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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.

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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.

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Format Request Formula

[YOUR REQUEST] + [FORMAT SPECIFICATION] + [TONE/STYLE]
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”

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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

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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

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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

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Most Useful Format Phrases

  • “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”
  • “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”
  • “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”

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Common Format Mistakes

Instead of: “Make it look professional” Try: “Format as a formal business email with clear subject line and professional closing”
Instead of: “Create a summary” Try: “Create a summary in bullet points using professional tone suitable for executive review”
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”

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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.”

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You’ve Mastered the Basics!

You now have the four essential skills of prompt engineering:
  1. ✅ Basic Structure - Clear, complete, standalone prompts
  2. ✅ Clear Direction - Direct, imperative language that eliminates confusion
  3. ✅ Role Assignment - Transform Omnifact into domain experts
  4. ✅ Format Control - Get responses in exactly the format you need
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