# How do I write a good prompt for ZeroTwo?

> Clear, specific prompts get better answers. Learn how to state the task, give context, ask for a format, and use ZeroTwo's controls to refine results.

Source: https://help.zerotwo.ai/en/articles/4936848-how-do-i-write-a-good-prompt-for-zerotwo
Section: ZeroTwo
Last updated: 2026-10-05

A good prompt tells ZeroTwo what you want, who it is for, and what a finished answer looks like. The same habits work across the models in the model picker, so you do not need a different style for each one.

## Write a clear request

- **Lead with the task.** Start with the job, such as "Summarize", "Compare", or "Draft", rather than background.
- **Add the context that matters.** Say who the answer is for, what you already know or tried, and any limits on length, tone, or reading level.
- **Describe the result.** Name the format you want: a table, five bullet points, an email under 150 words, or code with comments.
- **Include the material.** Paste the text, or select the **+** button and choose **Files and folders**, instead of describing a document from memory.
- **Ask for what you will need to check.** For example, ask ZeroTwo to list its assumptions or to say which claims it is unsure about.

Compare "Write about our product" with "Write a 300-word announcement of our new scheduling feature for small-business owners. Keep it friendly and free of jargon, and end with a question." The second version gives ZeroTwo far less to guess.

## Split large tasks

For a big job, ask for an outline first, agree on it, and then ask for one section at a time. Short, focused requests are easier to correct than one long one.

## Treat the first answer as a draft

Reply with specific changes, such as "Make it shorter, drop the second section, and keep the table." If you would rather rewrite your own message, hover over a message you sent and select **Edit message**. That button is not shown on messages that have file attachments, and while ZeroTwo is still replying it tells you to wait or stop the reply first.

## Use ZeroTwo's controls

- **Current facts.** In Chat, turn on **Web Search** from the **+** menu when your question depends on recent information.
- **Harder problems.** For models that show a thinking-level button in the message box (its accessible name is **Thinking effort**), try a higher level on difficult questions and a lower one on quick tasks.
- **Standing preferences.** Put lasting preferences, such as tone, format, or background about you, in **Settings** > **Personalization** > **Companion** under **Custom instructions**, then select **Save**. The switch there, "Include your profile and custom instructions in every conversation", turns them on or off.
- **Long research.** For a report that draws on many sources, use [Deep Research](https://help.zerotwo.ai/en/articles/10500283-how-does-deep-research-work-in-zerotwo).