Four prompting techniques every technical writer should master

1. Zero-shot prompting

What is it?

Zero-shot prompting is when you ask an AI tool to do something without giving any examples. You simply give it clear instructions and expect the AI to know how to handle it.

Why is it important for technical writers?

Technical writing often involves straightforward tasks — think of summarising a section, rewriting in Simplified Technical English, or converting steps into bullet points. Zero-shot prompting is perfect when you need fast, no-fuss results for standard tasks.

How can it help you?

Instead of spending time crafting detailed examples, you can quickly get the AI to do repetitive tasks. For instance:

"Rewrite the following safety instruction in plain language."

Use zero-shot when the task is simple and the AI’s pre-trained knowledge does the heavy lifting.

2. Few-shot prompting

What is it?

Few-shot prompting involves giving the AI a few examples before asking it to complete a task.

Why is it important for technical writers?

Sometimes, you want your outputs to follow a specific style—consistent formatting, terminology, or tone. Few-shot prompting ensures the AI mimics your style.

How can it help you?

Let’s say you’ve written two warnings in ANSI Z535.5-compliant style. Show these examples to the AI, then ask it to write a third. No need to start from scratch and you’ll maintain consistency across the board.

3. Chain-of-thought prompting

What is it?

This technique encourages the AI to show its reasoning process step by step.

Why is it important for technical writers?

When you’re dealing with complex procedures, troubleshooting guides, or compliance checks, logical steps matter. Chain-of-thought prompting helps break down the logic clearly.

How can it help you?

You can use it to draft step-by-step instructions or ensure nothing is skipped. For example:

"Explain how to safely shut down the machine, step by step."

The AI thinks aloud, making sure the process is complete and clear.

4. Task-Specific prompting

What is it?

This is when you customize your prompt for a particular job—maybe specifying the format, target audience, or legal constraints.

Why is it important for technical writers?

Technical writing isn’t one-size-fits-all. You might need to comply with specific regulations or write for non-expert users.

How can it help you?

You can guide the AI precisely: 

"Summarize this technical spec for end-users unfamiliar with the product, avoiding jargon." 

It saves you editing time and keeps outputs aligned with your goals.

Final Tip: Next time you open your favourite AI tool, think: Which prompting technique fits best? Master these four, and you’ll turn AI into your most reliable co-writer.