Controlling Output Format and Style
Get responses in exactly the format you need - from bullet points to formal reports, emails to presentations.
Format Control
Format control is your secret weapon for getting AI responses that are immediately useful in your work. No more reformatting - get it right the first time.
The Core Principle
When you specify format and style, you:
- Save time: Get responses ready to use immediately
- Ensure consistency: Maintain professional standards across all AI-generated content
- Match your needs: Get bullet points for quick reference, paragraphs for reports, tables for data
- Control tone: From casual team updates to formal client communications
The key is to be specific about structure and tone in your requests.
Format Request Formula
What You Want + How You Want It Formatted + What Tone to Use = Great Prompt
Examples:
- “Summarize this feedback in bullet points with professional tone for executives”
- “Draft a follow-up email in formal email format with client-appropriate language”
- “Compare these options in table format with columns for features, pricing, pros/cons”
See the Difference
❌ Without Format Control:
“Summarize the key points from this team meeting.”
Result: Long paragraph mixing different types of information
✅ With Format Control:
“Summarize this team meeting in the following format:
- Key Decisions (bullet points)
- Action Items (numbered list with owners)
- Next Steps (numbered by priority)”
Result: Perfectly organized summary ready to share with the team
Essential Format Types
List Formats
- Bullet points
- Numbered lists
- Checklists
- Priority rankings
Text Formats
- Email format
- Report structure
- Executive summary
- Paragraph format
Data Formats
- Tables
- Comparison charts
- Spreadsheet format
- Side-by-side analysis
Presentation Formats
- Slide outlines
- Talking points
- Meeting agendas
- Action items
Tone Control Options
Formal Business: “Use formal business language suitable for executive review”
Best for: Board reports, client presentations, official communications
Professional but Friendly: “Use professional but approachable tone”
Best for: Team communications, customer emails, internal updates
Casual Internal: “Use casual, friendly tone for internal team communication”
Best for: Team Slack messages, informal updates, brainstorming sessions
Most Useful Format Phrases
Structure Formats
Structure Formats
- “in bullet points with brief explanations”
- “as a numbered checklist”
- “in table format with columns for [specify columns]”
- “as an executive summary with key findings”
- “in professional email format with subject line”
Tone Specifications
Tone Specifications
- “Use professional tone appropriate for senior leadership”
- “Use friendly but professional language for team communication”
- “Use formal business language suitable for client presentation”
- “Use casual tone for internal team updates”
Length and Detail
Length and Detail
- “Keep responses concise - 2-3 sentences per point”
- “Provide detailed explanations with examples”
- “Create a one-page summary with highlights”
- “Format as talking points for a 10-minute presentation”
Common Format Mistakes
Being too vague about format
Being too vague about format
Instead of: “Make it look professional” Try: “Format as a formal business email with clear subject line and professional closing”
Forgetting to specify tone
Forgetting to specify tone
Instead of: “Create a summary” Try: “Create a summary in bullet points using professional tone suitable for executive review”
Not matching format to use case
Not matching format to use case
Instead of: “Analyze this data” (unclear how you’ll use it) Try: “Analyze this data in table format for inclusion in my quarterly report to leadership”
Quick Format Reference
| When You Need… | Use This Phrase… |
|---|---|
| Easy scanning | ”in bullet points” |
| Step-by-step process | ”as a numbered checklist” |
| Data comparison | ”in table format” |
| Email ready | ”in professional email format” |
| Presentation ready | ”as talking points for slides” |
| Action-oriented | ”as prioritized action items with owners” |
Combine format and tone specifications for best results. Example: “Create a project update in bullet points using professional but friendly tone for the team.”
You’ve Mastered the Basics!
You now have the four essential skills of prompt engineering:
- ✅ Basic Structure - Clear, complete, standalone prompts
- ✅ Clear Direction - Direct, imperative language that eliminates confusion
- ✅ Role Assignment - Transform Omnifact into domain experts
- ✅ Format Control - Get responses in exactly the format you need