Markdown/Symbol Structuring
Structure & output
Level 1 · FoundationsUse a consistent set of Markdown symbols — brackets for variables, dashes for sections, bold for constraints — to make a prompt easier to parse.
Markdown/Symbol Structuring is a lightweight formatting convention for the prompt itself: `---` to separate sections, `**bold**` for non-negotiable constraints, square brackets `[LIKE THIS]` for variables meant to be filled in — measurably easier for both the model and a human reading the prompt later to parse than the same content run together as one paragraph. It's a formatting convention, not content — apply it to any prompt with more than one distinct section. Alternative, not a combination: choose either this or XML/Tag Structuring for a given prompt, not both — they're two conventions for the same underlying need.
When to use it
Use it as a default habit for any prompt with more than one section — task, input, and constraints are already three.
When to avoid it
Skip it for single-line prompts with nothing to separate.
Advantages
- Makes a multi-section prompt visibly easier to scan, for the model and for a human reading it later
- Zero cost to apply — it's a formatting habit, not extra content
- Plain Markdown, readable everywhere without special tooling
Disadvantages
- Purely a formatting convention — doesn't improve a poorly-specified task on its own
- Adds a small number of extra tokens for the symbols themselves
Examples
Task: Write a product announcement email. --- Input: [new feature name], launching [date], main benefit is faster load times. --- **Constraints:** Under 150 words. Must include a clear call-to-action button text.
Pairs well with
Try it
Fill in the placeholders below and see the compiled prompt update live.
What you want to achieve.
The material to work from.
Optional hard rules or non-negotiables to respect (leave blank if none).
- 8
- Words
- 81
- Characters
- 0/3
- Placeholders filled
- 1 min
- Reading time
- Completeness0
- Clarity0
- Context0
- Specificity0
- Constraints0
- Format0
- Output0
- Constraints note100
- Success criteria0
- Scope focus100
- Verification step0
- Negative example0
- Confidence0
- Placeholder syntax100
- Markdown structure67
- Fill in the remaining placeholders.
- Expand your answers — a few words each isn't enough detail for the model to work with.
- Add background context so the model understands the situation.