Prompting · Project instructions
Project instructions¶
Project instructions are rules you write once that apply to every chat in a project — so you stop repeating "keep it short, no hype, ask before guessing" in every message. Most AI apps support them (Projects in Claude and ChatGPT, Gems in Gemini).
What belongs in them¶
- Who you are and what you're working on (two or three lines).
- How you like answers: length, tone, format.
- Standing rules: "ask instead of guessing," "no invented facts," "US spelling."
- Facts the AI should always know: product names, key dates, links.
A starter you can adapt¶
Copy and adapt
About me: I run [what you do]. I'm not technical — explain
things in plain English.
How I like answers: Short first, details only if I ask. No hype
words. If you're not sure, say so.
Standing rules:
- If key information is missing, ask me — don't guess.
- Never invent facts, quotes, or sources.
- Anything for other people (emails, posts) is a draft for my
review, clearly labeled.
Key facts: [your business name, main product, audience, links]
Keep them short¶
Instructions are seasoning, not the meal. A page is plenty. When answers drift, the fix is usually removing stale rules, not adding more.
If you use a vault, keep the same text in About-Me.md so folder agents get it too.