Show it one example of what you want
One good example beats a paragraph of instructions. Learn to steer AI by showing, not just telling.
What you’ll do
- Find one past piece of work you were happy with.
- Paste it in as 'here's the style I want'.
- Ask AI to produce the new one to match.
Common questions
What if I don't have a piece of writing I'm happy with?
Use anything close — even an imperfect old email. The lesson covers what to do when your example isn't ideal, including borrowing style from a competitor without copying their content.
Am I teaching the AI permanently by sharing my example?
No. Pasting an example in a chat just guides that conversation — it doesn't retrain or permanently change the tool. Each new session starts fresh.
Why is showing an example better than describing my style?
Describing style — 'friendly but professional' — leaves a lot of room for interpretation. One real example anchors the tone, length and structure far more precisely than any description.
Can I do this with formats, not just writing style?
Absolutely. Paste an existing quote, checklist or email template and ask AI to produce the new one in the same format. It works for structure as well as tone.