> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.omnifact.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Being Clear and Direct

> Eliminate confusion and get exactly what you need by using direct, imperative language in your prompts.

<Card title="Clarity is Kindness" horizontal>
  The clearer your instructions, the better your results. Learn to eliminate confusion and get exactly what you need from Omnifact.
</Card>

## The Core Principle

**Use direct action words** and **avoid assumptions** about what Omnifact already knows.

**Replace vague requests with direct action words:**

* Instead of "Help with" → Use **"Summarize"**, **"Create"**, **"Analyze"**
* Instead of "Think about" → Use **"List"**, **"Compare"**, **"Explain"**
* Instead of "Look at" → Use **"Review"**, **"Evaluate"**, **"Examine"**

## Context Omnifact Already Knows

You do not need to restate everything in every message. Omnifact carries context in three ways:

* **Within the conversation:** Follow-up messages can refer to earlier messages in the same chat.
* **[Personalization](/en/platform/core-features/account-settings/user-profile-and-personalization#personalization):** Your role and response preferences in Account Settings apply automatically.
* **[Chat Instructions](/en/platform/core-features/spaces/customizing-spaces)** (in Spaces): Standing instructions set by Space admins define the assistant's expertise and tone.

Still be direct about what you want in *this* message. Even with persistent context, a clear action verb and specific request get better results than a vague follow-up like "make it better."

Also match your request to the right [Response Mode](/en/platform/core-features/chats/response-modes). Use **Quick Response** for fast drafting, **Auto** when you need web search or document retrieval, and **Simple Lookup** in Spaces when answers must come only from uploaded documents.

## See the Difference

**❌ Vague and Confusing:**

> "What do you think about this report? Can you help me with some ideas for the presentation?"

**✅ Clear and Direct:**

> "Summarize the main conclusions from this quarterly sales report and create 5 key talking points for my executive presentation."

**❌ Assumes Too Much:**

> "Update the client on the delay we discussed."

**✅ Provides Context:**

> "Draft an email to our software client explaining that the project will be delayed by 2 weeks due to integration issues. Use a professional, solution-focused tone."

## Simple Structure for Clear Prompts

Use this structure for maximum clarity:

```
[ACTION VERB] + [SPECIFIC SUBJECT] + [KEY DETAILS] + [FORMAT/CONSTRAINTS]
```

**Examples:**

* **"Create** a social media calendar for **LinkedIn posts** promoting our **new CRM to small businesses** in **weekly format for next month**."
* **"Analyze** this employee survey data and **identify top 3 improvement areas** with **specific recommendations for each**."
* **"Compare** our Q3 expenses against budget and **highlight variances over 10%** in **bullet point format**."

## Common Clarity Mistakes

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Don't Assume Context">
    Omnifact may not know what you mean if your request depends on information outside the current chat, a different conversation, or unstated details.

    **Instead of:** "Make the changes we discussed" (in a new chat or without prior context)
    **Try:** "Revise this job posting to emphasize remote work and reduce required experience from 5 to 3 years"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Don't Use Vague Descriptors">
    Replace unclear terms with specific instructions.

    **Instead of:** "Make it more professional"
    **Try:** "Use formal business language suitable for executive review"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Don't Skip Important Details">
    Include all the context Omnifact needs to give you the right answer.

    **Instead of:** "Fix this email"
    **Try:** "Rewrite this customer service email to be more professional and include our 24-hour response commitment"
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Quick Reference: Vague vs. Specific

| Instead of...                   | Be specific...                                 |
| ------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| "The usual format"              | "In bullet points with brief explanations"     |
| "Make it professional"          | "Use formal business language, no jargon"      |
| "The document we're working on" | "The employee handbook section on remote work" |
| "Fix the tone"                  | "Change from casual to professional"           |

## Why Isn't It Working?

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Omnifact asks for more information">
    **Add missing context:**

    * Background information Omnifact needs
    * Specific details about your situation
    * Clear parameters for what you want

    **Example:** Instead of "Help with this budget"
    **Try:** "Review this Q3 marketing budget and identify any line items that exceed 15% of the total allocation"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Response is too general">
    **Use more specific commands:**

    * Replace "help with" → "create/analyze/summarize"
    * Replace "look at" → "review/evaluate/examine"
    * Add specific constraints like format, length, audience

    **Example:** Instead of "Think about our hiring process"
    **Try:** "Analyze our current interview process and recommend 3 specific improvements to reduce time-to-hire"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Wrong focus or emphasis">
    **Be explicit about priorities:**

    * "Focus on \[specific aspect]"
    * "Prioritize \[particular area]"
    * "Emphasize \[key point]"

    **Example:** "Analyze this customer feedback focusing on usability issues, not feature requests"
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<Tip>
  Can someone else read your prompt and know exactly what you want? If not, add more details!
</Tip>

## Other Beginner Guides

* Review [Basic Prompt Structure](/en/guides/prompt-engineering/beginner/basic-structure) to reinforce the fundamentals
* Explore [Assigning Roles](/en/guides/prompt-engineering/beginner/roles) to transform Omnifact into domain experts
* Master [Controlling Output Format](/en/guides/prompt-engineering/beginner/format-style) to get responses in exactly the format you need