Why Your GPT Isn’t Performing as Well as It Could
And how to fix it
AI tools like ChatGPT are powerful, but how you communicate with them has a huge impact on what you get back. Two of the most common reasons people get weak or inaccurate results:
1. 
Grammar and Wording Matter — A Lot
The AI doesn’t just look at your keywords. It tries to understand tone, certainty, and intent—so your choice of words and sentence structure can make or break the response.
Problem: Using Absolutes or Poor Grammar
Example 1 – Overstating with Absolutes
Bad Input:
“You should always use recursion for tree traversal.”
Why It’s a Problem:
Words like “should” and “always” tell the AI you’re stating a fact or rule—not asking a question. The AI may assume you’re right and just reinforce your assumption, even if it’s not the best approach.
Likely Response:
“Yes, recursion is the standard way to traverse trees.”
(Missing nuance, alternatives, or warnings.)
Example 2 – Confusing Grammar
Bad Input:
“what time train london tomorrow how get ticket”
Why It’s a Problem:
Lack of punctuation, grammar, and clarity makes the request ambiguous. The AI doesn’t know what’s being asked—or what the priorities are.
Likely Response:
“Are you asking about train times to London, how to buy a ticket, or something else?”
Solution: Use Grammar to Guide the AI
Good Input:
“What time does the train to London leave tomorrow, and how can I buy a ticket?”
Why It Works:
Clear structure + specific question = precise answer.
Likely Response:
“The earliest train to London departs at 6:45 AM. You can buy tickets online or at the station.”
Bonus: Know When to Use Words Like “Should,” “Always,” and “Must”
| Word |  Good Use |
 Risky Use |
|---|---|---|
| Should | “Should I…” to ask for best practices | “You should…” makes an assumption |
| Always | Emphasizing safety: “Always sanitize input.” | Generalizing: “Always use X…” |
| Never | Warnings: “Never share your password.” | Overstating: “Never use global variables.” |
| Must | Requirements: “Passwords must be 12+ characters.” | Forcing: “You must do it this way.” |
2. Ask the AI How, Don’t Just Tell It What
Telling AI exactly what to do works—if you already know the best method. But asking it how to solve a problem often leads to better, smarter, and more flexible results.
Problem: Telling AI What to Do
Input:
“Write a Python script that scrolls to the bottom, waits 5 seconds, and repeats until the page is loaded.”
What You Get:
while True:
driver.execute_script("window.scrollTo(0, document.body.scrollHeight);")
time.sleep(5)
if done_loading():
break
What’s Wrong With That?
- Hard-coded waits = unreliable
- Doesn’t check if content actually loaded
- Could be slow or break under load
Better: Ask for the Smartest Way
Input:
“What’s the most reliable way to scrape all products from a site with infinite scroll using Python?”
What You Get:
- Checks for an API (more efficient)
- Uses DOM change detection
- Offers robust error handling
- Chooses between Playwright or direct HTTP
Example Output:
# Detects when content stops loading
while True:
old_height = page.evaluate("document.body.scrollHeight")
page.mouse.wheel(0, 1000)
page.wait_for_timeout(1000)
new_height = page.evaluate("document.body.scrollHeight")
if new_height == old_height:
break
Takeaway:
- Telling AI what to do limits its creativity and problem-solving.
- Asking for the best way unlocks better, more robust solutions.
Bonus Tips for Getting the Most from Your AI
Here are 10 proven techniques to boost response quality:
1. 
Give Context
Instead of “Generate a policy,” say:
“I run an online store and need a return policy for digital products.”
2. 
Specify Format or Style
“Summarize in 3 bullet points.”
“Make it sound casual and funny.”
“Use code comments to explain each step.”
3. 
Iterate – Refine Over Time
First answers are drafts. Say:
“Make it simpler.”
“Can you expand on this part?”
4. 
Avoid Vague Terms
Bad: “Make this better.”
Good: “Improve this by adding examples and shortening the intro.”
5. 
Use Examples
“Here’s a sample FAQ. Can you write five more like it?”
6. 
Assign a Role
“Act as a lawyer.”
“Imagine you’re a UX designer reviewing this app.”
7. 
Break Big Tasks Into Steps
First: “Help me outline the blog post.”
Then: “Now write section 1.”
8. 
Set Clear Constraints
“Explain this in under 100 words.”
“Keep the reading level at 6th grade.”
“Use only Python, no external libraries.”
9. 
Correct and Clarify Mistakes
“This won’t work because the API returns XML. Can you fix it?”
10. Ask Follow-ups to Go Deeper
“What are the pros and cons?”
“What would an expert disagree with here?”
Final Word:
AI is not a search engine—it’s a thinking partner. Treat it like a teammate. Ask it to explore, optimize, critique, and suggest—not just execute.