Otter Potter

ChatGPT for beginners: 10 things to try today

Updated October 5, 2026 ยท By Otter Potter

You don't need to learn "prompt engineering". Talk to ChatGPT the way you'd ask a patient, well-read friend for help. Here are ten things to try, easiest first. Copy a prompt, paste it into chatgpt.com (or the app), and change the parts in brackets.

The one habit that makes every answer better

Say who it's for and what you want back. "Write a birthday message" gets you something generic. "Write a short, funny birthday message for my sister who loves gardening, two sentences" gets you something you'd actually send. And if the answer misses, just reply "shorter", "warmer" or "try again, but simpler". It's a conversation, not a search box.

1. Plan this week's dinners

Plan 5 easy weeknight dinners for [2 people]. We like [chicken, pasta] and don't eat [mushrooms]. Give me one shopping list at the end.

2. Make an email sound kinder (or firmer)

Here's an email I wrote. Make it friendlier but keep it short: [paste your email]

3. Explain something you've always wondered about

Explain [how a mortgage rate works] like I'm a smart 12-year-old. Use one everyday example.

4. Talk instead of typing

In the app, tap the microphone or the voice button and just talk. Try: "I've got 20 minutes and some chicken and rice. What can I make?"

5. Ask about a photo

Tap the + (or the paperclip), add a photo of a plant, a confusing bill, or a menu in another language, and ask: What is this, and what should I do about it?

6. Get unstuck on a hard message

I need to tell [my landlord] that [the heater is broken again]. Help me write a polite, clear text. Give me two versions: gentle and firm.

7. Plan a day out

Plan a relaxed Saturday in [San Diego] for [two adults who like food and walking], under [$100]. Morning, lunch, afternoon.

8. Practise a conversation

Pretend you're [my new boss] and I'm asking for [Fridays off]. Play the boss, keep it realistic, and give me tips after.

9. Turn a mess into a list

Here are my notes from a call. Turn them into a short to-do list with who does what: [paste notes]

10. Learn something in five minutes a day

Teach me [basic Spanish for travel] in 5-minute lessons. Start with lesson 1 and quiz me at the end.

Good to know

Questions

Do I need to pay?
No. Everything on this page works on ChatGPT's free plan; photos and voice have daily limits there.
What if I don't like the answer?
Reply with what to change ("shorter", "less formal", "for a 10-year-old"), or click regenerate to get a new one.