How to Use ChatGPT to Improve your Writing : 7 Prompts

As a writer, you want to keep control of your craft, even with AI. 

And that makes sense.

But why not leverage ChatGPT’s Canva abilities to improve your existing writing ?

In this guide, we’ll explore 7 actionable prompts to level-up your texts.

Can ChatGPT Improve Your Writing?

LLMs like ChatGPT have actually strong innate writing capabilities. They are trained to predict the next word of an engaging phrase with mathematical precision after all !

They are especially useful as an editor assistant that analyzes and give you recommandations to improve your pose. Especially on ChatGPT Canvas where you can get feedback comments directly on the writing editor !

So you can definitely use them as a second pair of eyes to proofread a long book manuscript or your blog posts.

1. Proofreading Prompt

ChatGPT excels at identifying common errors such as misplaced commas, awkward phrasing, or repeated words. It can also suggest alternatives to overused expressions and improve sentence structure for clarity and flow.

Examples of Prompts for Proofreading

• Basic Grammar and Spelling Check: “Please review the following paragraph for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and suggestions to improve sentence structure. Highlight specific corrections and explain the rationale for changes: [Your Text Here].”
• Detailed Feedback: “Identify any repetitive words, awkward phrasing, or inconsistencies in this text. Highlight examples of each issue, provide specific suggestions for improvements, and explain how these changes enhance the overall clarity and readability: [Your Text Here].”

2. Style Enhancement Prompt

ChatGPT can adjust the flow of sentences, ensuring your writing has rhythm and avoids monotony. It can provide alternative phrasing or stylistic tweaks.

Examples of Prompts for Style Enhancements

• Adjusting Tone: “Rewrite this paragraph to have a more conversational tone. Explain the specific changes made and why they create a friendlier tone: [Your Paragraph Here].”
• Improving Readability: “Simplify the following text to make it easier to read for a general audience. Highlight which words or phrases were changed and why they improve clarity: [Your Text Here].”
• Matching Brand Voice: “Rewrite this content to match a professional yet approachable brand voice. Provide two examples of possible rewrites and explain how each aligns with the described tone: [Your Text Here].”

3. SEO Optimizations Prompt

ChatGPT can identify opportunities to incorporate semantic keywords naturally and improve the overall structure for better readability and discoverability.

Examples of Effective Prompts for SEO Optimizations

1. Content Optimization: “Analyze the following text and suggest ways to naturally add keywords to rank on this topic on Google. Highlight specific areas where the keyword fits seamlessly and suggest related semantic keywords to enhance SEO value.”
2. Keyword Suggestions: Suggest SEO-friendly keywords for an article about [your subject]. Include a mix of short-tail and long-tail keywords, and explain why each keyword is relevant and effective.”
3. Meta Descriptions: “Write a meta description for this content that includes the primary keyword ‘digital marketing trends.’ Ensure it is under 160 characters and compelling enough to improve click-through rates.”

4. Storytelling Prompts

ChatGPT can brainstorm creative story ideas, refine your narrative arcs, and even suggest character traits or plot twists.

Examples of Prompts for Storytelling

1. Enhancing an Existing Narrative: “Rewrite this story introduction to make it more engaging. Add sensory details and dialogue to draw readers in: [Your Text Here].”
2. Developing Character Profiles: “Develop the background of this character. Include the origin story, motivations, and a conflict they must resolve.”
3. Outlining a Narrative Structure: “Provide a three-act structure for a story about [your story]. Emphasize themes of hope and collaboration.”

5. Prompt for References & Sources Search

ChatGPT can suggest books, articles, websites, and studies related to your topic. It can help you identify gaps in your research and recommend resources to fill those gaps. Because it can directly access real-time search data, it can provides fresh sources.

Examples of Prompts for References & Sources Search

1. Suggesting Authoritative Websites: “What are some reputable websites or organizations that provide reliable information about the topic of this draft”
2. Identifying Gaps in Research: “Analyze this draft and identify areas where additional references or data are needed. Suggest and search online specific types of sources (e.g., case studies, statistics, or expert opinions) to strengthen the content: [Your Text Here].”
3. Generating Bibliography Entries: “Provide a properly formatted citation for this list of books titled [your book].”

6. Prompt for Structure & Outline

ChatGPT can organize your thoughts into coherent sections to ensure each part of your content serves a purpose. It can break down complex topics into manageable points, suggest logical headings, and prioritize key information.

Examples of Prompts for Structure & Outline

1. Improving Existing Structure: “Analyze the following outline and suggest improvements for clarity and flow. Identify any sections that could benefit from reorganization or additional detail, and explain your reasoning: [Your Outline Here].”
2. Identifying Gaps: “Review this text and highlight any missing elements or sections that could improve the content structure. Suggest specific additions or reworkings to ensure comprehensive coverage of the topic: [Your Text Here].”

7. Conciseness and Clarity Prompt

ChatGPT can identify overly wordy sections and suggest streamlined alternatives. It helps ensure that your content is not only succinct but also easy to understand.

Examples of Prompts for Conciseness and Clarity

1. Simplifying a Complex Sentence: “Rewrite this sentence to make it shorter and easier to understand without losing its meaning: [Your Sentence Here].”
2. Summarizing a Paragraph: “Summarize the following paragraph in one or two sentences while maintaining the key message: [Your Paragraph Here].”
3. Identifying Unnecessary Words: “Review this text and highlight any unnecessary words or phrases. Suggest edits to make the content more concise: [Your Text Here].”
4. Streamlining an Argument: “Condense this argument into three key points, removing redundancy and focusing on the core ideas: [Your Argument Here].”

Try out these prompts on ChatGPT Canvas and tell me how they’ve worked for you !