A prompt mixes instructions, a contract and example clauses, and Claude sometimes treats contract text as instructions. What helps most?
Why B is the answer
Separate the parts with XML tags
XML tags help Claude parse complex prompts unambiguously, so content stays apart from instructions.
In detail
- XML tags mark where each part starts and ends.
- They keep contract text from being read as instructions.
- Refer to the tag names in your instructions.
Use case
An illustrative scenario, not a real incident.
A contract tool mixes instructions with contract text, and a clause saying "the party shall" is read as an instruction. Tags around each part keep them apart.
See it in different ways
mindmap
root((Prompt))
System
Role
Stable rules
Examples
3 to 5
Varied
Documents
In XML tags
Task
Clear requestmindmap
root(("Prompt"))
n1["instructions"]
n2["What to do"]
n3["contract"]
n4["Content to read"]
n5["examples"]
n6["Clauses to imitate"]Key point: Tags separate content from instructions.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Put everything on a single line
- One line removes the structure that would help.
- C. Write the prompt in capital letters
- Capitals add emphasis, not structure.
- D. Raise the temperature
- Temperature does not separate content from instructions.