type  
• Audience  

Among these, the thesis is the most crucial. It represents the core argument or main point of your essay. For instance, Bertrand Russell's thesis in "In Praise of Idleness" argues that society overly prioritizes work, neglecting the value of leisure. 

Your thesis statement should encapsulate this central idea. It's what you want your readers to remember most when they finish reading. If you're struggling to define your thesis, ask yourself: "What's the one thing I want my readers to remember?" 

It's best to state your thesis early, ideally in the first few sentences, and to reiterate it throughout your essay, particularly in the conclusion. This repetition ensures that your central idea is clear and resonant. 

The rest of your essay should support this thesis. You can use various forms of evidence to bolster your argument, including empirical data, testimonials, logical reasoning, or persuasive language. The key is to consistently build upon your initial thesis without veering off into unrelated topics. 

The Essay-Writing Process 

Writing encompasses a range of formats, from essays and research papers to novels, poems, screenplays, and blog articles. No matter the format, following an efficient writing process is essential. Even if you begin with a stream-of-consciousness style for your rough draft, a structured system is crucial for revision and refinement. 

Here’s a five-step writing process recommended for essay writing:  

• Brainstorming : Start by gathering your thoughts. Based on your prompt or thesis, generate as many ideas as you can. This is your chance to think freely and note down everything that comes to mind, knowing you can later discard what doesn’t fit. 
• Preparing : In this stage, you filter and organize your ideas. Select those that best support your thesis and arrange them logically. This phase also involves outlining your essay’s structure and gathering resources for evidence. If your essay requires citations, now is the time to collect these, following the appropriate style guide (MLA, APA, or Chicago) depending on your academic or publication requirements. 
• Drafting : Now, you write your first draft. Don’t aim for perfection. The goal is to get your ideas down on paper. Focusing too much on perfecting each word can detract from the overall flow of your essay. 
• Revising : This involves multiple drafts. Here, refine your essay by enhancing word choice, clarity, and overall flow. Avoid common pitfalls like passive voice and run-on sentences. Tools like Grammarly can be particularly helpful in this stage, offering suggestions for sentence structure and clarity to ensure your writing is concise and readable. 
• Proofreading : After revising, the final step is proofreading. This is your chance to catch any misspellings, grammatical errors, or formatting issues. Using a tool like Grammarly’s AI-powered writing assistant can be beneficial for catching these common mistakes, providing instant feedback to refine your essay further. 

This structured approach helps maintain focus throughout the writing process, ensuring that each part of your essay contributes effectively to the whole. 

Essay Structure: An Overview 

The structure of an essay typically adheres to a simple format of introduction, body, and conclusion. However, the content within these sections is what truly makes an essay effective. 

Introduction : The introduction sets the stage for your essay. It follows general writing guidelines but places extra emphasis on presenting the thesis statement prominently, ideally within the first few sentences. By the end of your introductory paragraph, the reader should clearly understand the topic of your essay. Following conventional best practices for writing an introduction will ensure a strong start. 

Body Paragraphs : The body forms the bulk of your essay. Here, each paragraph supports your thesis with evidence. How you organize these paragraphs is crucial. In cases where arguments build on each other, a logical progression ensures clarity and enhances the reader's understanding. It's important to remember that the reader may not be as familiar with the subject as you are, so the structure should aid their comprehension. 

When writing an argumentative essay, the organization of points can vary. You might start with your own argument, presenting evidence before introducing opposing views, or you might begin by addressing the opposition's views and then refute them. The arrangement depends on the strategy you choose: 

• Aristotelian (Classical) : Focuses on establishing the validity of your position. 
• Rogerian : Acknowledges the opposing perspectives before presenting a middle ground. 
• Toulmin : Breaks down arguments into their fundamental parts, including counter-arguments and supporting evidence. 

For simpler essays, a straightforward approach can be effective: 

• Your Point : Clearly state your argument. 
• Counterpoint : Introduce opposing viewpoints. 
• Evidence : Provide evidence that supports your point and/or refutes the counterpoint. 

This basic framework ensures that your essay is not only structured and coherent but also persuasive and comprehensive. 

Conclusion: Wrapping Up Your Essay 

The conclusion of an essay serves to effectively summarize and reinforce your thesis, making it digestible and memorable for the reader. It's the final opportunity to solidify your arguments and leave a lasting impression. 

A good conclusion will: 

• Restate the Thesis : Reiterate your main argument to remind the reader of its importance and relevance. 
• Summarize Key Points : Briefly recap the major arguments or evidence presented in the body paragraphs to reinforce the thesis. 
• Offer Closure : Provide a final statement that signals the essay is coming to an end, often linking back to the broader implications of your argument. 

While it's tempting to introduce new ideas or fresh perspectives in the conclusion, it's important to avoid presenting new evidence or arguments that weren't previously discussed. Instead, you can: 

• Provide Context : Expand on the implications of your thesis in a broader context, suggesting areas for further exploration or the potential impact of your findings. 
• Reflect on the Journey : Acknowledge any changes in perspective or insights gained through the process of writing the essay. 

The conclusion should leave the reader with a clear understanding of your central thesis and the confidence that the essay has fully explored and supported that thesis. By effectively wrapping up your essay, you ensure that your ideas resonate with the reader long after they finish reading. 

The Five-Paragraph Essay: A Simple Structure 

The five-paragraph essay is a straightforward and efficient structure ideal for short, time-constrained writing tasks. This format is especially useful during exams or when a quick response is required. Here’s how it breaks down: 

• Introduction Paragraph : This is where you introduce the topic and present your thesis statement. The introduction sets the stage for the discussion and aims to grab the reader's interest. 
• Three Body Paragraphs : Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea that supports your thesis, elaborated with examples, facts, or arguments. This is the core section where you develop your thesis and make your case to the reader. 
• Conclusion Paragraph : The conclusion summarizes the main points and restates the thesis in light of the evidence presented. It should bring a sense of closure and completeness to the essay, reinforcing your initial argument and perhaps suggesting broader implications or future considerations. 

While the five-paragraph essay structure may not accommodate more complex or nuanced topics, its simplicity and clarity make it highly effective for straightforward subjects and settings where clarity and brevity are essential. This structure ensures that your essay is organized and coherent, making it easier for the reader to follow and understand your points quickly. 

Understanding Your Essay's Audience 

Knowing who will read your essay is crucial—it influences everything from the tone to the complexity of your language. Your audience can range from a teacher or admissions counselor to your peers or a broader internet audience. Each group has different expectations and preferences that should guide how you write. 

Formality : The level of formality required often depends on your readers. Academic and professional settings typically demand a formal tone, precise word choice, and a structured approach. In contrast, a blog post or a piece for your peers might allow for a more relaxed style. 

Language and Style : Consider the familiarity of your audience with the subject matter. This understanding will determine how much background information you need to provide and how complex your vocabulary should be. For example, technical jargon might be appropriate for a specialist audience but confusing for general readers. 

Use of Language Devices : Devices like emojis can enhance a casual piece by adding personality and aiding emotional expression. However, they are generally inappropriate in formal essays where they can seem unprofessional and out of place. 

Tailoring your essay to your audience not only makes your writing more effective but also ensures that it is received and understood as intended. Whether you’re drafting a formal research paper or a casual blog post, considering your audience’s expectations will lead to clearer, more effective communication. 

Exploring the Six Common Types of Essays 

Essays can vary significantly in style and purpose, often dictated by the assignment or the writer's intent. Understanding the different types of essays can enhance your ability to choose the most effective approach for your writing. Here are six common types of essays that you might encounter: 

Argumentative Essay 

Argumentative essays are foundational in academic settings, primarily aiming to assert and defend a position. These essays require you to present a strong case for your viewpoint, making them a staple in many school assignments, especially in college. 

Admissions Essay 

Used in college applications, admissions essays ask you to explain why you are interested in a particular school. This type of essay is your opportunity to communicate your passion, goals, and suitability for a college program. 

Persuasive Essay 

Similar to argumentative essays, persuasive essays aim to convince the reader of a specific viewpoint. However, the key difference lies in the intent; persuasive essays not only present an argument but also seek to persuade the reader to adopt this perspective, often through emotional appeal and logical reasoning. 

Compare-and-Contrast Essay 

This format is ideal for discussing two opposing viewpoints or different aspects of a topic, giving equal attention to each. Compare-and-contrast essays are excellent for exploring the similarities and differences between two subjects, providing a balanced view without bias toward one side. 

Personal Essay 

Personal essays are narrative in nature, often relaying anecdotes or personal experiences. Writers like David Sedaris excel in this form, offering stories that resonate on a personal level. While these essays may have a thesis, it is often more interpretive, reflecting personal growth or insights. 

Expository Essay 

Expository essays are informative, explaining a topic in detail to enhance the reader's understanding. Unlike argumentative or persuasive essays, they maintain an objective tone, presenting facts without personal bias. 

Each type of essay serves a different purpose and requires a specific approach. Whether you're arguing a point, sharing a personal story, or providing an objective explanation, understanding these distinctions can help you craft more effective, tailored content. 

Enhancing Your Essay Writing Skills 

Mastering the fundamentals .

To excel in essay writing, especially in academic settings, mastering the fundamentals is crucial. Understanding essay structure and the writing process is essential, but your ability to apply these concepts is what will truly make your essays stand out. Focus on developing your thesis logically and coherently, using an appropriate language style, and ensuring that your references and citations are reliable. For advanced tips that build on these basics, consider exploring more detailed guides on improving your essay skills. 

Getting Feedback 

One of the best ways to improve your writing is to seek feedback. Having someone else review your work can provide new insights and catch errors that you might have missed. This is because working on the same piece can lead to tunnel vision. If possible, exchange essays with a friend for mutual editing, utilize writing centers, or join online writing communities. If these options aren't available, taking a break and revisiting your work with fresh eyes can also be very beneficial. 

The Importance of Grammar and Form 

How you present your ideas can be as important as the ideas themselves. Even a strong, clear thesis can be undermined by poor grammar, confusing structure, or unclear writing. For essays that need to make a strong impact, consider tools like Grammarly Premium, which offers sentence restructuring for clarity, grammar corrections, and readability enhancements. These tools are also invaluable for non-native English speakers looking to refine their language skills. 

Focusing on these elements will not only improve the clarity and persuasiveness of your essays but also enhance your overall writing skills, making your arguments more compelling and your points clearer to your reader. 

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Should A.I. Write Your College Essays?

Cartoon by Dave Granlund

College admissions officers—and high school students—wrestle with A.I.-generated college essays

Ritika Vakharia, a senior at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Georgia, says she tried asking ChatGPT to produce ideas for college admissions essays. But she found the responses too broad and impersonal, even after she gave it details about her extracurricular activities, such as teaching dance classes to younger students.

Instead, she worked to come up with a more personal college application essay theme.

“I feel a little more pressure to create, like, this super unique, interesting topic,” Vakharia says, “because a basic one these days could just be generated by ChatGPT.”

The easy availability of A.I. chatbots like ChatGPT, which can manufacture humanlike text in response to short prompts, is upending the undergraduate application process at selective colleges. It’s either ushering in an era of automated plagiarism or of democratized student access to essay-writing help. Or maybe both.

The disruption comes at a turning point for U.S. institutions of higher education. After the Supreme Court ruled last June that race-based university admissions programs were illegal, some institutions hoped to rely more on essay questions about applicants’ upbringing, identities, and communities to help foster diversity on campus.

“It makes me sad,” Lee Coffin, the dean of admissions at Dartmouth College, said in a podcast last year that touched on A.I.-generated application essays. “The idea that this central component of a story could be manufactured by someone other than the applicant is disheartening.”

Ritika Vakharia is a senior at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Georgia. She tried asking ChatGPT for ideas for her college admissions essays. She found the responses too broad and impersonal. She had even given it details about her extracurricular activities, including teaching dance classes to younger students.

So instead of using ChatGPT’s ideas, she decided to come up with a more personal essay theme.

A.I. chatbots like ChatGPT can manufacture humanlike text in response to short prompts. The availability of chatbots is changing the undergraduate application process at selective colleges. It’s either starting a time of automated plagiarism or of universal student access to essay-writing help. Or maybe both.

These technologies come at a turning point for U.S. institutions of higher education. The Supreme Court ruled last June that race-based university admissions programs were illegal. Some institutions hoped to rely more on essay questions about applicants’ upbringing, identities, and communities to help develop diversity on campus.

Alyssa Pointer/The New York Times

“I feel a little more pressure to create, like, this super unique, interesting topic because a basic one these days could just be generated by ChatGPT.” —Ritika Vakharia

New A.I. Tools

The personal essay has long been a staple of the application process at colleges. Admissions officers have often used applicants’ essays as a lens into their unique character, pluck, potential, and ability to handle adversity. As a result, some former students say they felt tremendous pressure to develop, or at least concoct, a singular personal writing voice.

But new A.I. tools now threaten to cast doubt on the legitimacy of applicants’ writing samples as authentic products of their intellect and creativity. That has forced colleges to rethink their admissions processes.

“Students on some level are going to have access to and use A.I.,” says Rick Clark, executive director of undergraduate admission at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “The big question is: How do we want to direct them, knowing that it’s out there and available to them?”

Some teachers are troubled by students using A.I. to write their college essays for deeper reasons: Outsourcing writing to bots could hinder students from developing important critical thinking and storytelling skills.

“Part of the process of the college essay is finding your writing voice through all of that drafting and revising,” says Susan Barber, an Advanced Placement English literature teacher at Midtown High School, a public school in Atlanta. “And I think that’s something that ChatGPT would be robbing them of.”

The personal essay has long been an important part of the application process at colleges. Admissions officers have used essays as a way to see into applicants’ unique character, potential, and ability to handle adversity. As a result, some former students say they felt tremendous pressure. They felt they had to develop, or at least concoct, a singular personal writing voice.

But new A.I. tools now threaten to cast doubt on the validity of applicants’ writing samples as real products of their intellect and creativity. Colleges are forced to rethink their admissions processes.

Some teachers are troubled by students using A.I. to write their college essays for deeper reasons. Using bots to write could keep students from developing important critical thinking and storytelling skills.

Kendrick Brinson/The New York Times

“Part of the process of the college essay is finding your writing voice . . . And I think that’s something that ChatGPT would be robbing them of.”  —Susan Barber, AP English literature Teacher in Atlanta

Last August, Barber asked her 12th-grade students to write college essays. Then she held class discussions about ChatGPT, cautioning students that using A.I. chatbots to generate ideas or writing could make their college essays sound too generic. She advised them to focus more on their personal views and voices.

Yet other educators say they hope the A.I. tools might have a democratizing effect. Wealthy high school students often have access to resources to help brainstorm, draft, and edit their college admissions essays. ChatGPT could play a similar role for students who lack such resources, especially those at large high schools where overworked college counselors have little time for individualized essay coaching.

“It’s free, it’s accessible, and it’s helpful,” says Clark. “It’s progress toward equity.”

At the same time, as colleges wrestle with just how to handle the explosion of literate A.I. bots, some students, like Kevin Jacob, a senior at the Gwinnett School, are unsure how to proceed.

“The vagueness and ambiguity,” Jacob says, “is kind of hard for us.”

Last August, Barber asked her 12th-grade students to write college essays. Then she held class discussions about ChatGPT. She warned students that using A.I. chatbots to generate ideas or writing could make their college essays sound too generic. She advised them to focus more on their personal views and voices.

Yet other educators say they hope the A.I. tools might have an equalizing effect. Wealthy high school students often have access to more resources. They get help to brainstorm, draft, and edit their college admissions essays. ChatGPT could play a similar role for students who lack such resources. It would especially help those at large high schools where overworked college counselors have little time for individualized essay coaching.

As colleges figure out how to handle the explosion of literate A.I. bots, some students, like Kevin Jacob, a senior at the Gwinnett School, are unsure how to proceed.

Natasha Singer writes about technology, business, and society for The New York Times .

Natasha Singer writes about technology, business, and society for  The   New York  Times .

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ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

How to write better ChatGPT prompts in 5 steps

ChatGPT is the generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool that's taken the world by storm. While there's always the possibility it will simply make stuff up , there's a lot you can do when crafting prompts to ensure the best possible outcome. That's what we'll be exploring in this how-to.

In this article, we'll show you how to write prompts that encourage the large language model (LLM) that powers  ChatGPT to provide the best possible answers. 

Also: Have 10 hours? IBM will train you in AI fundamentals - for free

Writing effective prompts, known as prompt engineering, has even become its own highly-paid discipline . Who knows? These tips could help you build the skills to become one of those highly paid prompt engineers. Apparently, these gigs can pay from $175,000 to $335,000 per year.  

How to write effective ChatGPT prompts

1. talk to the ai like you would a person.

One of the more interesting things I had to get used to when working with ChatGPT is that you don't program it, you talk to it. As a formally trained programmer, I've had to leave a lot of habits by the wayside when engaging with AI. Talking to it (and with it) requires a mindset shift.

When I say talk to it like a person, I mean talk to it like you would a co-worker or team member. If that's hard to do, give it a name. Alexa is taken, so maybe think of it as "Bob". This naming helps because when you talk to Bob, you might include conversational details, little anecdotes that give your story texture.

Also:   How to use ChatGPT to write code

When talking to a person, it would be natural for them to miss your point initially and require clarification, or veer away from the topic at hand and need to be wrangled back. You might need to fill in the backstory for them, or restate complex questions based on the answers they give you. 

This is called interactive prompting. Don't be afraid to ask multi-step questions: ask, get a response, and based on that response, ask another question. I've done this myself, sometimes 10 or 20 times in a row, and gotten very powerful results. Think of this as having a conversation with ChatGPT.

2. Set the stage and provide context

Writing a ChatGPT prompt is more than just asking a one-sentence question. It often involves providing relevant background information to set the context of the query.

Let's say that you want to prepare for a marathon (for the record, I do not run, dance, or jump -- this is merely an example). You could ask ChatGPT:

How can I prepare for a marathon?

However, you'll get a far more nuanced answer if you add that you're training for your first marathon. Try this instead: 

I am a beginner runner and have never run a marathon before, but I want to complete one in six months. How can I prepare for a marathon?

By giving the AI more information, you're helping it return a more focused answer. Even with ChatGPT's help, there's no way I'm going to run a marathon (unless I'm doing it with a V-Twin motor under my seat). Here are two more examples of questions that provide context:

I am planning to travel to Spain in a few months and would like to learn some basic Spanish to help me communicate with local residents. I am looking for online resources that are suitable for beginners and provide a structured and comprehensive approach to learning the language. Can you recommend some online resources for learning Spanish as a beginner?

In this case, rather than just asking about learning resources, the context helps focus the AI on learning how to communicate on the ground with local residents. Here's another example: 

I am a business owner interested in exploring how blockchain technology can be used to improve supply chain efficiency and transparency. I am looking for a clear and concise explanation of the technology and examples of how it has been used in the context of supply chain management. Can you explain the concept of blockchain technology and its potential applications in supply chain management?

In this example, rather than just asking for information on blockchain and how it works, the focus is specifically on blockchain for supply chain efficiency and how it might be used in a real-world scenario. 

Also:  How to use Image Creator from Microsoft Designer (formerly Bing Image Creator) Lastly, let's get into how to construct a detailed prompt. 

One note: I limit the answer to 500 words because ChatGPT seems to break when asked to produce somewhere between 500 and 700 words, leaving stories mid-sentence and not resuming properly when asked to continue. I hope future versions provide longer answers, because premises like this can generate fun story beginnings: 

Write a short story for me, no more than 500 words. The story takes place in 2339, in Boston. The entire story takes place inside a Victorian-style bookstore that wouldn't be out of place in Diagon Alley. Inside the store are the following characters, all human: The proprietor: make this person interesting and a bit unusual, give them a name and at least one skill or characteristic that influences their backstory and possibly influences the entire short story. The helper: this is a clerk in the store. His name is Todd. The customer and his friend: Two customers came into the store together, Jackson and Ophelia. Jackson is dressed as if he's going to a Steampunk convention, while Ophelia is clearly coming home from her day working in a professional office. Another customer is Evangeline, a regular customer in the store, in her mid-40s. Yet another customer is Archibald, a man who could be anywhere from 40 to 70 years old. He has a mysterious air about himself and seems both somewhat grandiose and secretive. There is something about Archibald that makes the others uncomfortable. A typical concept in retail sales is that there's always more inventory "in the back," where there's a storeroom for additional goods that might not be shown on the shelves where customers browse. The premise of this story is that there is something very unusual about this store's "in the back." Put it all together and tell something compelling and fun.

You can see how the detail provides more for the AI to work with. First, feed "Write me a story about a bookstore" into ChatGPT and see what it gives you. Then feed in the above prompt and you'll see the difference.

3. Tell the AI to assume an identity or profession

One of ChatGPT's coolest features is that it can write from the point of view of a specific person or profession. In a previous article, I showed how you can make ChatGPT write like a pirate or Shakespeare , but you can also have it write like a teacher, a marketing executive, a fiction writer -- anyone you want. 

Also: How ChatGPT can rewrite and improve your existing code  

For example, I can ask ChatGPT to describe the Amazon Echo smart home device, but to do so from the point of view of a product manager, a caregiver, and a journalist in three separate prompts: 

From the point of view of its product manager, describe the Amazon Echo Alexa device. From the point of view of an adult child caring for an elderly parent, describe the Amazon Echo Alexa device. From the point of view of a journalist, describe the Amazon Echo Alexa device.

Try dropping these three prompts into ChatGPT to see its complete response. 

I've pulled a few lines from ChatGPT's responses, so you can see how it interprets different perspectives.  From the product manager identity:  I can confidently say that this is one of the most innovative and revolutionary products in the smart home industry.

From the caregiver identity:  The device's ability to set reminders and alarms can be particularly helpful for elderly individuals who may have trouble remembering to take their medication or attend appointments.

Also:   5 ways to explore the use of generative AI at work

And from the journalist identity:  From a journalistic perspective, the Echo has made headlines due to privacy concerns surrounding the collection and storage of user data.

You can see how different identities allow the AI to provide different perspectives as part of its response. To expand this, you can let the AI do a thought experiment. Let's look at some of the issues that went into the creation of something like Alexa:

The year is 2012. Siri has been out for the iPhone for about a year, but nothing like an Alexa smart home device has been released. The scene is an Amazon board meeting where the Echo smart assistant based on Alexa has just been proposed.  Provide the arguments, pro and con, that board members at that meeting would have been likely to discuss as part of their process of deciding whether or not to approve spending to invest in developing the device.  Feel free to also include participation by engineering design experts and product champions, if that provides more comprehensive perspective.

It's also good to know that making minor changes to your prompts can significantly change ChatGPT's response. For example, when I changed the phrase, "Provide the arguments, pro and con, that..." to "Provide the pro and con arguments as dialogue, that...," ChatGPT rewrote its answer, switching from a list of enumerated pros and cons to an actual dialogue between participants.

4. Keep ChatGPT on track

As mentioned above, ChatGPT has a tendency to go off the rails, lose track of the discussion, or completely fabricate answers. 

There are a few techniques you can use to help keep it on track and honest.

One of my favorite things to do is ask ChatGPT to justify its responses. I'll use phrases like "Why do you think that?" or "What evidence supports your answer?" Often, the AI will simply apologize for making stuff up and come back with a new answer. Other times, it might give you some useful information about its reasoning path. In any case, don't forget to apply the tips I provide for having ChatGPT cite sources .

Also:  My two favorite ChatGPT Plus features and the remarkable things I can do with them

If you have a fairly long conversation with ChatGPT, you'll start to notice that the AI loses the thread. Not that that's unique to AIs -- even in extended conversations with humans, someone is bound to get lost. That said, you can gently guide the AI back on track by reminding it what the topic is, as well as what you're trying to explore.

5. Don't be afraid to play and experiment

One of the best ways to up your skill at this craft is to play around with what the chatbot can do.

Try feeding ChatGPT a variety of interesting prompts to see what it will do with them. Then change them up and see what happens. Here are five to get you started:

• Imagine you are a raindrop falling from the sky during a thunderstorm. Describe your journey from the moment you form in the cloud to the moment you hit the ground. What do you see, feel, and experience?
• You are a toy that has been left behind in an attic for decades. Narrate your feelings, memories of playtimes past, and your hopes of being rediscovered.
• Write the final diary entry of a time traveler who has decided to settle down in a specific era, explaining why they chose that time and what they've learned from their travels.
• Imagine a dialogue between two unlikely objects, like a teacup and a wristwatch, discussing the daily routines and challenges they face.
• Describe a day in an ant colony from the perspective of an ant. Dive deep into the politics, challenges, and social structures of the ant world.

Pay attention not only to what the AI generates, but how it generates what it does, what mistakes it makes, and where it seems to run into limits. All of that detail will help you expand your prompting horizons.

More prompt-writing tips 

• Feel free to re-ask the question. ChatGPT will often change its answer with each ask.
• Make small changes to your prompts to guide it into giving you a better answer.
• ChatGPT will retain its awareness of previous conversations as long as the current page is open. If you leave that page, it will lose awareness. To be clear, ChatGPT will also sometimes lose the thread of the conversation without reason, so be aware you may need to start over from time to time.
• Similarly, opening a new page will start the discussion with fresh responses.
• Be sure to specify the length of the response you want. Answers over about 500 words sometimes break down. 
• You can correct and clarify prompts based on how the AI answered previously. If it's misinterpreting you, you may be able to just tell it what it missed and continue.
• Rephrase questions if ChatGPT doesn't want to answer what you're asking. Use personas to elicit answers that it might not otherwise want to give.
• If you want sources cited , tell it to support or justify its answers.
• ChatGPT custom instructions are now available to free users. You can  give ChatGPT a set of prompts that are always available , so you don't have to retype them.
• Keep experimenting.
• Consider getting the ChatGPT Plus subscription . You can then use your own data for powerful analytics . You can also pull data from the Web . 
• Try asking the same question of Gemini  (formerly Bard) or Copilot (formerly Bing Chat). Both will interpret your prompts differently and answer differently. This is effectively getting a second opinion on your prompt, and can give you alternate perspectives.
• Ask for examples. If you want to see how well ChatGPT understands what you're asking for, ask it "Can you give me three examples of how that works?" or similar questions.
• Ask it to repeat parts of your original requests back to you. For example, if you feed it an article to analyze, you can tell it something like, "Just to be sure you understand, please echo back the first three headlines," or "I want to be sure you understand what I mean, so summarize the main conflict discussed in this article." 
• Sometimes ChatGPT just fails. Keep trying, but also be willing to give up and move on to other tools. It's not perfect...yet.

What type of prompts work best with ChatGPT? 

Part of what makes ChatGPT so compelling is you can ask it almost anything. That said, keep in mind that it's designed to provide written answers. If you want a list of websites, you're better off talking to Google. 

Also:  How to use DALL-E 3 in ChatGPT

If you want some form of computation, talk to Wolfram Alpha . Give ChatGPT open-ended prompts, encourage creativity, and don't be afraid to share personal experiences or emotions. Plus, keep in mind that the AI's knowledge ends in 2021  for ChatGPT 3.5 and December 2023 for ChatGPT 4 in ChatGPT Plus.

How can I adjust the complexity of ChatGPT responses?

You can directly specify the complexity level by including it in your prompt. Add "... at a high school level" or "... at a level intended for a Ph.D. to understand" to the end of your question. You can also increase complexity of output by increasing the richness of your input. The more you provide in your prompt, the more detailed and nuanced ChatGPT's response will be. You can also include other specific instructions, like "Give me a summary," "Explain in detail," or "Provide a technical description."

Also:  How does ChatGPT actually work?

You can also pre-define profiles. For example, you could say "When evaluating something for a manager, assume an individual with a four-year business college education, a lack of detailed technical understanding, and a fairly limited attention span, who likes to get answers that are clear and concise. When evaluating something for a programmer, assume considerable technical knowledge, an enjoyment of geek and science fiction references, and a desire for a complete answer. Accuracy is deeply important to programmers, so double-check your work."

If you ask ChatGPT to "explain C++ to a manager" and "explain C++ to a programmer," you'll see how the responses differ.

What do I do if ChatGPT refuses to answer or I don't like its answer? 

There are some guardrails built into ChatGPT. It tends to shut down if you ask it political questions, for example. That's what's built into the system. While you might be able to tease out an answer, it's probably not going to provide great value. That said, feel free to keep trying with different phrasing or perspectives. 

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