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AI Prompts You Can Actually Use

Start simple. These prompts are for people who want better AI help without turning into AI people. Copy one, fill in the brackets, and use the answer as a draft to question, edit, and make your own.

Your first 10 prompts

1. The Explain-It-Simply Prompt

Platform: ChatGPT.

Helps turn intimidating topics into plain language.

Prompt:
Explain [topic] to me like I am smart but brand new to it. Use plain language, one simple example, and a short list of what people usually misunderstand.

2. The Decision Helper Prompt

Platform: Claude.

Helps compare options without pretending AI can choose your life for you.

Prompt:
Help me think through this decision: [decision]. My options are [options]. Ask me up to 5 clarifying questions, then make a simple pros/cons table and tell me what tradeoff matters most.

3. The Rewrite-in-My-Voice Prompt

Platform: Claude.

Makes rough writing sound more like you and less like corporate fog.

Prompt:
Rewrite this in my voice: [paste text]. Keep the meaning, make it clearer, warmer, and more direct. Do not make it sound salesy. Give me 3 versions: concise, friendly, and polished.

4. The Get-Unstuck Prompt

Platform: ChatGPT.

Creates momentum when you know the task but cannot find the first step.

Prompt:
I am stuck on [task]. Break it into the smallest next 5 steps. Make step 1 something I can do in under 10 minutes. Also tell me what not to worry about yet.

5. The Source-Skeptic Prompt

Platform: Perplexity.

Treats AI answers as drafts, not finished truth.

Prompt:
Review this answer or claim: [paste claim]. What facts need verification? What sources should I check? What might be missing, biased, outdated, or overstated?

6. The Meeting Prep Prompt

Platform: Gemini.

Helps you walk into a meeting with a clear plan.

Prompt:
I have a meeting about [topic] with [people]. Help me prepare: likely goals, questions to ask, risks to watch, and a short opening note I can use.

7. The Learning Plan Prompt

Platform: ChatGPT.

Builds a simple path for learning something new.

Prompt:
I want to learn [skill/topic]. Make me a beginner-friendly 2-week plan with daily tasks, practice ideas, and one simple way to test whether I understand it.

8. The Brainstorm Buddy Prompt

Platform: Claude.

Helps generate options without treating the first idea as final.

Prompt:
Help me brainstorm ideas for [goal]. Give me 20 options, group them by theme, then pick the 5 strongest and explain why.

9. The Email That Does the Job Prompt

Platform: ChatGPT.

Turns a rough note into a clear email.

Prompt:
Turn this into a clear email: [paste notes]. Keep it concise, direct, and kind. Include a subject line and make the ask obvious.

10. The Better Question Prompt

Platform: Perplexity.

Helps improve the question before chasing answers.

Prompt:
I am trying to answer this question: [question]. Rewrite it 5 better ways, explain what each version would uncover, and suggest which one to research first.

10 prompts to make Sheets/Excel easier

Use these for formulas, cleanup, charts, summaries, and spreadsheet sanity. Use dummy data when the sheet contains private information.

1. Formula Finder

Platform: ChatGPT.

Helps find the right formula for a spreadsheet task.

Prompt:
I am using [Excel/Google Sheets]. I need a formula that does this: [describe goal]. My columns are [columns]. Give me the formula, explain it simply, and tell me where to paste it.

2. Clean This Messy Data

Platform: Claude.

Helps plan cleanup before editing the sheet.

Prompt:
I have messy spreadsheet data with these problems: [list problems]. Give me a cleanup plan, formulas or steps to use, and checks to make sure I did not accidentally change the meaning.

3. Sort and Filter Plan

Platform: Gemini.

Helps you organize rows without losing context.

Prompt:
I need to sort or filter this sheet for [goal]. Columns are [columns]. Tell me which filters/sorts to use, what to watch out for, and how to preserve the original data.

4. Pivot Table Starter

Platform: ChatGPT.

Helps build a first pivot table.

Prompt:
I want a pivot table that shows [question]. My data columns are [columns]. Tell me what to put in rows, columns, values, and filters. Explain what the result will mean.

5. Chart Picker

Platform: Claude.

Helps choose the right chart, not just a pretty one.

Prompt:
I want to visualize this data: [describe data]. My audience needs to understand [point]. Recommend the best chart type, what to put on each axis, and what chart types to avoid.

6. Error Detective

Platform: ChatGPT.

Helps debug broken formulas.

Prompt:
This spreadsheet formula is not working: [paste formula]. It should do [goal], but it returns [error/result]. Explain likely causes, fix the formula, and give me a simpler version if possible.

7. Lookup Helper

Platform: Gemini.

Helps match information across sheets.

Prompt:
I need to look up [value] from one sheet and return [result] from another. My columns are [columns]. Show me the best formula for [Excel/Google Sheets] and explain how to adjust the ranges.

8. Budget Tracker

Platform: ChatGPT.

Helps set up a practical budget sheet.

Prompt:
Help me design a simple budget tracker for [purpose]. Include suggested columns, useful formulas, monthly summary ideas, and one chart that would actually help.

9. Conditional Formatting

Platform: Claude.

Helps highlight what matters.

Prompt:
I want conditional formatting that highlights [condition]. My columns are [columns]. Give me the exact rule or formula, where to apply it, and a few useful variations.

10. Spreadsheet Audit

Platform: Perplexity.

Helps review the sheet for risk before trusting it.

Prompt:
Audit this spreadsheet setup: [describe columns, formulas, purpose]. What errors, missing checks, privacy issues, or misleading summaries should I look for before I rely on it?

10 prompts to make Slides/PowerPoint wow the audience

Use these for story flow, slide clarity, visuals, charts, speaker notes, and presentation polish. Paste only non-sensitive content or use dummy details when a deck contains private information.

1. Deck Storyline Builder

Platform: Claude.

Turns scattered ideas into a clear presentation arc.

Prompt:
I need to create a presentation about [topic] for [audience]. The goal is [goal]. Build a clear slide-by-slide storyline with a strong opening, logical flow, key points, and a closing takeaway.

2. Audience Hook Finder

Platform: ChatGPT.

Helps open with something more interesting than a title slide.

Prompt:
Give me 10 strong opening hooks for a presentation about [topic] for [audience]. Include a surprising fact, a question, a short story angle, and a practical problem statement.

3. Slide Simplifier

Platform: Claude.

Cuts crowded slide text down to what people can actually absorb.

Prompt:
Here is my slide text: [paste text]. Rewrite it into a cleaner slide with one headline, 3 short bullets max, and speaker notes for the detail I should say out loud.

4. Visual Metaphor Picker

Platform: Gemini.

Finds a visual idea that makes an abstract point easier to understand.

Prompt:
I need to explain [concept] visually in a slide deck. Suggest 10 visual metaphors or layouts, explain what each one communicates, and recommend the strongest option for [audience].

5. Data Slide Translator

Platform: ChatGPT.

Turns charts and numbers into a point people can remember.

Prompt:
I have data showing [describe data]. Help me turn it into one clear presentation slide: headline, chart recommendation, key takeaway, and speaker notes that explain why it matters.

6. Executive Summary Deck

Platform: Claude.

Shapes a concise deck for busy decision-makers.

Prompt:
Create a 6-slide executive summary deck for [project/topic]. Include the problem, why it matters now, recommendation, evidence, risks, and decision needed. Keep it concise and action-oriented.

7. Before-and-After Slide

Platform: Gemini.

Shows change, progress, or transformation clearly.

Prompt:
Help me create a before-and-after slide for [situation/change]. Give me a simple layout, labels for each side, the main contrast to emphasize, and a headline that makes the improvement obvious.

8. Speaker Notes Coach

Platform: ChatGPT.

Adds natural talking points so slides do not have to carry every word.

Prompt:
Here is my slide outline: [paste outline]. Write speaker notes for each slide in a warm, confident voice. Keep each note short enough to say naturally, and include smooth transitions between slides.

9. Design Consistency Check

Platform: Claude.

Reviews the deck for visual clutter and inconsistent choices.

Prompt:
Review this presentation structure and style notes: [paste slide list/style notes]. What feels inconsistent, crowded, unclear, or visually distracting? Suggest practical fixes for layout, hierarchy, color, and slide titles.

10. Big Finish Prompt

Platform: Perplexity.

Helps end with a memorable close instead of a limp final slide.

Prompt:
I need a strong closing for a presentation about [topic]. Give me 5 options: a call to action, a memorable takeaway, a question, a short story ending, and a next-steps close. Tell me which one best fits [audience].